Author: Melissa Witherell, DVM

In This Article What You Need to Litter Train a Rabbit View 7 More +

Rabbits are active, intelligent, and social animals. They require a suitable living environment, a healthy diet, fresh water, social interactions, and the ability to behave like a rabbit. Rabbits need appropriate space to perform their normal behaviors—rabbits should be able to run, hop, stand on their hind legs, dig, and always stretch out fully in their environment. When rabbits are not provided the appropriate setting, they can develop medical conditions like obesity, foot sores, gastrointestinal issues, and behavioral problems. Rabbit Cage Specifications Your rabbit should have a main shelter where they can rest, go to the bathroom, eat, drink, and hide if needed. They should also have an exercise area where they can play for a minimum of 4 hours per day; ideally, it should be permanently always attached to their main enclosure and open to them. Generally, a good rule of thumb is to provide a main enclosure that is at least four times the size of your rabbit. The larger, the better! Rabbits should be able to hop around, stand on their hind legs without touching the top, and lay down easily. There also should be enough room for a litter box, water bowl or bottle, hide box, and an area for pellets and hay. For small to medium rabbits like a Dwarf or Dutch rabbit, the enclosure should be at least 24 inches wide by 24 inches high by 36 inches long. For larger breeds like the Flemish Giant, the enclosure should be at least 36 inches wide by 36 inches tall and up to 120 inches long. If you have multiple rabbits, double the cage size per rabbit. Cage Materials Wire-sided cages are best for ventilation, cleaning, and preventing your rabbit from escaping. The floor should be solid like plastic to avoid pressure sores and allow easy cleanup. Wood cages are tough to disinfect and not ideal for your rabbit. The enclosure should not be in a drafty, damp area like a basement, not in direct sunlight, have adequate ventilation, and be in an area of the home where you spend a lot of time. Rabbits are social animals and require daily interaction with people or other rabbits. Exercise Area Provide your rabbit with an exercise area of about 24 square feet. If needed, you can use baby gates or make a pen to contain that area. The height of the gates should be about 3-4 feet tall. If you do not have a thick carpet, provide thick yoga mats or carpet pieces in their exercise area to prevent foot sores. Rabbits should be able to run around this area for at least 4 hours each day, but if you can give your rabbit access to this area 24/7, that is ideal. An excellent example of a properly sized rabbit cage is the Frisco Wire Small Pet House Shaped Cage. Place the pan on top of the wire bottom, not underneath, to prevent foot sores. Alternatively, you can put a mat to cover the wires as well. Do not attach wheels to your rabbit’s cage because it could be dangerous if it moves around. Indoor Rabbit Hutch vs. Outdoor Rabbit Hutch Indoor housing is recommended for all rabbits because of environmental and health concerns with outdoor hutches. In addition, the temperature should remain ideally around 60-75 degrees Fahrenheit because rabbits do not have sweat glands and can overheat easily. If you choose to house your rabbit outside, please provide them with a shelter protected from the heat and cold. It is ideal to place outdoor hutches on the side of the house in the shade, not facing the morning or afternoon sun. Hutches should be several feet off the ground. Ensure the cage is protected from outdoor predators like coyotes and raccoons by putting a fence around the hutch. In the winter, provide a lot of straw bedding to keep them insulated and change the water daily. If the temperature falls below 40 F or reaches above 75 F, please bring your rabbit indoors. Rabbit hutches should be one square foot for every pound of an adult rabbit weight. The hutch should be at least 20 inches high and higher for larger breed rabbits. Many hutches are made with 16-gauge wire for the sides and tops and 14-gauge wire for the floor. Cover the wire floor with 2-3 inches of paper bedding or hay. The only part of the hutch that should be wood is the frame because rabbits will chew on wood. The wooden legs of the wood should be treated to prevent rot and termites. Please make sure the treatment you use is rabbit safe. The roof should be slanted, and the edge should extend 7 inches past the edge of the hutch for weatherproofing. It is not recommended to let your rabbit outdoors, but if you, please allow exercise for at least 4 hours.  However, a rabbit should always be confined to a cage or hutch and should not be let outside. 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. In their exercise area, you can use baby gates or a pen about 3-4 feet high to prevent jumping over. If you do not have carpet, provide thick yoga mats and bits of carpet to prevent pressure sores on their feet. If you allow your rabbit free access to your home, please ensure that you are rabbit-proofing and keeping them safe from electrical wires, toxic plants, and chewing on the walls. Rabbit Cage Cleaning Cages and hutches should be cleaned thoroughly once a week. Every day, you should spot clean the litter box and bedding and remove any soiled material or uneaten food. When cleaning the food and water containers daily, use antibacterial dish soap like Dawn and ensure you clean up in the waterspout. When your rabbit is not in the cage during the once-a-week cleaning, remove all bedding material, litter pan, food, and water containers. Throw away disposable bedding. Empty the litter pan and wipe down the cage as needed. You can use vinegar to clean up any hard-to-remove spots and then disinfect with a small animal habitat cleaner or 3% bleach solution. Leave the disinfectant for 10 minutes and then rinse thoroughly and dry completely before replacing the bedding. In addition, you should provide lots of toys for mental stimulation and to prevent your rabbit from chewing on inappropriate items like furniture, walls, plants, and electric cords. Toy options include: Rabbit-safe wooden sticks or blocks (untreated non-cedar wood) Lots of hay to wear down their continuously growing teeth Cardboard paper tubes Hard plastic baby/cat/bird toys that they can throw and chase Tunnels or castles with platforms made of nontoxic wood or cardboard Digging boxes You can make a digging box with a plastic tub or cardboard box and fill it with layers of carpet, hay, paper litter, or newspaper. If you let your rabbit free roam your house, supervise them and rabbit-proof the electrical wires, toxic plants, and walls with baby gates or other barriers. Please also provide them with additional litter boxes and hide boxes as needed. Do Rabbits Need a Litter Box in Their Cage? Rabbits prefer to urinate and defecate in just a few places (typically corners) so it is ideal for putting a litter box in the corner of the cage to make for easy daily cleanup. You can put bedding inside the litter pan as well as a handful of hay since rabbits like to eat inside their litter box. DIY Rabbit Cage You can build a DIY rabbit cage, but it can be a lot of work, so it is often recommended for first-time rabbit owners to buy a pre-made cage. An easier option is to construct a large pen from 14”x14” wire storage cubes or modify a puppy wire playpen. It is important to put thick 1-2-inch carpet or thick yoga mats for their feet. How to construct a DIY rabbit cage: Start assembling the wire panels with the connectors and attach at least three panels across with 1-2 on top of those. Repeat this a total of four times to make a cube.  Reinforce the panels with zip ties. Make sure to cut off any excess material. Make sure to leave one bottom panel as a permanent opening. If you want a door, only attach zip ties on one side so you can open and close it. Place the yoga mats or carpet inside your rabbit pen, covering all available flooring. Place a litter box in one corner; you can attach a hay rack and water sipper to the wire panels. If you prefer to build a more elaborate hutch for your rabbit, you can obtain building plans for rabbit cages from state extension services or agricultural offices.

Many pet parents are surprised to learn that pet rabbits weren’t evaluated for vaccinations until 2021. If you are a new pet parent or existing pet parent to a rabbit, it’s important to know your rabbit’s vaccination status, vaccines available, and preventing diseases in your rabbit. Do Rabbits Need to be Vaccinated? With the rise of new diseases, vaccination of pet rabbits is becoming common practice in veterinary clinics all over the United States. What Is a Vaccine? A vaccine is a biological preparation that stimulates the body’s immune response against specific diseases. A vaccine could contain a weakened or killed form of the virus or bacteria, or a component of it like a protein. For humans, we are commonly vaccinated for the flu and other seasonal viruses each year. Pet vaccines vary in their scheduling, but are often done soon after birth, or when a pet reaches a certain age to combat common viruses. RHDV and RHDV2 in Rabbits In 2021, The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted emergency use of the Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV2) vaccine for pet rabbits. While RHVD has been prevalent in the United States since 2010, a new variant RHDV emerged that was more dangerous for pet rabbits. RHDV2 is a calicivirus (a virus that is part of the virus family Caliciciviridae), that attacks the rabbit’s liver and is highly contagious and lethal to rabbits. Symptoms can include sudden collapse and death, as well as severe bleeding. RHDV only infects wild and domestic rabbits. It cannot be spread from rabbits to other pets, including dogs and cats, but these pets can transfer the virus from outside to rabbits living in the home. The new variant of RHDV, RHDV2 was detected in the United States in 2018 and spread in wild cottontail and jackrabbit populations in 2020. Officials believe it will eventually become endemic, or regularly found, in North America which is why the vaccine came to light in 2021 and pet parents are highly recommended to vaccine their rabbit against the strain. As of August 22, 2022, RHDV2 has been documented in 23 states, mainly on the west coast and some southern states. RHDV can survive in the environment, be carried into the home on clothing or shoes, and spread to your rabbit easily. It can also spread directly from infected rabbits to other rabbits or if your rabbit is exposed to an infected rabbit’s blood, urine, or feces. The new variant of the virus is easily spread, highly resistant, and causes mortality in 70-100% of infected rabbits within a few days. It’s important to discuss vaccinating your rabbit with your veterinarian since treatment options for this virus are minimal. Protection rates from the vaccine have reached 90% when properly administered. Which Vaccines Are Available for My Rabbit? RHDV2 Vaccine Currently, in the United States, the RHDV2 vaccine is available in 45 states. The vaccine does not have full FDA approval, but preliminary research suggests it is safe and effective at preventing infection. Side effects of the vaccine include mild swelling where the injection was given, mild fever, and lethargy for a few days post-injection. Myxomatosis Vaccine Myxomatosis is a fatal disease for domestic rabbits, and there is currently no treatment. Symptoms include swelling, high fever, lethargy, and difficulty breathing. Myxomatosis is spread via fleas, black flies, fur mites, or indirect contact with infected rabbits. Myxomatosis in pet rabbits has been reported in Oregon, California, and Mexico. A vaccine for the Myxomatosis virus is unavailable for rabbits in the United States. The vaccine is available in Europe and the UK but has not been approved by the USDA. Rabbit Vaccination Schedule The RHV2 vaccine and annual boosters must be given twice, at least three weeks apart. A yearly booster is required to maintain immunity. This vaccine is considered safe for rabbits at 28 days old. Discuss your rabbit’s vaccination schedule and the recommended vaccines with your veterinarian. Preventing Disease in Rabbits In addition to receiving the RHDV2 vaccine, it is crucial to practice good biosecurity because no vaccine is 100% effective. RHDV2 is highly transmissible to rabbits through the environment. Rabbits infected with RHDV2 can spread it for up to a month in their urine, feces, blood, and other secretions. The virus can infect other rabbits through the mouth, nose, or eyes. RHDV2 can be spread via contact with infected carcasses, rabbit fur, food, water, clothing, and insects or predators. RHDV2 is also resistant to the environment; it can survive long periods outside a host on surfaces like clothing and grass for up to a month. It is recommended not to let your rabbit outside in areas where wild rabbits frequent. Do not wear outdoor shoes in areas where your rabbit is, and do not let your rabbit near those shoes. Do not feed your rabbit grass/weeds/flowers from outdoor areas that wild rabbits frequent. Always wash your hands before handling rabbits. If you have had a rabbit infected with RHDV2 and need to disinfect their habitat, removing all organic material/debris is vital before disinfection (bedding, feces, fur, etc.). Following removal of items, wash their cage thoroughly with soap and water. Fully submerge or saturate items with diluted bleach—Mix ½ cup of 6% or 8.25% household bleach to one gallon of water. Please allow a contact time of 5 minutes before rinsing with water and wear appropriate protective gear (rubber gloves, eye protection, protective clothing). Other disinfectant options are Virkon and Rescue. Please visit the USDA website for a complete list of disinfectants and protocols. If you live in an area where Myxomatosis occurs, keeping your rabbit on monthly Revolution is recommended to prevent fleas and fur mites. In addition, protect the rabbit’s outdoor play area with mosquito netting for rabbits that spend some of their time outside. Do not let your domestic rabbit interact or go near wild rabbits. If you have any questions or concerns about the vaccine, insect control, or cleaning/disinfectant, work closely with your veterinarian to determine the best next steps together. Rabbit Vaccination FAQs Is there a better time of year to give vaccines? As long as you consistently follow up with boosters, the best time of year to give the vaccine is the same each year, so there is no lapse in protection. Do show rabbits need additional vaccines? Show rabbits do not need additional vaccines but keeping them on good external parasite protection like Revolution is recommended.

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In This Article What Can Rabbits Eat? View 4 More +

Rabbits are active, intelligent, and social animals that can make excellent companions. All rabbits require a suitable environment, a healthy diet, fresh water, daily exercise, and social interactions with pet parents or other rabbits. While rabbits can make excellent pets, it is crucial to educate yourself about their care. They have specific dietary, housing, and medical needs—all important factors which contribute to their longevity. Lifespan of Rabbits Male rabbits are called bucks, female rabbits are called does, and rabbit babies are called kits. There are at least 60 different rabbit breeds with an average lifespan of seven to 10 years. The oldest rabbit ever recorded lived to 18 years and ten months. Rabbits in the wild can live anywhere from one to nine years of age due to predators, habitat loss, and being hit by cars. Stages of a rabbit’s life include the following: Gestation averages 30–33 days Average litter size: one to six kits Kits open their eyes at about ten days and are fully weaned between 4–8 weeks Puberty starts between 3–5 months of age Does are fully mature around 7–8 months of age Bucks are fully mature around 8–9 months Smaller dwarf breeds can reach sexual maturity between 4–4.5 months of age Senior rabbits are between ages 5–8 years old, depending on the breed Generally, spayed or neutered rabbits live between 8–12 years of age. Unspayed female rabbits have a high risk for uterine cancer and often have a shorter lifespan. Genes also play a role in how long rabbits live. For example, Lionhead breeds can live on average seven to nine years, whereas Flemish Giant breeds may live five to eight years due to health issues but can exceed these averages. When obtaining a rabbit of a specific breed, it is essential for pet parents to research common health issues and discuss with your veterinarian. What Makes Some Rabbits Live Longer Than Others? Regardless of your rabbit’s breed, providing them with a suitable environment, healthy diet, daily social interactions, and exercise is vital. Spaying female rabbits to prevent uterine cancer can significantly extend their life expectancy. In addition, keeping your rabbit indoors safe from predators, extreme weather, and contagious diseases like Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus can keep them happy and healthy for much longer. In general, your rabbit needs: Unlimited timothy or alfalfa hay based on age, fresh greens, a small number of pellets, and fresh water Daily social interactions with you or another rabbit Routine medical examinations by your veterinarian Proper housing Safe toys and exercise to keep them mentally and physically stimulated How to Improve Your Rabbit’s Lifespan Here are some tips to follow for rabbit pet parents who want the best for their pet: Take your rabbit to the vet every six to 12 months for routine examination and dental checkup Feed unlimited amounts of high-quality grass hay to your adult rabbits such as timothy, orchard grass, oat, or meadow hay Alfalfa hay contains more calcium, fat, and protein and should only be fed to young rabbits and lactating or breeding rabbits Feed high-quality rabbit pellets at 1/4 cup per 5 pounds of body weight per day Feed only a small amount of treats Offer safe vegetables and fruit in moderation Offer new clean potable water daily Allow a minimum of four hours of exercise per day where your rabbit can run around, hop, and play Provide a large enclosure at least four times the size of your rabbit Maintain an environment that is between 60–75 F at all times Clean water and food containers daily Spot-clean the litter box and bedding daily and deep clean everything once a week Provide 1–2 inches of paper bedding in their cage and thick yoga mats or rugs in other areas to prevent pododermatitis or foot sores which can be very painful for your rabbit Provide rabbits with mental enrichment like cardboard boxes and tubes, untreated non-cedar wood chew toys and sticks, hard plastic baby/cat/bird toys, dig boxes, tunnels and platforms Rabbit-proof your home to keep your pets safe from chewing on electrical cords, toxic plants, walls, and baseboards If you see any concerning signs like weight loss, drooling, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite, or fecal pellets, contact your veterinarian right away