Housing and Litter Box-Training
Rabbits aren’t meant to be kept in small cages 24/7. They need wide spaces where they can safely play and explore. Rabbits are happiest when they have enough space and freedom to run around and be their happy selves.
The two most accessible options where to keep your rabbit are a pen and a cage. Pens are more spacious and are ideally for indoors since the rabbit is more exposed. It’s important to note that rabbits need to be spayed/neutered and trained to use a litter box for this set up to work. (Yes, rabbits can be litter box-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. Please also note that wire floorings may hurt your rabbit’s feet, so it’s best to place a plastic paw pad or mat to provide comfort.
Whether 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.
LITTER BOX TRAINING
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 or hay rack beside it since rabbits often poop while eating. When you see him raising his tail to pee, try to immediately 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 litter box-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-safe litter 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 more if you can!) to keep their home clean and sanitary.