Indoor. House rabbits should never be kept completely confined to a cage. Exercise is vital for the rabbit's health. All too often we hear well meaning but poorly informed people describe rabbits as easy to keep because “they can be caged and don't take up much space!”.
It's best to let your rabbit out of its cage or enclosure at least twice a day for exercise and socialization. If rabbits are regularly cooped up for more than 12 hours at a time, there is an increased risk that they will develop health problems (such as GI Stasis) or become depressed and lonely.
Anything longer than 24 hours is too long – and even that is pushing the solitude limits of rabbits. Rabbits are social creatures and require about as much, if not more, interaction and maintenance as dogs do and more than some cats need.
Living in an enclosed space can be horrible for a rabbit. Remember that your bunny will still be active for a few hours after you go to bed. It's not as simple as locking them up and waiting for them to fall asleep. They need to feel comfortable in their surroundings.
If the hutch is inside the enclosure the rabbits should never be shut inside it, they should be able to move between their sleeping quarters and exercise area whenever they choose. But you don't have to go for a hutch and run, there are other options available.
Your rabbit's resting area should have at least two compartments. A darkened sheltered area for sleeping away from noise and another for eating/relaxing. All areas should be well ventilated, dry and draught free as damp, poorly ventilated, hot or dirty environments can cause illness.
If your rabbit prefers to be alone, they will make it abundantly clear. And in these cases, it's possible for a single rabbit to live happily, provided they have plenty of social interactions with their humans.
Rabbits travel in pairs and large groups, protecting each other from predators. While rabbits do need time on their own occasionally, they dislike being alone. This is why rabbits are so often sold and kept in bonded pairs. Rabbits are social animals, so a single rabbit is likely to feel lonely and depressed.
Ideally, rabbits should be able to exercise whenever they want to but a minimum of 4 hours free run a day is recommended, ideally split into two exercise periods morning and evening of about 2 hours each.
Angry and unhappy rabbits
Signs to look out for include: Tense and 'up' body. Rather than crouching and tensing, like a stressed or worried bunny, your rabbits may tense in a more aggressive stance if they're unhappy. They might crouch and angle their head up, rather than having it flat against the floor.
Huw Stacey, director of clinical services at Vets4Pets, adds: “Separation anxiety is most likely to affect dogs, but some of the more highly strung cat breeds can display symptoms, too. Rabbits can suffer from the condition – particularly house rabbits.”
Bunnies are super-soft, and many will love cuddling with you as much as you love cuddling with them. Once a bunny is comfortable in their new home, they may claim you as their own by rubbing their chin on you to mark their territory. They might even groom you with little bunny licks to show you love!
As sociable animals, rabbits appreciate constant companionship and in the wild you would rarely find a rabbit alone. To mimic their natural behaviour, it is always a good idea to keep your pet rabbit with a friend to avoid them feeling lonely and unhappy.
Rabbits do appear to become attached to one person once a bond has formed. The formation of this bond takes time, patience, and no small amount of work. However, an attachment requires a bit more time. New rabbits can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to form an attachment to their owners.
At a minimum, you should spend at least an hour with your rabbit every day. However, 3-5 hours (or even more) are ideal. You do not have to be giving your rabbit undivided attention during this time, but instead, make yourself available to interact with them if they want to.
Once rabbits bond with an owner, they become fiercely loyal. Your rabbit will love spending time with you, regardless of whether you're awake or asleep. It's also believed that sleeping with pets boosts human health. It's claimed that animal companionship at night promotes calmness, and reduces stress and anxiety.
As a general rule, you shouldn't leave a pet rabbit alone for more than 24 hours. I do not recommend going away for a weekend trip and not arranging for someone to come in and take care of the bunny.
But don't rabbits smell bad? No they don't! Rabbits themselves are very clean animals with odourless fur and they fastidiously groom themselves all day. Only their urine smells so as long as you keep their living area clean (spot clean every few days and a full clean-out once a week) you shouldn't have a problem.
This is because buns like to mark their territory, and if a space smells unfamiliar, they claim this space by 'marking' it - i.e. leaving their scent in the form of their pee and poop.
What Does a Rabbit Need in Their Cage? Provide 1-2 inches of high-quality paper-based bedding in their main enclosure. Other items needed are a litter box in the corner with paper-based products, a cardboard hide box, a hay rack, a water bottle, a small pellet dish, and toys.
The best places to pet a rabbit are their forehead and behind their ears. The cheeks and strokes down their backs are also good spots. But rabbits dislike being pet on their bottom, feet, chin, and underside.