Free-roaming is crucial when getting a bunny, whether it is just in one room, or around the whole house (bunny-proofing is a must). RABBITS DO NOT BELONG IN CAGES!! Keeping your rabbit in a cage is unjust and can cause many health problems. Keep reading to find out more.
Why are cages bad?
Pet store cages and most hutches are not appropriate accommodation for your rabbits as they are much too small, meaning that your bunny will not be able to be active or display any of their normal behaviours. This can lead to many health issues as I will talk about below.
These are the five main reasons why cages are inappropriate;
- Lack of exercise
Bunnies need to be able to run and jump freely as a lack of this can lead to problems such as obesity and boredom.
- Social needs
Rabbits are very social creatures and need interaction and companionship so putting them in a cage means that this is limited and therefore, your bunny may get lonely and depressed.
- Temperature control
Rabbits need the temperature to be between 15’C and 20’C to be comfortable, a few degrees over or below are acceptable but extreme temperatures can be deadly for your rabbit, cages do not have good temperature control.
- Safety
Cages often are not designed well, meaning that wire could come loose and stab your rabbit in the eye or a wire floor could seriously hurt a rabbits hocks, as unlike dogs, they have no padding to protect their feet.
- Health issues
Rabbits kept in cages do not get enough exercise, this leads to weight gain which can cause obesity and digestive issues for your rabbit. It is crucial for your rabbit to be stimulated as depression is easily formed and cages often do not allow for this essential stimulation.
What is free roaming?
Free roaming is the act of giving your bunny a room or a few rooms or your whole house to roam around unsupervised, this is a great solution as your bunny has room to run, jump and play. To do this you will have to properly bunny proof your area to make sure that your bunny can’t do anything dangerous. Free- roaming is a much better option than keeping your bunny in a cage and often times it can be less expensive as a cage can often cost upwards of £100 – £200.
Why do I need to free roam?
If you really want to give your bunny the freedom it needs then free roaming is the way to go. All you need is a litter box, a hidey house (you can make this out of a cardboard box), a cozy spot (think rug or blanket), some toys (DIY those with toilet paper tubes and cardboard), and basic water and food bowls. You might want to buy extras like a tunnel, a hay bag or feeder, or even a rabbit bed. But, as long as you ensure the room or rooms your bunny will be in are safe (cords out of reach, nowhere that they could get stuck) then it is reasonably inexpensive to free roam your bunny. Just remember, the ongoing costs for hay, food, and litter will be more expensive as you’ll need to keep repurchasing, so that is something to consider.
Alternatives to free roaming
If free roaming is for some reason unattainable, then the only other acceptable option would be a large X-pen – these you can buy online or from pet stores for like £20-£30 and they will keep your bunny contained but won’t confine them like a cage would. Your bunny would still have a bit of room to play and run whilst also being able to stand on their hind legs and reach their full height.
Bunny-proofing
When your rabbit free roams, you must ensure that it is safe for them this means making some changes around the house;
| Risk | How to prevent it |
|---|---|
| Cords – your bunny could chew through these | Buy cord protectors from any hardware store near you to protect any cords at bunny level. |
| Other pets – these could scare your bunny or hurt your bunny | Make sure that there are appropriate dividers between the other pets space so that they cannot hurt each other. |
| Toxic plants – these could be seriously dangerous if ingested | Make sure that you research any plants that you have as likely hood is, your bunny will chew it and if it is toxic, it could be deadly. |
| Furniture and Baseboards – these are not so much a risk, more of a chewing risk as bunnies will be inclined to chew these | You can cover furniture legs with carpets or rugs and get baseboard corner protectors to keep your baseboards unscathed. |
How to stop my bunny chewing the furniture?
Offering your bunny plenty of enrichment and chew toys will help minimise the amount of furniture chewing they will be doing, as well as keeping vigilant and spotting where they are most commonly chewing and putting things in place to stop them from chewing there. Before getting a bunny, you do have to realise there is a chance your furniture will get chewed and that is something you have to come to terms with.
To conclude;
Free roaming in your house or in a set room is 100% the way to go as it will give your bunny the life that it deserves with room to play, run and jump, which will help with things like obesity, boredom and depression. As I mentioned earlier, if this is unattainable then of course use a large X-pen. Personally and I’m sure lots would agree, I believe that cages are unsuitable for a bunny and that it is not hard to give your bunny a better life and free roam them.
Leave a Reply