Welcoming some sweet bunnies to your family can be exciting. In our opinion, it’s one of the best decisions you’ll ever make! Now that you’ve done your research on rabbit care, it’s time to start thinking about where to house your furry companions.
There’s a lot of advice out there when it comes to finding the best indoor rabbit cage - in fact, it can all be a bit confusing when you’re new to small pet parenthood. Is it better for my rabbits to live indoors or outdoors? Should I go for a wire cage or a wooden hutch? How big should a rabbit’s cage be?
In this article, we'll answer all these questions and more! This is your definitive guide to everything there is to know about choosing a rabbit cage - including what to put inside and how to keep it clean.
Why You Should House Rabbits Indoors
While you may be familiar with pet rabbits being kept outdoors in hutches, we would generally recommend you keep your bunnies indoors if possible.
In the wild, rabbits live underground in warrens where the temperature remains at around 10°C. This means that extreme weather conditions don’t agree with our furry friends. Whether it’s sweltering heat in the summer or an icy chill on a winter’s day, rabbits living outdoors are dangerously exposed to the elements.
Keeping your rabbits outside also adds the risk of potential predators and limits the amount of time they could be spending with their favorite hooman companion... you!
Here at Kavee, we prefer to keep our fluffy friends by our side, in a bunny-proofed indoor space that they can make their own.
Caring For Rabbits Living Indoors
We recommend giving your bunnies the best of both worlds: a spacious area that they can freely explore and a cage where they can pop in and out as they please. The latter can act as their sleeping quarters, their dining area, and a comfy hiding place.
Plus, if you’re out of the house and can’t supervise them, a cage can save them from getting into trouble.
Our indoor cages for rabbits have been carefully designed to provide your bunnies with an enriching environment in which they can perform all of their normal behaviors - like running, binkying, standing on their hind legs, and being able to stretch out fully.
It's not just a matter of curb appeal (although who could say no to our Bunny Blossom collection?!). No - a sturdy, roomy, and well-equipped cage is essential for your rabbit's general health, safety, and overall quality of life.
In short, all bunnies require a suitable living space in order to thrive. One that provides them with:
- The right food and access to fresh water.
- An area to toilet.
- Quiet hiding spots where they feel safe.
- A sleeping area.
- Solid, non-slip flooring.
- Enough space to be able to comfortably move around in and exercise.
- Safe toys that provide enrichment.
- A clean & well-maintained environment.
- Companionship with other bunny pals (it’s always kindest to house at least two rabbits together as they are social animals).
Otherwise, when the right setting isn't provided, your pet bunny is at risk of developing medical conditions such as obesity, sore hocks, gastrointestinal issues, and even behavioral problems. So to show real love and care for them (and avoid some expensive vet bills!), it's important to take the time to set their living area up for a comfortable long life.
Choosing the Right Indoor Rabbit Cage
When choosing a rabbit's cage, it's important to consider the material, size, and ease of cleaning.
But with so many options on the market, we totally understand that finding the right one can be overwhelming. So let's take a quick look at the pros and cons of the most common cage types.
Types of Indoor Rabbit Cages
Wire Cages
Wire-sided cages are probably the most common type of indoor rabbit cages. What makes them popular is how they’re well-ventilated and secure. They also typically come with a pull-out tray underneath, which makes for easy clean-ups.
However, the downsides unfortunately outweigh the positives. Most wire cages sold by pet shops are simply too small for bunnies to be able to live their best lives. And, even worse, many owners don’t realise that those with wire floors are tough on rabbit’s paws.
The wire floors force your bunnies to distribute their weight in an unnatural way, which can cause large and painful sores on the heels of their feet, AKA sore hocks. Plus, litter training is pretty straightforward with rabbits, so a pull-out tray isn’t really all that necessary in the first place!
Plastic Cages
Plastic-coated mesh can enlarge the wires on your rabbit’s cage, which provides a little more relief for their feet.
However, bunnies are persistent nibblers and are likely to chew straight through the plastic coating. Of course, plastic is not a bunny-safe material so this poses a health hazard!
For this reason, we’d advise steering clear of plastic cages.
Wooden Hutches
A traditional rabbit hutch is usually made from wood. While these are more appropriate for bunnies kept outside, they pose the same problem as wire and plastic cages in that they’re often too small for rabbits.
According to the RSPCA:
“The traditional husbandry method of keeping rabbits permanently confined in small hutches is totally inappropriate for the long-term housing of rabbits kept as pets.”
Plus, a material like wood can also be fairly difficult to keep clean in comparison to others, as cleaning products tend to quickly sink and leave a mark.
Multi-Level Cages
Rabbits are prey animals in the wild, so they have a tendency to be nervous and skittish. Their home should therefore provide them with plenty of opportunities to hide. A multi-level hutch with a ramp can meet these needs with plenty of safe corners to nest in.
Note that if you’re tight on space, the upper floor of a two-story cage doesn’t count towards the overall spatial footprint of their home. It shouldn’t impact their headroom, either.
C&C Cages
A C&C cage stands for ‘Cubes & Coroplast’, which are the materials used in its construction. The ‘cube’ refers to the grids that are assembled to create the cage structure, and the ‘coroplast’ is the sturdy plastic base used at the bottom of the cage.
C&C cages identified a gap in the market for rabbit homes that were roomy, easy to assemble, durable, non-toxic, and 100% focused on bunny welfare (plus totally in-keeping with your interior décor, of course).
They give your house rabbit much more than the minimum space requirements, are safe for your floofer’s delicate little paws, and come with a side door that allows them to easily hop in and out. A guarantee to get happy binkying bunnies!
Size and Space Considerations for Rabbit Cages
By far and away the most important consideration when it comes to your rabbit’s cage is SPACE.
Bunnies need a lot more of it than you might originally assume. A small cage that feels constricted can quickly result in rabbits that are irritable, stressed, and even unwell.
Even if your free-roaming bunnies get plenty of opportunities to hop outside their cages and stretch their legs, they shouldn’t feel constrained in movement any time they’re back inside their cage.
Minimum Size Requirements for a Rabbit’s Cage
You should provide your bunnies with a minimum of 8-12 square feet in their main living area. To check if it’s suitable, your bunny should be able to:
- Hop at least three times along the length.
- Rear up on their hind legs without touching the top of the enclosure.
- Turn around and stretch out fully.
Of course, these are minimum guidelines, and if you have the space available, our advice is always the bigger, the better. Our smallest 3x3 C&C rabbit cage is 11.8 square feet, and we wouldn’t recommend anything smaller.
Don’t be afraid to supersize your cage and go as big as you possibly can - your bunnies will furever be grateful for it!
Plus, bunnies come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes - from sweet Dwarf fluffballs to larger breeds like the Flemish Giant. So while these guidelines are a starting point, a good rule of thumb is to choose a cage that's at least 3x their length, 1.5-2x their width, and 1.5-2x their height.
Daily Exercise Needs for Rabbits
Rabbits are passionate little athletes that need to exercise daily to release energy and stay healthy! As such, they should have access to an area that's at least 24 square feet to play, zoomie, and binky to their heart’s content.
This could either be the whole room that you’ve dedicated to your bunny (and bunny-proofed to avoid incidents!) or even an area that you’ve designated with a barrier or an easy-assembly playpen. Wherever that may be, make sure you add a carpet or fleece liner to any hard floors to prevent sore paws!
Material and Safety Considerations
To keep your pet rabbits healthy for the long term, it’s important to ensure that their cages are safe, sturdy, non-toxic, and chew-proof. So consider the below points when deciding on one:
- Is it made of durable, pet-safe materials?
- Is the flooring suitable for my rabbit’s feet?
- Will it be easy to get my rabbit in and out? (Note, a door on top of the cage can be trickier when handling your rabbit)
- Is it chew-proof?
- Will it keep a small animal safe from harm? i.e. Is it secure from larger household pets like cats or dogs?
At Kavee, our rabbit cages only use the best quality materials and have been designed with all of these questions in mind. So you can rest assured that the below comes as standard for your bunny’s utmost welfare:
- A secure locking slot construction which means no glue, tape, or DIY required.
- A correx base chosen for its strength, resistance, and comfort.
- A hinged (and customizable) side door to allow your rabbits easy access in and out.
- Grid coating that doesn’t wear off and therefore is safe to chew (plus added nibble guards!).
- Optional lid to protect your rabbits from other animals in the house that could cause them harm (but make sure you still supervise them if other pets get near their cage!).
Choosing the Right Lining for Rabbit Cages
Once you've decided on a cage, you need to start planning what to put inside of it (besides your floofers!). Most importantly, what kind of lining will keep your rabbit's paws comfortable with every hop.
Generally speaking, bedding should be warm, soft, absorbent, and non-toxic. You might be thinking of using wood shavings as these are traditionally seen in rabbit's hutches. But these days, fleece liners are becoming more popular. So which is best?
This can largely be down to personal preference and we've compiled a few pros and cons of both to help you decide.
Pros of fleece liners
- Dust-free & non-allergic
- Warm, safe & hygienic
- Cost-effective in the long-run
- Reusable & eco-friendly
- Gentle on paws
- Easy to maintain
- Customizable with different patterns
Cons of fleece liners
- Only suitable for indoor rabbits
- Higher upfront cost
- Requires a weekly laundry run
Pros of wood shavings
- Suitable for indoor & outdoor rabbits
- Warm & safe (just check the type you’re using)
- Initially more cost-effective
- Easier to spot clean
Cons of wood shavings
- Dust can cause respiratory issues
- Messier/less hygienic
- Needs regularly repurchasing
Important note: Avoid pine and cedar wood shavings - they contain toxic chemicals that may negatively affect your bunny’s health. Always double-check that the shavings you choose are rabbit-safe.
With these considerations in mind, fleece is our personal preference for both our rabbit’s health and the planet. If you like the sound of fleece too, then check out the fleece liners we designed specifically for bunnies.
Maintaining an Indoor Rabbit Cage
Cleaning may not be the most exciting thing that springs to mind when bringing home your new bunny, but it’s an important part of pet parenthood that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Not only will a dirty cage start to smell (which isn’t pleasant for you), it will also negatively impact the health of your bunnies, both mentally and physically!
We recommend a daily spot clean and a weekly deep clean of their cage to help you stay on top of things and keep your bunnies healthy & happy.
Just make sure that before you deep clean, you remove your bunny from their pet palace and place them in a separate and secure rabbit-proofed area.
Daily Spot Clean
- Remove any leftover fresh food in the morning and evening.
- Refill their bottle with clean water.
- Pick up any poops that accidentally made it outside the litter box.
- Scoop out the litter box and replace it with more if needed (keep an eye on this area as it can help you spot any health-related issues early on).
Weekly Deep Clean
- Empty the cage of everything inside and place the used fleece liner in your next laundry load.
- Spritz the Coroplast base with a mild pet-safe solution (hot water and vinegar does the job for a DIY alternative).
- With stronger disinfectant products, always take care to rinse down with water afterward and dry thoroughly.
- Wipe down toys and accessories.
- Wash up food bowls and water bottles (a bottle brush will make this easier).
- Replace the litter tray with completely fresh litter.
- Pop a clean fleece liner at the base of the cage.
- Put all items back inside - not forgetting your rabbit (who couldn’t be hoppier about clean bedding!).
At Kavee, we believe that cleaning out your rabbit’s cage shouldn’t be a chore. We’ve therefore designed our cages with super-easy clean-ups in mind.
You can access every section of your C&C cage by removing the lid for the entire duration of the task at hand. We have even designed a handy little dustpan and brush to get into those harder to reach corners and help you leave no dirt, poop, or hay behind.
Top tip: Rabbits that haven’t been spayed or neutered have a tendency to display territorial behaviors such as spraying their cage. So you may want to consider getting them fixed for an overall cleaner environment and healthier bunnies too!
Accessories for Indoor Rabbit Cages
Boredom is your rabbit’s worst enemy, as it doesn’t just affect their personality, it can also negatively impact their health. A bored bunny is likely to develop destructive behaviors and chew on pretty much anything they can get their teeth in. Not only is this a nuisance - it can also be dangerous!
So to save your furniture and keep your bunny entertained and happy, there are a series of things you can introduce to their play area:
- Bunny-safe wooden sticks or blocks.
- Multi-level platforms they can run up and down of - take a look at our Wondrous Wooden Bunny Castle & House for some ear-resistible inspiration!
- Safe toys that they can chew and play with.
- Digging boxes and tunnels that they can burrow in.
Remember that rabbits love to nibble on… well, just about everything. So while DIY toys are always an option when supervised, we’d recommend providing them with tried-and-tested bunny-safe enriching accessories where possible.
As rabbits are prey animals, they naturally feel safer when they have spaces to hide in, so make sure to also provide them with plenty of cozy hideys where they can rest feeling safe and sound.
Benefits of Buying Rabbit Cages from Kavee
As a team made up of small pet parents, we can truly say that we put your rabbits’ well-being and safety as our top priority. Having tested many different materials and designs in the early production stages, we pride ourselves on the high-quality bunny products we offer.
Of course, the choice is entirely your own and a personal decision to make. Whichever cage you decide on, just make sure it ticks all of the criteria we’ve been through in this guide.
Why Pet Parents Choose Kavee
If you’re still umming and ahhing, don’t just take our word for it! Our hoppy pet parent reviews speak for themselves.
“Very easy to put together. Great size. Rabbits really love it!”
“As children, my partner and I owned guinea pigs and rabbits. They were kept in hutches outside. After watching so many friends invite their 'fur babies' into their houses, my partner and I have done exactly this. We have purchased a 4 x 2 C&C cage… I have never been so happy with a purchase.”
“My rabbits love this. They have so much room to move about. Better than any hutch.”
Conclusion
With their sweet natures, floppy ears, and cute button noses, it’s no surprise that rabbits are among the most popular pets in the US after cats and dogs. But just because they’re smaller doesn’t necessarily mean that they need a small amount of space or any less TLC.
Our fluffy friends have their own specific needs that we think everybunny - whether a current or aspiring pet parent - should know about. Choosing the right indoor rabbit cage is therefore an important consideration that ensures their long-term health and hoppiness.
We hope that this rabbit cage guide has left you feeling more knowledgeable and informed. So happy rabbit house shopping and don’t forget to check out our range of ear-resistible accessories, too! If you're still unsure, simply drop us a line with any questions you have about indoor cages for rabbits or our other products - we’re always more than happy to help.
