The affectionate and loving nature of rabbits makes them wonderful pets to have. They are soft, cuddly and social. Rabbits don’t require a lot of maintenance and they are easily trained. But if you’re thinking of getting a rabbit you must make sure they have lots of room to hop around.
Rabbits love to run around and play which means you have to provide them with a spacious home. These cages come in all shapes and sizes. Some have all the accessories built-in and some you need to buy separately.
According to thepetadvisors, the price for rabbit cages may start from $30 and go as high as $180. The average lifespan of pet rabbits is 8 to 12 years, sometimes even 14. So, the question you need to ask yourself is how much are you willing to invest for your loving pet.
Here are four things you should know before deciding on a cage for your rabbit:
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Rabbits Eat Hay
Were you thinking of buying carrots in bulk for your rabbit? In fact, they only like these root vegetables and dark leafy greens as occasional treats. When you get a cage for your rabbit you’ll need to make sure your rabbit has access to plenty of hay, grass, and water.
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Rabbits Are Social
This is what makes them such lovable pets. They like to play and snuggle with you. To satisfy their social nature you might want to get him a friend. That’s why it’s better to get a cage that can accommodate two or three rabbits.
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Rabbits Like to Chew
Part of rabbits’ nature is to chew. When you let your rabbit run around the house and explore, because that’s what they love, you must keep a careful eye on it. It’ll chew wires, furniture, carpet and anything that’s chewable with its sharp incisors. Sometimes you might need to keep it in its cage with plenty of room to hop around and provide it with interesting chew toys.
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Bunnies will grow up
You might be getting a cute little bunny from the pet store but remember that it’ll grow up with the proper diet. Some species of rabbits can grow to a whopping 20 inches and weigh around 10 pounds. The cage should allow your rabbit to play and run around even when it’s bigger.
Cage requirements
Like all pets rabbits want to feel loved and taken care of. If they are unhappy in their homes, they’ll lose their high spirits and become depressed.
To give them a home where they feel safe, comfortable and happy, you will want to keep the following things in mind:
Size
Experts advise a space for rabbits as much as you have available. They like to stretch, play, and run around and separate areas for each activity will give them plenty of space. This will keep your rabbit playful and happy.
Try to make sure that the cage is not smaller than 2 feet by 4 feet, but ideally, 4 feet by 4 feet is much better. This will allow the rabbit to hop multiple times from one end to the other, stretch to its full length and stand on its hind legs. The cage should also be at least 3 feet tall because most rabbits can jump over anything shorter than this.
An extension is preferable for ultimate comfort, as your rabbit will need more space as it grows up.
Accessories
Rabbits will be the happiest and they will thrive if you give it home closer to its natural habitat. The cage will need to hold a hay feeder, a non-drip water bottle, a feeding bowl, and some chew toys. You can make it feel even more at home by putting in a private nesting area where your rabbit will feel safe and secure.
If you opt for a cheaper cage, it might not have the necessary accessories a rabbit needs so you’ll end up spending more money buying the various elements. A perfect rabbit cage comes with a feed bowl, water bottle, hay rack, litter trays, and a little hut or a box for privacy.
Floor
Rabbits need a floor that is dry and solid. Wet or hard surfaces might lead to your rabbits getting pododermatitis. It is a condition where their hind legs develop sores. A cheap rabbit cage usually has bars as the base of the cage.
Should you really get a cheap rabbit cage?
If you choose to buy a cheap rabbit cage, you’ll eventually end up buying all the other necessities separately which might increase your overall cost of the cage. In the right conditions, your floppy-eared friend will play more, love more and live longer. It’ll bring joy to your whole family.