Smaller indoor cage vs. Bigger outdoor cage

[leyley904]

I have a dwarf rabbit right now. He lives in my room in a 2.5(w)x4(l)x2.5
(h) cage (give or take). This is a super small rabbit who is calm and doesnt jump much. The only way I can make the cage bigger is if I move him outside. I live in 90 degree weather (I would keep fans on his cage) and his previous owner kept him outside and, I would rather not put him out again. He does seem happier inside. I really want to keep him inside so i can give him more attention even if he is in his cage, but I can't decide if he might be happier in a bigger cage.... I may end up getting him a friend, and at that point I will eaither have to majorly reduce the furniture in my room, or move them outside....

Sorry that that paragraph was all jumbled up, I kept adding more in the middle.

[JD In Van]

Rabbits should not be kept outside. They're exposed to elements, bugs and animals who will eat them.

How much free running time does he get? Rabbits should be out of thier cage more then they're in them. Really any time you're home they should be free running. They'rie not like Guinea Pigs, they are more like cats and their cage should be treated as a kennel more then a home.

You can also do C&C cages for rabbits and go up rather then long or wide, multiple levels works well for giving bunnies extra room.

[Wodentoad]

No outdoors! No no no! No!

Reduce the furniture in your room? I'm a minimalist, all I need is a bed and a dresser. (I'm only joking!)

If there's not room in your bedroom, is there room elsewhere in the house? Perhaps, though the bunnies are in your charge, they could be in a public space?

Agreed on the running room too and snuggle them once or twice for me!

[leyley904]

i have cats so he doesnt get much free range time (he is really good at hiding from me :P) i feel really bad for him and i don't know what to do! I looked at the cage for a while and figured i might be able to make it taller, but i keep getting mixed messages about that, i hear that they are ground dwellers and prefer the ground! I'm probably getting rid of my desk in a few weeks and can make it bigger then, but i don't know how big

[leyley904]

i cant put him anywhere else in the house because of my moms allergies, and the cats. i think i will get a large pen for him so that he can have more space while im home. if i get him a friend my mom will understand that they need a bigger cage and will probably let me move it into my sister's room (moved away but still crazy about me not disturbing her room, stupid sisters :P) then it can be bigger, so maybe getting him a freind will help him with boredom and it will help him get a bigger cage?

P.S. he used to live outside w/o shade and on a wire-bottom, 1 ft by 1.5 ft cage. next to him was two larger bunnies in the same condition, but they beat up on my rabbit so they had to be seperated. they never had hay or veggies or toys or anything you would think of as common sense (but they got them for easter and really thought they were more like mice or something) so he is happy now that he is with me, but i think he could be happier!

[juliaaa]

He should absolutely not be outside. If there is no way you can increase the size of the cage, then you have to increase the amount of time he has to run outside of the cage. I understand that you have cats, but that's part of the responsibility of owning a pet. Find a way to keep the cats out of your room. I had to completely bunny-proof my room, including rearranging EVERYTHING so he couldn't get in my box spring and other dangerous places. I'm not trying to be mean, but you adopted the bunny, and if you have his best interest in mind, you need to take every measure you can to keep him safe and happy.

[leyley904]

okay, im trying, i really am, if i want trying to help him i wouldnt be posting this. so just understand that

[JD In Van]

He should absolutely not be outside. If there is no way you can increase the size of the cage, then you have to increase the amount of time he has to run outside of the cage. I understand that you have cats, but that's part of the responsibility of owning a pet. Find a way to keep the cats out of your room. I had to completely bunny-proof my room, including rearranging EVERYTHING so he couldn't get in my box spring and other dangerous places. I'm not trying to be mean, but you adopted the bunny, and if you have his best interest in mind, you need to take every measure you can to keep him safe and happy.

I second that.

I had a rabbit when I was a kid that we ignorantly left locked up most of the time. We rehomed him to a home that allowed him to free run and only kennelled him at night and oh what a change there was in him! I couldn't believe it! I regret that we didn't know any better at the time.

[leyley904]

okay, now you guys are just telling me im not doing a good job. that doesnt help.

[JD In Van]

Back to your question.
Inside is better then outside. Period.
Try and find a way to get the bunny out more as well. If you can close the door to you room to keep the cat out and protect any wires so the bunny can't chew them you should be good.

[juliaaa]

okay, now you guys are just telling me im not doing a good job. that doesnt help.

We're not trying to tell you you're doing bad job. We're just saying that there's other options besides a small indoor cage or a big outdoor cage. Is there anyway you can bunny-proof your room, and keep the door shut so the cats can't get in to bother him?

[Paula]

Animals that live outdoors are subject to a number of adverse conditions that animals living inside don't face, weather, predators, etc., and on average they live much shorter lives than those granted a place to live inside with the family.

If you can't or won't provide him adequate housing INSIDE then why do you have him? I don't understand people explaining how much they love their animals that then relegate them to outdoor living where they are little more than a burden to feed and water and treated as glorified lawn ornaments.

I may end up getting him a friend, and at that point I will eaither have to majorly reduce the furniture in my room, or move them outside....

I hardly see that this is a tough choice. You took this animal in, presumably, to do what's best for him. Keeping him inside AND providing adequate cage space and free range time is what's best for him. I don't see why they should be mutually exclusive. You adopted this animal to make his life better and you should do everything you can to find a way to make it work.

[Fudgenrolo]

I don't know what this is in 'grids' but the minimum sized hutch / pen (whatever) for a rabbit - whatever the rabbits' size or breed - is 6ft long x 2ft high x 2ft deep (front-to-back). Generally this should have a a 6ft x 4ft run attached to it at all times. Alternatively you could consider a two-tier 5ft x 2ft x 2ft hutch / pen.

I don't have rabbits but did consider them at one point and so have done a lot of research. Rabbits are social animals and they should be kept in pairs. They should always be neutered or spayed too for health and behavioural reasons. The best pairing is a spayed female with a neutered male but bonding rabbits isn't always that easy and requires some knowledge and skill to 'get it right'.

[leyley904]

juliaaa- I know your not intentionally, but that is how it feels. I asked for you guys opinions and you gave them to me, I thank you for that, but I don't see why its need to tell me that again and again. But, again, I'm thankful for your help.

JD in van- workin' on it.

Paula- don't you think that comment is sort of offensive? I'm trying my hardest and still making improvements. I AM probably getting him a friend which will make his cage much bigger. I got him so that he wouldnt die in a year or two compared to 10-15 years. So whether or not I got him a bigger cage or not (which I am now) I would be helping him. I love my rabbit, but that doesn't effect my parents opinion. Until I get him a bigger cage, I'm doing the best I can, and in doing so, making a rabbit much healtier and happier, so you should be happy. So please stop pointing out all the bad things and maybe say,"thats great, your really helping that bunny, but I hear that the cage should be a bit bigger, so for the welfare of your rabbit, you should try to increase the size, and keep him inside." Now doesn't that sound nicer?

Fudgenrolo- Thanks, I'm working on getting him a friend, it will happen soon.

[Tessa Bea]

Try not to get your feelings hurt, you need to have a tough skin around here. We all want what's best for your animal, unfortunately, finding the answer and making it a reality may be inconvenient or difficult for you. However, if you truly care about your bunny you will want what is best for him, (which you certainly seem to- you're posting here, aren't you? Taking steps forward rather than just feeling guilty) and will find and implement a solution no matter what. We're all here to try to help you find it, you're not alone!

I agree with JD- probably the easiest way to give him floor time in your house is to close off your room so he doesn't bother anyone's allergies or get attacked by cats.

Don't put him outside, and avoid wire cage bottoms. I've never had a bunny before, so I can't really give you much more advice than that. Good luck!

[Ash-Ro060708]

I had a large outdoor rabbit that I got for Easter when I was almost 5 and she died when I was 17(that's 13 years old). Her cage got beat up by bears 3 times over the years. One time she actually fell out of the cage while the bear was moving it around, but she jumped right back in.
When I was young, out in the country, rabbits, dogs and cats were always outdoor animals.

When I hear people say outdoor rabbits don't live very long because of predators, the cold(she lived through 12 Canadian winters), etc, I guess my rabbit was a rare exception.

I have a friend who has a rabbit living in the house, and he keeps escaping from his cage and chewing up the cords in the house. So I'm amazed he's lived this long(just kidding)!

[leyley904]

Ash- Yeah, I'm going to keep him inside. But I do have a friend who has 3 HUGE rabbits and they live outsideand do great! I guess it depends on the rabbit. :P I just don't want to take any chances!

Tessa- THANK YOU!!!! Yes, I am trying to help my bunny.

I don't know why I havn't metioned this.... I totally forgot!
My bunny is blind (he can just see shadows). So, during free range time (which he will still have, and more of), he usually just sits.... and when he does move, he moves along the walls. He usually smells me and runs to sit in my lap, he's just not very sure of himself. Please understand, I'm NOT using this as an excuse to why I shouldn't give him more free range, just telling you why he had so little origianlly. I have been giving him more free range, and hopefully he will gain confidence soon.

[JD In Van]

I don't know why I havn't metioned this.... I totally forgot!
My bunny is blind (he can just see shadows). So, during free range time (which he will still have, and more of), he usually just sits.... and when he does move, he moves along the walls. He usually smells me and runs to sit in my lap, he's just not very sure of himself. Please understand, I'm NOT using this as an excuse to why I shouldn't give him more free range, just telling you why he had so little origianlly. I have been giving him more free range, and hopefully he will gain confidence soon.

He will get more sure of himself when he's more sure of his environment. It just takes a lot of time.

[leyley904]

JD in van- Yeah, I've really been working with him. :] I'm trying to show him its not dangerous, and it seems to help when i bring his towel (that is always in his cage with him) out with him!

[Paula]

But I do have a friend who has 3 HUGE rabbits and they live outsideand do great! I guess it depends on the rabbit.

It really doesn't. That an animal can live outside and seem alright doesn't necessarily mean that it should.

I don't know why I havn't metioned this.... I totally forgot! My bunny is blind (he can just see shadows).

Which is all the more reason housing him outdoors should absolutely never be a consideration. It's great to hear you've decided to keep him indoors and give him a larger cage.