A rabbit needs far more room than a traditional cage: a spacious pen or a rabbit-proofed room, with space to run, stand up, and stretch out. Give them a hideaway to feel safe, a litter box, unlimited hay, water, and a floor they can grip.
Why this matters
Rabbits are active animals that run, dig, and binky, so a small cage leaves them frustrated and can even harm their bones and muscles. A hideaway matters because a prey animal needs somewhere to retreat, which actually makes them braver in the open. Slippery floors force a rabbit to splay their legs, so a grippy surface (a mat or rug) protects their joints.
Step by step
- Give them a large pen or a rabbit-proofed room, not a small cage, with room to take a few hops and stand up tall.
- Add a hideaway (a cardboard box or tunnel) so they always have somewhere safe to retreat.
- Set up a litter box, unlimited hay, and fresh water where they can always reach them.
- Cover slippery flooring with a mat or rug so they can grip and don't splay their legs.
- Rabbit-proof the space first (cords, gaps, plants) before they get free run of it.
What to watch for
- Room to fully stretch out and take a few hops in a row
- A rabbit using the hideaway when startled (a sign they feel secure)
- Sore or red hocks (the heels), which can come from hard or wire flooring
When to see a vet
Red, sore, or bald patches on the heels (sore hocks) are worth a vet check, and usually a change to softer flooring. Caught early they're much easier to treat.
Sources: Rabbit.org Foundation · Rabbit.org Foundation