How to Raise a Dwarf Rabbit Inside a Home

In times past, rabbits have been tagged as being outdoor pets; new practices in bunny care have changed this attitude. They are no longer considered wild, untamable animals, they are intelligent and trainable domesticated pets much like a cat or dog. Dwarf rabbits are the smallest breed of rabbit with an average weight of four pounds. They don't require very much space, which makes them perfect candidates for indoor pets.

Things You'll Need

  • Rabbit cage
  • Newspaper
  • Litter Tray
  • Meadow hay
  • Pellets
  • Fresh vegetables
  • Fruit
  • Fresh grass
  • Water
  • Ceramic bowl
  • Water bottle
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Instructions

    • 1

      Buy a standard rabbit cage from a pet store and set it up in the room you have chosen for your rabbit to live in. You can use a second-hand cage if you like. These types of cages work very well because they have a plastic tray topped by a wire cage that is easy to clean.

    • 2

      Line the bottom of the cage with several layers of newspaper for extra padding and absorbency. Keep a litter tray in the corner for the rabbit to use; rabbits are like cats and are fairly easy to train. Add a generous layer of meadow hay on the bottom of the cage and inside the litter tray. The hay will serve double duty as litter and a food source for your pet as they like to lay in their toilet area and will eat their litter. Hay is the safest alternative available as opposed to standard cat litter or wood chips that can block their digestive tract and cause illness.

    • 3

      Feed your rabbit one quarter cup of high fiber (18% to 20%), low protein (10% or less) rabbit pellets daily. Baby bunnies can have unlimited amounts of pellets while they are growing. Provide two to four cups of fresh vegetables every day; these include leafy greens, carrots, radishes, broccoli, asparagus and turnip greens. Very small amounts of fruit can be given as a treat once or twice per week, as the sugar is not healthy for them. You can give your rabbit fresh grass from your yard but make sure that it is clean and pesticide free.

    • 4

      Provide clean fresh water every day. Use a heavy ceramic bowl that is hard to tip over to prevent accidents. Water bottles can also be used but your rabbit may need to be trained to use it; some bunnies will use a water bottle more readily than others.

    • 5

      Wash the water bottle and food dishes every day. Empty the litter tray two or three times per week. Clean out the entire contents of the cage once a week and fill it with fresh hay. Replenish the hay every day as they eat it.