2torial #0931:
Learn2 Care for a Pet Rabbit (continued)

Choose a cage

Most pet rabbits spend all or part of their time in an indoor cage or outdoor hutch. You can find a cage or hutch in a pet or feed store, or you can build your own. Both types of housing have similar specifications:

Size. A cage should be tall enough for a rabbit to stand up on its hind legs. It should also be large enough for the rabbit to move around in. A good rule for calculating floor space is 1 square foot per pound (1,800 square centimeters per kilogram) of rabbit. Note: Calculate according to your rabbit's probable adult size, which can range from 3 to 20 pounds (1.4 to 9 kilograms), depending on the breed.

Materials. Most commercially available rabbit cages are made of heavy-gauge galvanized wire, with spaces about 1/2 inch (1.25 centimeters) between the wires. These cages usually have metal trays under their wire floors that can be removed for easy cleaning.

In most ways, metal wire is the best material for cages. The rabbit can't destroy it or become ill by chewing it (a problem with wood and plastic), and it's easy to keep clean, as feces and soiled litter fall through the wire onto the tray. However, rabbit feet need some relief from standing on wire, so half the floor should be covered with untreated wood or straw matting (you'll have to replace this at times, as the rabbit will chew on it).

Avoid any cage materials that have been chemically treated or painted, have sharp edges, or might come apart into sharp, indigestible shards when chewed. You'll need to be able to reach in and clean the cage with ease, and the rabbit should be able to hop out. A large door that can be propped open is ideal.

Location. An ideal spot for a cage is:

• Quiet but not isolated

• Well ventilated but not drafty

• Protected from heat, direct sunlight, extreme cold, and damp--shady and weatherproof if outside

• Secure from predators if outside--surrounded by a strong, 4-foot (1.3-meter) high fence, or raised at least 3 feet (1 meter) off the ground

Note: Rabbits are prey animals, and they attract attention from hungry wild animals as well as from outside dogs and cats. Even if a predator can't reach the rabbit, the threat of an attack can cause heart failure--literally scaring the rabbit to death. If you house your rabbit outside, give it not only a secure enclosure, but also a place inside the cage to hide and feel safe.

A word to the hasty. If your rabbit arrived before you were prepared, don't panic. A pet carrier or large cardboard box lined with newspaper will do for a day or two (replace the newspaper at least once a day). Give the bunny water. For food, thick rolled oats or dry whole grain bread will do until you can get pellets and hay, but don't give the rabbit a lot of fresh vegetables unless you're sure that's what it's been eating--otherwise it could get diarrhea.