The Best Cage for House Rabbits (it’s not what you expect)

Forget those tiny pet store cages! When it comes to finding the perfect home for your beloved bunny, it’s time to think outside the box. Literally. The best rabbit enclosures are far from what you’d expect. In this game-changing guide, we’ll reveal why traditional hutches and cramped cages do more harm than good. Learn how to create a spacious, enriching habitat tailored to your furry friend’s needs. From pro tips for picking just the right pen or crate to smart ideas for maximizing limited space, we’ve got the know-how to keep your hopper healthy and happy. The cage you choose can make all the difference, so get ready to transform your rabbit’s world with the enclosure insights you won’t find anywhere else!

A pet playpen is the best enclosure for rabbits

A pet playpen, also known as an exercise pen or x-pen, is the ideal enclosure for house rabbits. Playpens provide rabbits with a large space to hop around and play while keeping them safely contained. Here are some of the reasons why a rabbit playpen is superior to traditional cages:

Larger

Playpens allow for much more interior space than traditional rabbit cages. An appropriate sized cage for a medium rabbit is generally around 6 square feet. However, playpens can easily provide 16 square feet of interior space or more. This additional room allows the bunny to fully stretch out when laying down, hop around, and get adequate exercise inside the enclosure. The increased space also allows you to provide multiple areas for eating, sleeping, litter boxes, and playing.

Cheaper

Good quality rabbit cages are very expensive, often $200 or more. Basic playpens are available for under $100. You can create a spacious bunny habitat in a playpen for a fraction of the cost of buying a ready-made cage.

Easier to clean

The large doors on playpens provide complete access to the entire interior. This makes it very easy to reach all corners for thorough cleaning. Traditional cages often have small doors and interior ramps or levels that make cleaning a struggle.

More versatile

Playpens can be arranged in many configurations to work in any room. You can create L-shapes, U-shapes, or any polygon you desire. This allows you to take advantage of the unique dimensions of your space. Pre-made cages are limited to the existing shape.

Easier to expand and move

Playpens use interlocking panels that can easily be added or removed to increase or decrease the size. You can expand the enclosure as your bunny grows. The panels can be detached and moved to a new location if needed. Traditional cages do not allow for adjustments.

Overall, the increased space, lower cost, ease of access, and reconfigurability make playpens the ideal housing solution for rabbits. Your bunny will appreciate all that extra room to hop around and play!

Flooring in rabbit pens

It's important to choose the right flooring for a rabbit playpen to keep your bunny comfortable and prevent injury. Here are some flooring options to consider:

Carpet or rugs – Provides traction and comfort. Digging may be an issue. Should be scuff-proof and easy to clean.
Blankets or towels – Soft but not ideal for entire floor. Can be chewed and poses choking hazard. Better used in lounging areas.
Grass mats or woven mats – Mimics grassy terrain. Digging deterrent. Easy to clean. Ensure they are non-toxic.
Interlocking foam mats – Cushioned support. Digging deterrent. Easy to clean. Be sure they are non-toxic.
Hard surfaces – Tile, linoleum, wood. Not ideal for entire floor. Can cause sore hocks without proper bedding. Better utilized in litter areas.
Carpet tiles – Provides comfort and traction. Use scuff-proof tight-weave commercial tiles. Easy to remove and replace soiled sections.

The most bunny-friendly flooring provides traction while preventing digging and accidents. Using a combination of surfaces and bedding materials will suit your rabbit's needs and make maintenance simple. Monitor your rabbit's hocks regardless of flooring choice.

Taking size of the rabbit enclosure into consideration

The recommended minimum size for a rabbit enclosure is at least 4 times the length of your bunny when he's fully stretched out. But ideally, you should allow for even more space. Here are some general sizing guidelines:

Small rabbit (under 6 lbs): Minimum 30" x 30" floorspace or about 10 square feet.
Medium rabbit (6-10 lbs): Minimum 36" x 36" floorspace or about 16 square feet.
Large rabbit (over 10 lbs): Minimum 42" x 42" floorspace or about 20 square feet.

Ideally, each enclosure dimension should be at least 3 times your rabbit's length when laying down fully extended. This means small enclosures should be at least 30" x 30", medium 36" x 36", and large 42" x 42".

The more space you can provide, the better. Consider allowing for at least 50% to 100% more than the minimum recommended. So a minimum 16 square feet for a medium bunny would ideally be 24 to 32 square feet.

Vertical space for binkying, standing erect, and stretching is also key. Enclosures should be tall enough to allow your bunny to stand on hind legs without ears touching the top.

When in doubt, always go bigger! Your bunny will appreciate all that space for binkying, bunning, and zooming around.

What if you already have an enclosure that is too small?

If your current rabbit enclosure is smaller than the recommended minimum size, there are some things you can do:

Expand the enclosure if possible by adding on panels, levels, or attaching it to an exercise pen.
Limit the rabbit's time in the small enclosure to sleeping/feeding only. Provide ample daily exercise time in a secure play area.
Upgrade the enclosure to meet size guidelines as soon as realistically possible. Save up if needed.
Add interesting features like tunnels, platforms, toys to optimize use of limited space. Change up periodically to keep it stimulating.
Consider rehoming the rabbit if space limitations severely restrict healthy living conditions long-term.

While less-than-ideal temporarily, chronic confinement in a small enclosure risks physical and mental harm. Your bunny needs room for normal movement and exploration. With effort and creativity, you can likely improve the situation in both the short and long-term. If not, finding your companion a more spacious home may be kindest.

What if I have more than one rabbit?

If housing more than one rabbit, the general guidelines are:

Minimum enclosure size for 2 small rabbits: 40" x 40"
Minimum enclosure size for 2 medium rabbits: 60" x 60"
Minimum enclosure size for 2 large rabbits: 80" x 80"
For 3 or more rabbits: Add at least 10 square feet per additional bunny.

Pair housing requires even more space than the minimums for solo rabbits. Each rabbit needs room to get away from the other when desired. Be sure to include hiding spots, levels, and multiple resources to minimize conflicts.

Bonded pairs may eventually share a smaller sleeping space at night. But during active hours, large enclosures are ideal for healthy bonded relationships, play time, and exercise. For unbonded pairs, always provide adequate separated housing.

With thoughtful design, spacious playpens can comfortably accommodate multiple rabbits. But be sure to provide each bunny sufficient space to thrive. If space constraints don't allow for proper housing of multiple rabbits, consider sticking to one beloved bun.

Other appropriate enclosures for rabbits

While playpens make ideal rabbit housing, some other suitable enclosure options include:

Large dog crates

An extra, extra large dog crate can work well for smaller rabbits. Look for crates of at least 36" x 24" floorspace or larger. Be sure to choose wire crates that allow proper ventilation versus plastic airline-style crates. These can be great temporary or travel housing options.

DIY enclosures

Some bunny owners build custom enclosures from storage cubes, fencing panels, or wood and hardware cloth. These take more effort but allow you to create an enclosure in the exact size and configuration you want. Be sure to use bunny-proof materials only.

Dog crates and DIY enclosures can make fine rabbit housing as long as you follow general size guidelines and choose materials that are safe for bunnies. But playpens provide the easiest, quickest enclosure solution for most rabbit owners.

Terminology: Enclosure instead of Cage

Rabbit owners are moving away from referring to housing as "cages". The word enclosure is preferred. Here's why:

Cage implies captivity, confinement, and being restricted versus housing and sheltering an animal.
Playpens and large dog crates serve as spacious enclosures rather than confining cages.
Enclosures provide safe havens for rabbits versus caging them.
Enclosures allow for natural rabbit behaviors like hopping, running, jumping.
An enclosure more accurately describes the proper purpose of rabbit housing.

The terminology shift reflects evolving attitudes toward the needs of rabbits in human care. Enclosures allow for comfortable housing with room for exercise and play. So consider adopting the term enclosure versus cage. Language matters in supporting rabbit health and wellbeing.

What about traditional rabbit hutches?

Traditional open-air outdoor hutches are no longer recommended as ideal primary housing for rabbits. Here's why:

Too small to allow adequate exercise with typically less than 6 square feet floorspace.
Lack necessary protection from temperature extremes, drafts, pests, predators.
Built with wire flooring which can lead to sore hocks and foot injuries.
Do not contain mess, odor, shed fur; hard to keep clean.
Difficult to fully disinfect and sanitize.
Limit interaction and bonding between rabbit and human.

While once a common housing choice, better options that keep rabbits safe, healthy and enriched indoors are now favored. Well-designed large enclosures provide the space, comfort and security rabbits need while prioritizing their wellbeing. If you currently use a hutch, consider upgrading to a more suitable enclosure.

What rabbit enclosures should you avoid?

Small pet cages marketed for rabbits are still commonly sold in stores. However, there are certain types of enclosures that should be avoided:

Metal cages

Small wire cages do not provide enough space for rabbits to exhibit natural behaviors. Wire flooring can lead to foot injuries. Rabbits need solid ground for secure footing. Look for large enclosures with solid flooring options instead.

Plastic cages

Plastic airline-style cages may be convenient but rabbit's nails can get caught in ventilation slats. These cages are difficult to clean and limit air flow. Prioritize more breathable wire, wood, or metal enclosures.

Aquariums

Glass aquariums seem like secure housing but can quickly overheat, trap urine fumes, and limit ventilation. Avoid aquariums as rabbit enclosures.

Any enclosure that severely limits your rabbit's movement, ability to stand fully erect, or prevents exhibiting natural behaviors should be avoided. Prioritize large enclosures with plenty of interior space, ventilation, and rabbit-safe materials.

How to provide enough exercise space

In addition to a sufficiently large enclosure, house rabbits need ample exercise space daily. Here's how to provide it:

Rabbit-proof a room or area of your home to allow free run time each day. Block access behind furniture and remove hazards.
Use an exercise pen to fence off a section of room for free run time. Expand or move the pen to alternate locations.
Let your rabbit enjoy supervised time in bunny-safe areas like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc.
For apartments or smaller living spaces, consider substituting an extra large enclosure for a traditional cage. This allows room for minimal exercise inside.
Bring your rabbit to bunny-proofed areas outside for fresh air and change of scene under supervision.
Invest in or build custom runs of exercise pens for attachment to the main enclosure to expand space.

With creativity and effort, you can provide the hours of daily exercise healthy house rabbits require, even in cramped accommodations. Your bun will thank you for the ability to binky, zoom, and romp freely!

What if you don’t have enough space in your home?

If it's simply not possible to provide adequate housing and exercise space for a rabbit in your current living situation, consider these options:

Postpone adopting a rabbit until you move to larger accommodations. Rabbits are a 10+ year commitment requiring substantial space.
Rehome the rabbit temporarily to a foster who can provide sufficient room. Resume care once your housing allows.
Surrender the rabbit to a no-kill shelter or rabbit rescue where they will be adopted to a home meeting their space needs.
Schedule daily play dates at a friend or family member’s more spacious home if able.
Improve vertical space with wall-mounted shelves and tunnels. Use space maximizing designs.
Upgrade to the absolute largest enclosure possible and provide at least some daily free run time.

While less than ideal, a loving home with slight space constraints may be workable short term. But you'll need to get creative and commit to providing enrichment and exercise. If that still doesn't suffice long-term, prioritize your pet's wellbeing in your rehoming decision.

Free roaming a rabbit

Some rabbit owners opt to forego enclosures entirely and practice free roaming instead. Here are the pros and cons of letting your rabbit freely roam your home:

Pros:

Maximal exercise and space for binkying, zooming, playing.
Exposure to greater variety of stimuli and environments.
Increased bonding, companionship, and supervision.
Convenient access to litter boxes, food. No enclosure cleaning.

Cons:

Rabbit proofing entire home is challenging and time consuming.
Higher risk of property damage from chewing, digging, accidents.
Difficult to limit access during nighttime hours.
Harder to contain mess, odor, shed fur.
Presence of other pets may create safety issues.

Free roaming can enrich a rabbit's environment immensely. But it requires thorough preparation and training, especially with an untrained bunny. For many owners, combining a large enclosure with ample exercise time is a simpler way to balance safety with freedom. Evaluate your pet's behavior and household setup to determine if unrestrained roaming is right for you.

Conclusion

When it comes to picking the right home for your house rabbit, forget small pet store cages. Opt instead for roomy exercise pens or extra extra large dog crates that allow your bunny to fully stretch out and hop around. Prioritize enough space for natural behaviors, a healthy diet, exercise and playtime, proper house training, and bonding with you. A properly sized enclosure provides the comfy, secure base camp for your rabbit to thrive at home as a member of the family.