Rabbit Care Beginner's Guide | X-pen, Feeding, and Health Management Explained

Before bringing a rabbit home, it's important to prepare not only food and a litter box, but also a safe living space where it can move around freely. Rabbits are not animals that spend most of their day in a small cage. Provide an environment where they can engage in natural behaviors such as running, standing, stretching out and lying down, and hiding.

Instead of a cage, use a playpen or pet panel.

At BunnyCare JP, we recommend creating a large, dedicated space for your pet using a playpen or pet panel, rather than making a small cage the center of their life.

The enclosure should have enough space for the rabbit to move around freely, even with a litter box, hay, water bowl, and hiding place. Place a washable, non-slip mat or rug on the floor. Slippery floors like hardwood can strain the rabbit's legs and hips and lead to falls. The enclosure/panel height should be approximately 60-90 cm.
You can also cover the ceiling with transparent curtains if needed. The advantage of circles and panels is that their size and layout can be changed.

Even when providing a cage, it should only be used when necessary, such as for rest after a vet visit or for temporary safety, rather than for daily confinement.

A cat litter box and hay rack, designed to be at least twice the length of the cat's body.

Many triangular rabbit litter boxes sold in Japan are too small for a rabbit's body. To allow your rabbit to turn around comfortably inside the litter box, we recommend a large rectangular cat litter box that is at least twice the length of your rabbit's body.

Placing hay in a corner of the litter box or next to it creates an environment that suits the rabbit's habit of eating hay while defecating. For the bottom of the litter box, use paper or wood pellet litter that is less dangerous if ingested by rabbits, and avoid clumping cat litter or strongly scented products.

hideaway

Rabbits also need a safe hiding place where they can rest comfortably. Choose one that is large enough for them to stretch out inside, and ideally has two entrances. A small box with only one entrance can make them feel trapped and anxious. Unpainted wooden houses or easily replaceable cardboard boxes can also be used.

Heavy water dish

Water should be provided in a shallow, flat ceramic dish with a stable weight. Place it at a height that allows the rabbit to drink in a natural posture, and choose a size that is difficult to tip over or for the rabbit to get into. Change the water daily, and replace it with new water whenever it becomes dirty.

Other things to prepare

Before bringing a rabbit home, make sure you have the following things ready.

• High-quality hay that can be eaten anytime

• Hay feeder

• Pellets suited to age and health condition

• Dishes for leafy vegetables

• Non-slip and washable flooring

• Toys that rabbits can safely chew on

• Cat tunnel

• Covers to protect electrical cords and furniture, and pet fences.

• A thermometer and hygrometer for checking temperature and humidity.

• A safe carrier for use during hospital visits or evacuations.

• Brushes, nail clippers, cleaning supplies

• Contact information for animal hospitals that can treat rabbits

Before purchasing supplies, it's important to choose them not only from a human perspective, but also from the perspective of whether they allow rabbits to move, rest, eat, and defecate safely.

• "Circles and pet panels" → Circle pet care page

• "High-quality pasture grass" → Food and pasture grass page

• "Other things to prepare" → Pet supplies list page