CREATING THE BEST LIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR YOUR RABBIT
By: Andrew Massaro
Although any rabbit kept as a pet should be given plenty of time to roam free through the house or a designated "play area", its cage will still be where it spends most of its time. Rabbits are inherently "domestic" (as opposed to "domesticated") animals- in other words, they need to have a home! In the wild, they dig out large warrens where they are safe from predators, in the company of their fellow rabbits, and able to safely raise their young. Therefore, it is no surprise that these intelligent creatures have a sense of "home". A rabbit whose cage is not a home, but a prison, will suffer from all the ill effects that depression can wreak on them- obesity, listlessness, destructive behavior, and greater susceptibility to disease. On the contrary, a rabbit who is secure and satisfied with his home will be healthier, more sociable, and a great joy to keep.
The first and most important factor to consider in creating a happy home is the size of the cage. Various owners offer varying rules of thumb for rabbit cage size. Some say one square foot per pound of rabbit; others suggest that the cage should be four times the size of the rabbit. In any event, bigger is better, and it should always be tall enough for the rabbit to stand on its back legs without its ears pushing against the ceiling. You may be able to get away with a cage that is smaller than recommended, but this means giving your rabbit more time to roam the area outside his cage.
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