2020 Indoor Cages... add your photo!

[Blue eyes]

Each year we start a new thread to show off our rabbit cages. Not only is it fun to see everyone's cages, it is also useful for new bunny owners.

Whether you've made a cage out of cube grids, exercise pen, xl dog crate, old furniture or any combination, we'd love to see it! (there is a separate thread for outdoor cages here: https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/outdoor-cages-post-your-photo.96732/ )

As always, let's avoid discussion as much as possible. ​

We want this thread to be full of photos!

So let's see your cages!!!! ​

A WORD ABOUT CAGE SIZES

"Proper" or "recommended" cage size can be a touchy topic. However I believe all can agree that bigger is always better.

There are varying recommendations by different groups so I will include a few here to give a general feel for some of those recommendations. The sources will be included as well. Generally, these are for indoor house rabbits. The information is included in the spirit of providing the best we can for our bunny companions.


A rabbit needs at least four hours per day of running time inside the house or in a fenced yard, supervised by a human to prevent attack by predators. Our house rabbits are often never caged, but if you find it necessary to keep your rabbit confined while you are away, then be sure the cage is at least 3' x 4' on the floor dimensions, and at least 2' high, so the rabbit can comfortably stand on her haunches to look around. Large breeds (more than 6 lbs.) need an even larger hutch to be comfortable and healthy.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/indoorbun.html (by Dana M. Krempels, Ph.D.)


Bigger is better! A rabbit's home should be at least 4-6 times the size of your bunny when he's entirely stretched out - more if he is confined for a large amount of the day. Enclosure sizes also should be decided in conjunction with the amount of exercise time and space the rabbit has. One guideline to go by is at least 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least 24 square feet of exercise space, for 1-2 rabbits, in which the rabbit(s) can run and play at least 5 hours per day.
http://rabbit.org/faq-housing/ (House Rabbit Society)


Our recommendations are based on research, where it exists. One thing that all welfare organisations agree on is that A Hutch Is Not Enough. We recommend a minimum area of 10ft x 6ft x 3ft high (3m x 2m x 1m) for a pair of average sized rabbits, regardless if they live indoors or outside.
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-housing/ (Rabbit Welfare Assoc Fund)

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I know this is indoor, but I wanted to share my sort of indoor setup (it is in a shed). I hope this is okay? It doesn't have any toys or food in it because I had just cleaned.

 

[CookieJingleToes]

Chowder has a bedroom. Instead of caging him I just blocked off outlets. And books. He loves to "read". Its still a bit of a work in progress. Needs new flooring and a better curtain. I use it as a second tv room so I dont have to watch sports.

 

[vicki taylor]

Each year we start a new thread to show off our rabbit cages. Not only is it fun to see everyone's cages, it is also useful for new bunny owners.

Whether you've made a cage out of cube grids, exercise pen, xl dog crate, old furniture or any combination, we'd love to see it! (there is a separate thread for outdoor cages here: https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/outdoor-cages-post-your-photo.96732/ )

As always, let's avoid discussion as much as possible. ​

We want this thread to be full of photos!

So let's see your cages!!!! ​

A WORD ABOUT CAGE SIZES

"Proper" or "recommended" cage size can be a touchy topic. However I believe all can agree that bigger is always better.

There are varying recommendations by different groups so I will include a few here to give a general feel for some of those recommendations. The sources will be included as well. Generally, these are for indoor house rabbits. The information is included in the spirit of providing the best we can for our bunny companions.


A rabbit needs at least four hours per day of running time inside the house or in a fenced yard, supervised by a human to prevent attack by predators. Our house rabbits are often never caged, but if you find it necessary to keep your rabbit confined while you are away, then be sure the cage is at least 3' x 4' on the floor dimensions, and at least 2' high, so the rabbit can comfortably stand on her haunches to look around. Large breeds (more than 6 lbs.) need an even larger hutch to be comfortable and healthy.
http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/indoorbun.html (by Dana M. Krempels, Ph.D.)


Bigger is better! A rabbit's home should be at least 4-6 times the size of your bunny when he's entirely stretched out - more if he is confined for a large amount of the day. Enclosure sizes also should be decided in conjunction with the amount of exercise time and space the rabbit has. One guideline to go by is at least 8 square feet of enclosure space combined with at least 24 square feet of exercise space, for 1-2 rabbits, in which the rabbit(s) can run and play at least 5 hours per day.
http://rabbit.org/faq-housing/ (House Rabbit Society)


Our recommendations are based on research, where it exists. One thing that all welfare organisations agree on is that A Hutch Is Not Enough. We recommend a minimum area of 10ft x 6ft x 3ft high (3m x 2m x 1m) for a pair of average sized rabbits, regardless if they live indoors or outside.
https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/rabbit-housing/ (Rabbit Welfare Assoc Fund)

 

[Magebeam]

This is Lacey. I got her in August when I was trying to save a wild rabbit rescue. Unfortunately, the baby passed which was terrible but Lacey is a sweety. At first, we would put a smaller cage on our bed and let her run and play on there but after a couple of months she learned how to get off of the bed (and she hates getting picked up) so I made her a bunny condo out of a NIC cube set I bought off Amazon. It has stick-on vinyl tiles on the bottom and stick-on carpet tiles on the upper levels. I used a staple gun with the carpet squares to attach to the underside.

 

[Brie Prsnk]

Biscuit is free roamed inside and outside. This is his inside “home base”. This area is temporary and will be changed soon. He spends mainly mornings and nights inside that’s why he has a smaller litter box. He also doesn’t chew wood or wires and I’m hoping it stays that way. I still keep wires out of his reach to be safe.

 

[CookieJingleToes]

Does anyone bunny use store bought house? I got a hay one and he will not go in it(unless I put a treat init, but he just pulls the treat out) I also had a hot kind of like Biscuit has in the picture but gave up and let the cats have it. No a cardboard box with a door cut in he loves. It's just not as pretty.

 

[Flopsygirl]

Does anyone bunny use store bought house? I got a hay one and he will not go in it(unless I put a treat init, but he just pulls the treat out) I also had a hot kind of like Biscuit has in the picture but gave up and let the cats have it. No a cardboard box with a door cut in he loves. It's just not as pretty.

Maybe you could just add some pretty fabric around the cardboard box! I’m pretty crafty so that’s what I would do

 

[Flopsygirl]

This is Baileys new condo we built today. It’s 3 stories but he hasn’t worked out how to get to the other levels yet. We will have to entice him with food I think

 

[user 28242]

Does anyone bunny use store bought house? I got a hay one and he will not go in it(unless I put a treat init, but he just pulls the treat out) I also had a hot kind of like Biscuit has in the picture but gave up and let the cats have it. No a cardboard box with a door cut in he loves. It's just not as pretty.

My rabbit is similar - she really doesn't care about store-bought houses, especially soft ones or cat beds.
Cardboard boxes are her favorite! She likes to remodel them and make the doors bigger, then create new doors...

Kenna is indoor free roam currently in my loft but I'll be moving in with my boyfriend in a couple months and we're trying to figure out what her setup will be - he has more cords that are harder to replace (like to surround sound speakers)

She has 2 main areas fairly close to each other - one is half of her old cage with the wire top removed as it's too hard for her to jump into it anymore (arthritis) and the other is next to my dresser. Both have pee pads as she does have accidents right next to her litterbox, as well as have food, water, hay, and blankies.

We started briefly with a smaller cage back when I was new to having an indoor bun, and since then we've done a pen, a 2-3 level condo, a large 2'x4' cage with the door usually open, and now she's been 100% free roam for a couple years. She just chills out and lays around when she's not eating or investigating!

 

[Bribunny77]

My buns are in the process of being bonded.
Kookie is freeroam in my room since I have had him much longer and he is litter trained. Bandit stays in a large pen with a tarp since he is working on litter training. I am planning on freeroaming them both if the bonding works out.

 

[Happy Hollands]

My bunnies live in these 20 sq ft cages, with free time in the grass and partial free roam inside too! One of the photos with the line up of cages is at a local breeder called Blue Clover Rabbitry where I got the idea to build these cages...
Hope these pictures help!!!

 

[nat1234]

2x4 xpen from chewy
tile is underneath the blanket to protect the carpet purchased from lowe's
fleece i typically get from walmart
the wooden platform is from bunnies that lunch
and finally the litter box is also from walmart

 

[Mariam+Theo]

2x4 xpen from chewy
tile is underneath the blanket to protect the carpet purchased from lowe's
fleece i typically get from walmart
the wooden platform is from bunnies that lunch
and finally the litter box is also from walmart

Adorable rabbit!

 

[vicki taylor]

Xpen-80x80 panels . Lino underneath to protect oak floor and mats to give bunnies grip out of litter tray. They now free roam this room 24/7 although we’ve yet to bunny proof the rest of the house.

 

[TheSketchyBunnies]

Hi! This is my rabbit’s set up! By the way I’m sorry about the lighting.. So this cage is made with galvanized sheet metal molded the the correct size for the base of this cage. On top of that there is a layer of soft towels, and on top of that I put a waterproof table cloth (That my bunnies don’t eat.) The cage in total has eight square feet of floor space. It is currently split in halve as you can see in the photos because I am going to fix my male very soon.

 

[Possy]

Hello. We are picking up our mini lop tomorrow. We have been busy getting his indoor house ready.

 

[Blue eyes]

View attachment 45008 Hello. We are picking up our mini lop tomorrow. We have been busy getting his indoor house ready.

Lovely set up, @Possy . Just a note of caution: those connectors are prone to pop-off, especially with an active rabbit. It's a good idea to reinforce all connections with zip-ties (or in place of the connectors). The added benefit of using zip-ties is that they make a handy door swing as well. (I think I saw a zip tie or two on your cage, but couldn't tell if there are more.)

I'll attach a photo of an old cage of ours that shows the door open to show how the zip ties make a good hinge. A carbiner clip can be used to hold it shut. It's recommended to have a door on a cage so bunny can hop out for exercise without having to be physically lifted out.

You may also want to consider putting a sheet of rolled linoleum on the wood so it can be wiped easily (if you hadn't already planned that). There is lino on the bottom of the cage in my photo. I don't have your well-made wood floor, but you can see how the lino would be a good way to protect your wood. The ramp is optional as rabbits can easily hop up to the upper level.

 

[CookieJingleToes]

And snip off the excess zip tie. Those silly bunnies like to chew. (I know this seems like a "well duh" thing but my son is the one who suggested it to me as I did not think of it!)

 

[Jasminebunny]

View attachment 45008 Hello. We are picking up our mini lop tomorrow. We have been busy getting his indoor house ready.

I love it ! Would you mind if i re-created a bunny house like that ?