Rabbit Cage Styles

Your pet rabbit needs an inviting, occupying and suitably large home to meet his basic physical and emotional needs. The ASPCA recommends that rabbit owners seek cages no smaller than four feet wide, two feet deep and two feet tall, even for the smallest breeds of rabbit. Give the cage a solid bottom and a secure latch. With these basic, minimal parameters in mind, select from a variety of rabbit cage styles.

  1. Traditional

    • A traditional, single-story rabbit cage is rectangular, with its length approximately twice its width, and its height the same as its width. These cages generally have metal wiring and a solid bottom made of plastic or metal. Many popular cage styles are inappropriately small for rabbits; they are better suited to smaller animals such as guinea pigs. Traditional rabbit cages lack a loft or roof.

    Raised

    • Raised rabbit cages enable a rabbit's feces and waste to fall into a collection area below. A typical raised rabbit cage has a wire-mesh floor, which does help to prevent the buildup of waste but can also ulcerate a rabbit's feet. If you use raised rabbit cages with wire bottoms, create at least one large, spacious area of the cage covered entirely by hay or another solid material. Otherwise, your rabbit is likely to suffer from painful foot sores and infections.

    Loft Cages

    • Loft-style rabbit cages are generally taller than average, and they contain a plastic, metal or wooden loft with a ramp for easy access. Rabbits enjoy climbing and building nest-like areas, so your pet is likely to enjoy this practical cage structure. A loft will give your rabbit a place to climb, while the area below the loft makes a nice nest site for sleeping and digging. This style is particularly valuable for pet owners with multiple rabbits, because it maximizes space and reduces territorial disputes.

    Fence-Style

    • Fence-style rabbit cages take the form of an octagon or hexagon fence, arranged with or without a floor. These are generally taller than standard cages to prevent a rabbit from leaping out of the enclosure. Although useful as a temporary outdoor playpen for supervised pets, these arrangements do not sufficiently protect an outdoor rabbit from the threat of predators or escape. Don't use a fence-style cage as your rabbit's primary habitat unless you keep it indoors.