Preferred enclosure and flooring materials

[cbun]

Hello everyone! We are planning to adopt a bun in about 6 months. The primary free roam space for the rabbit will be a 13x10 room that will be a shared office space (bunny-proofed of course)/ pet room. It has shag carpeting. The 2nd major free-roaming space will be a part of our open floor plan family room. For both the office/ pet room and the family room, I am wondering if I should set up an enclosed space for the rabbit, even if the door is left open some of the time- like an x-pen, or a space marked with metal grids, or other material. We do have a Small Pet Select rabbit house that is wood with a roof and two exits. That will probably stay in the office/ pet room and I'll find a pet mat or rug to go underneath it.

In the carpeted room, I plan to put down either a pet/ bunny mat or other easy-to-wash surface under the litterbox & food and water bowl- same for the family room, which has an area rug and hardwood floors, though I'll find some rugs to lay over the hardwood where the rabbit will roam

My questions, for those with experience, are:

1) Do you have a preferred pet rug/ mat brand? or if not a brand, a material or style? Do you have sizes that you love or does it depend on the space?
2) If you have an enclosed space for your rabbit, even if it's temporary when the rabbit isn't free-roaming, what material have you preferred? (i.e., x-pen, grids, other...)

Please feel free to share links and anything you've loved or your rabbit has loved! I've read a lot online about general recommendations and available options, so I'm truly interested in owner's personal experiences and preferences to see if that will influence me to try one thing or another first.

 

[JBun]

Generally it's best to start out with a penned off area that's not too big while litter training, with a smooth floor, like wood flooring, textured vinyl flooring, tile, etc. Then soft low pile low abrasion rugs (less easily chewed than carpets with loose carpet strands), fleece blankets, or washable dog pee pads can sometimes be added once you know your rabbits litter box habits. Though you may have to add some sort of non slip surface if your bun is uncomfortable hopping on smooth flooring. What flooring works best, all depends on the particular habits of the rabbit you get. Some rabbits are persistent chewers, or some will pee on anything soft no matter how well litter trained, and no soft surfaces or carpet is safe.

I'll usually start with some sort of smooth flooring and a washable rug, fleece blanket, or washable pad, then see how the rabbit does with it. If it just ends up getting consistently peed on, I'll pull it out for a while, until the rabbit has been using the litter box really well for several weeks, then try the soft surface again.

After litter habits are firmly established, if you plan on free roaming or expanding the space, it's best to gradually increase the area so you minimize the risk of upsetting the litter habits that have been established. Expanding space too quickly makes territorial marking more likely.

Even transitioning to free roaming, it's usually good to still keep some sort of home base for the rabbit. That can be a cage or pen set up that's left open, or it can even just be an area with your rabbits litter box and food. Just somewhere the rabbit knows it can go to chill when it wants to be left alone.

Keeping in mind that this is dealing with an adult fixed rabbit. A baby, juvenile, or adult rabbit that hasn't been fixed yet, won't usually have consistent litter habits. Hormones affect litter training, especially with male rabbits.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Spaying_and_neutering_rabbits

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_rabbit_veterinarian

Below are some general tips for the set up when first bringing a rabbit home, as well as some links showing various rabbit enclosure set ups. Sometimes you'll start out with one set up, and gradually change things as you find out what does and doesn't work for your particular rabbit.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bringing-your-rabbit-home.html

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/setting-up-a-cage.html

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/housing-options.html

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/2023-2024-indoor-cages-spaces-add-your-photo.105421/

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Housing

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Litter_training

 

[Kleb06]

JBUN has amazing advice and knows her bunny S&ht!!

I’ll attach my bunnies current setup. I do change things around on occasion if I think something would work better or just a change for them. I have 3 bunnies. All of them are fixed however my females (sisters from different litters) do not get along so they need to be separated.
I started them off in smaller spaces and although it didn’t take long to have good litter habits it did improve after they were desexed.
I ended up getting the second bunny as a baby (after my male was fixed) and kept her in the same room as my male and he was always flopped right beside her enclosure. They bonded immediately and have been together for over 2 years and watching them interact is the cutest and never gets old.
I used a large foam mat and it was ok but my F would shred it occasionally and I’d catch my M trying to eat the pieces. I ended up removing it and placed pet tray in front of their box and for their food.
Instead of closing them In I used the xpens to section off part of my living room with cords. They are free roam and only go into their enclosure during the night.

 

[New2RabbitsDonna63]

Generally it's best to start out with a penned off area that's not too big while litter training, with a smooth floor, like wood flooring, textured vinyl flooring, tile, etc. Then soft low pile low abrasion rugs (less easily chewed than carpets with loose carpet strands), fleece blankets, or washable dog pee pads can sometimes be added once you know your rabbits litter box habits. Though you may have to add some sort of non slip surface if your bun is uncomfortable hopping on smooth flooring. What flooring works best, all depends on the particular habits of the rabbit you get. Some rabbits are persistent chewers, or some will pee on anything soft no matter how well litter trained, and no soft surfaces or carpet is safe.

I'll usually start with some sort of smooth flooring and a washable rug, fleece blanket, or washable pad, then see how the rabbit does with it. If it just ends up getting consistently peed on, I'll pull it out for a while, until the rabbit has been using the litter box really well for several weeks, then try the soft surface again.

After litter habits are firmly established, if you plan on free roaming or expanding the space, it's best to gradually increase the area so you minimize the risk of upsetting the litter habits that have been established. Expanding space too quickly makes territorial marking more likely. Even transitioning to free roaming, it's usually good to still keep some sort of home base for the rabbit. That can be a cage or pen set up that's left open, or it can even just be an area with your rabbits litter box and food. Just somewhere the rabbit knows it can go to chill when it wants to be left alone.

Keeping in mind that this is dealing with an adult fixed rabbit. A baby, juvenile, or adult rabbit that hasn't been fixed yet, won't usually have consistent litter habits. Hormones affect litter training, especially with male rabbits.

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Spaying_and_neutering_rabbits

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_rabbit_veterinarian

Below are some general tips for the set up when first bringing a rabbit home, as well as some links showing various rabbit enclosure set ups. Sometimes you'll start out with one set up, and gradually change things as you find out what does and doesn't work for your particular rabbit.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/bringing-your-rabbit-home.html

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/setting-up-a-cage.html

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/housing-options.html

https://www.rabbitsonline.net/threads/2023-2024-indoor-cages-spaces-add-your-photo.105421/

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Housing

https://wabbitwiki.com/wiki/Litter_training

Your replies are ALWAYS knowledgeable, helpful and appreciated

 

[cbun]

JBUN has amazing advice and knows her bunny S&ht!!

I’ll attach my bunnies current setup. I do change things around on occasion if I think something would work better or just a change for them. I have 3 bunnies. All of them are fixed however my females (sisters from different litters) do not get along so they need to be separated.
I started them off in smaller spaces and although it didn’t take long to have good litter habits it did improve after they were desexed.
I ended up getting the second bunny as a baby (after my male was fixed) and kept her in the same room as my male and he was always flopped right beside her enclosure. They bonded immediately and have been together for over 2 years and watching them interact is the cutest and never gets old.
I used a large foam mat and it was ok but my F would shred it occasionally and I’d catch my M trying to eat the pieces. I ended up removing it and placed pet tray in front of their box and for their food.
Instead of closing them In I used the xpens to section off part of my living room with cords. They are free roam and only go into their enclosure during the night.

I love that grid photo with the 2nd floor section. Do they go up there a lot? I realized that I already had unused grid shelves and so I started putting together a pen space out of grids yesterday. I think I'll order a mat from Bunns & Stuff for the floor covering, but I'll need to order more grids to get the walls to over 30 inches, and after seei your photos I'm wondering about trying to do a little 2nd floor hideaway.

 

[JBun]

If you google 'bunny condo', it'll bring up video tutorials, photos, and various articles using the c&c grids.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/indoor-cages.html

This is one that I put together for my previous rabbits. I used wood boards in mine, to better support the multiple levels.

 

[Kleb06]

I love that grid photo with the 2nd floor section. Do they go up there a lot? I realized that I already had unused grid shelves and so I started putting together a pen space out of grids yesterday. I think I'll order a mat from Bunns & Stuff for the floor covering, but I'll need to order more grids to get the walls to over 30 inches, and after seei your photos I'm wondering about trying to do a little 2nd floor hideaway.

It’s too soon to tell. I just redid it about a week ago. I found my MHL up there once. They are only closed inside during the night and they actually sleep most of the night. During the day they are only in there to drink and go in their box. I just wanted to give them options.
I’m going to check out that mat!
Look on secondhand sites for the grids. I found 40 pieces from Rubbermaid for $25 CAD!!
It would be cool to do a hideaway especially in the being when they need to be in a smaller space. You can always change it easily after. Just remember to leave a grid accessible at the top. I’m not sure if mine is noticeable. Sometimes I just zip tie the back and stick a clip at the front.
I’m anxious to see how you will set up the house!

 

[Kleb06]

If you google 'bunny condo', it'll bring up video tutorials, photos, and various articles using the c&c grids.

https://rabbitsindoors.weebly.com/indoor-cages.html

This is one that I put together for my previous rabbits. I used wood boards in mine, to better support the multiple levels.

View attachment 66239

That looks awesome!! They obviously have some sort of step to get into it?