So, with a new pet comes a new house for it. Rabbit cages are known as hutches, and cheap rabbit hutches can be just as good as something fancy or expensive. The animals need plenty of room to stretch their legs (that means exercise, not just stretch) and enough space to segregate their toilet from their dining and sleeping areas. Other important things to bear in mind are the materials from which it is made (they’ll chew anything they can to grind down their ever-growing teeth) and the protection it gives from heat, rain and drafts. Hutch covers need to adequately protect the animals and also give them a sense of being able to hide away from everyone and everything. Even though they are very sociable creatures, they still need their own ‘alone-time.’

As mentioned before, there is no need to spend extra money on a hutch that is a fancy colour or has accessories and toys. Cheap rabbit hutches can still offer these little mammals enough of what they need. Saying that though, the tunnels and toys are beneficial to the psychological health of these wonderful pets. The ability to dig, climb and play are important to them, as is some kind of companionship, even if it’s from humans or other pets in the house. In the wild, they live in large groups. As pets, they are often kept alone, usually from the humans’ fear of them breeding. Ideally, any pet rabbit will get lots of attention, lots of time to relax alone somewhere cool and dark, a place far from their food and sleep areas to do their toilet business, and plenty of space to have a good run around and a jumping fit. It’s important that they get all of these every day. Rabbits kept 24/7 in fashionable hutches will not be as happy as those who spend some of their days in cheap rabbit hutches but also get to get out and mix with people, have a good poo and at least feel free, even if they aren’t.

So, what do we do? We make rabbit houses in an attempt to give them what they need while helping them feel as comfortable as possible. However, one common mistake is choosing these rabbit houses for the wrong reasons. Looking good or being conveniently sized should be way down on the list of priorities. The rodents who will live in them don’t care about what they look like. In the wild, they live in holes they dig in the ground. Rabbits need space to move around and separate areas for food, sleeping and the toilet. They also need some kind of stimulation, as they are usually kept alone as pets. In the wild they live in large social groups. They are not stupid and can therefore become bored, which will lead to depression, stress, and then death. Toys are useful, but don’t need to be brightly coloured or expensive. So long as the animals can pick it up and throw it, causing it to make some noise, they’re happy. Letting them out of their rabbit houses is also important. They need to have a good run and a jump every single day, not just when it is convenient for their care givers (owners).
Some people let pet rabbits have free run of the house, like a cat or dog. While this is uncommon, it is not daft. They like to poo in the same place, so can be toilet trained. They don’t cause noise or damage to many things. If kept locked up, they will chew on their surroundings, but if left to run free, they run more than chew. Give it a try, but keep an eye on them at all times, as they’re always looking for a hole or gap to get to somewhere new.