The two most accessible options where to keep your rabbit are a pen and a cage. Pens are more spacious than cages and are ideally for indoors since the rabbit is more exposed. It’s important to note that rabbits need to be toilet-trained for this set up to work. (Yes, rabbit can be toilet trained!) Provide an appropriate litter box/ toilet where your rabbit can freely pee and poop. Also, make sure that the pen is high enough to keep your rabbit from jumping out.

If you decide on getting a cage for your rabbit, get one that is spacious enough for him to lay down with his feet spread out. Ideally, the size of the cage should be at least 4 times your rabbit’s size. A cage with a removable tray at the bottom is also ideal so you can easily clean your bunny’s pee and poop regularly. Also note that there are wire floorings that may hurt your rabbit’s feet, so it’s best to place a rabbit-friendly mat to provide some cushion.

If you’re able to, you may also have your rabbit free roam in your house or room. Just make sure to rabbit-proof it to avoid any accidents or injuries to your little one (and to your stuff as well!) Make sure to provide him or her his own toilet area if you decide to let him roam free.

Some needed items to make your rabbit’s home comfortable are his own food bowl, hay bowl or rack, water bottle or bowl (best if he cannot topple it over!), toilet or litter box, and a couple of rabbit friendly toys to entertain him.

If your rabbits are kept in a pen or a cage, it’s important to let them run free in a spacious area at least an hour everyday. Of course, you must rabbit-proof the area to avoid damages to your things and most importantly to keep your bunny safe too.

It’s also important to remember that rabbits are very sensitive to heat. Since temperatures in our country could reach really high, it would be best to keep your rabbits in a cool area inside your house. Never leave them in your dirty kitchen, your garahe (garage), or in your labahan (laundry area). It does not only make them lonely and stressed out, but it exposes them to heat and other serious threats like pests and stray animals among others.

As mentioned a while ago, rabbits can be trained to use a litter box. With enough effort, you can teach your rabbit how to pee and poop inside his designated toilet. How? Place some of his poop inside his toilet. You can also place his feeding bowl beside it since rabbits often poop while eating. When you see him raising his tail to pee, place him inside his box. If you’re too late, wipe off his pee with a tissue paper and place it inside his toilet. With enough patience, your rabbit will slowly learn to return to this place whenever he needs to go. Please remember that not all rabbits learn so easily, so patience is key. Also, when they reach 4 months, they get more territorial, making it harder for them to be/stay toilet-trained. Neutering and spaying can make a big difference since unaltered rabbits have a high tendency of marking their territory.

We suggest using litter boxes that are meant for rabbits since these have a mesh to keep the rabbit’s feet and tail clean while stopping them from digging through their toilets. We also suggest using newspaper or pee pads to line the bottom of the box and to place some rabbit-friendly shavings or litter (do NOT use pine or shavings that are made from “softwood” as this can be harmful to your rabbit!) to absorb the pee and to also mask the unpleasant smell. Be sure to clean your rabbit’s toilet at least once a week (we suggest 2 times if you can) to keep their home clean and sanitary. For cleaning smells and stains, vinegar is always a safe and effective choice!

No matter what home you provide them, what’s important is that they are able to access the things that they need – food, water, exercise and stimulation. Remember, a good home is important for a rabbit to have a happy and healthy life.

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