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Small mammals

Your rabbit isn't a shelf ornament: it needs to move

Hopping, running and exploring aren't luxuries, they're the foundation of its wellbeing. How to organise your rabbit's space at home so it has room to spare (and your home survives).

Tu conejo no es un peluche de estantería: necesita moverse

For a long time people thought a rabbit could live in a small hutch. Today we know better: rabbits are active, curious animals that need space to hop, stretch right out and do those little leaps of joy that brighten your afternoon.

A base, not a prison

The cage or enclosure should be its base: the place where it eats, drinks, rests and does its business. The roomier, the better. At the very least, it must be able to lie fully stretched out, stand up on its hind legs without touching the roof and take several hops in a row.

Many families opt for a large playpen or run instead of a closed cage, or simply a rabbit-proofed room. All are good options as long as the space is safe, sheltered from draughts and has comfortable flooring for its feet.

Hours of freedom every day

As well as its base, your rabbit needs to get out and explore every day for several hours, always in an area prepared for it and under supervision.

  • Protect or hide cables: rabbits gnaw everything they find.
  • Remove houseplants that may be toxic.
  • Block off gaps behind furniture where it could get stuck.
  • Put rugs down on slippery floors so it doesn't skid.
  • Offer tunnels, boxes and hideaways so it can explore with confidence.

Must-haves for its corner

  • Unlimited fresh hay, which is the basis of its diet.
  • Clean water in a bottle or a heavy bowl.
  • A litter tray with suitable litter: many rabbits learn to use one.
  • A hideaway to retreat to when it gets scared.
  • Chew toys made of untreated wood.

Company and warning signs

Rabbits are social animals and usually appreciate the company of another rabbit, provided the introduction is done carefully and both are neutered. Ask your vet before taking the plunge.

If your rabbit stops eating, stops producing droppings or sits still and hunched, don't wait: get to the vet as soon as possible, because in rabbits these changes can be an emergency.

At Petuki you'll find playpens, little houses, tunnels and accessories so your rabbit has space and entertainment to spare.

Your rabbit isn't a shelf ornament: it needs to move · Petuki