Bringing Global Rabbit Care Standards to Japan
Based on 30 years of rabbit-keeping experience in Japan and the US, we deliver rabbit care information in Japanese to protect the health and happiness of rabbits.
BunnyCareJP
House Rabbit Society (HRS)
International Partnership
BunnyCare JP is listed on the House Rabbit Society (HRS) official website as an International Partner.
Rabbit Cage Layout | Size Guidelines and Essential Supplies
1. Things to know before choosing a recommended rabbit cage
For those of you preparing to welcome a rabbit into your home, or those wondering, "Is my current cage too small?", are you under the impression that "owning a rabbit = buying a cage"?
In fact, according to the latest international standards (HRS: House Rabbit Society), keeping rabbits solely in the common "box-type cages" found in Japan is not recommended.
2. The cage is a "bedroom," not a "home."
Many pet owners think of a cage as their rabbit's home, but this is like telling a human to spend their entire life in a toilet or closet.
No matter how luxurious the place, if you have to sleep, eat, and relieve yourself all in the same place, it's only natural that stress will build up. A cage should only be a "bed for sleeping peacefully," and the proper living space should be a "playpen or enclosure."
3. The real reason why a 60cm rabbit cage is considered too small
You often see "60cm size" cages in search results. The truth is, if a rabbit just lies down and stretches its legs, there's almost no space left. If you instinctively felt that "it's cruel to put a rabbit in such a cage," you're actually right.
If they don't have enough space, they may become less active, leading to weakened bones, or stress may cause them to develop bad habits like stomping their feet or biting.
4. What you should prepare is a "spacious area" rather than a "tall cage."
You don't need to worry about having to buy an expensive cage. In fact, there are cheaper and easier-to-clean methods than spending money on an expensive cage.
Utilize a playpen: Create an enclosure with a sturdy playpen to ensure your pet has enough space to move around freely 24 hours a day.
Create a non-slip floor: To protect your rabbit's paws, lay down a non-slip mat. This will also make cleaning significantly easier.
5. Toilet training is more successful in a "spacious room".
There's no need to worry that "if I give them more space, they won't learn to use the litter box." In fact, for many people who are worried that their rabbit won't learn to use the litter box, the problem is that the cage is too small and the rabbit can't distinguish between its sleeping area and its toilet area. If there is enough space, the rabbit will naturally learn to use the toilet area out of habit.
5. Toilet training is more successful in a "spacious room".
There's no need to worry that "if I give them more space, they won't learn to use the litter box." In fact, for many people who are worried that their rabbit won't learn to use the litter box, the problem is that the cage is too small and the rabbit can't distinguish between its sleeping area and its toilet area. If there is enough space, the rabbit will naturally learn to use the toilet area out of habit.
Next step: See a specific layout without a cage.
There's a way for both rabbits and their owners to live more comfortably and happily, by graduating from the "box" of a cage. Detailed instructions on how to create a suitable living space are explained on this page.
[➡︎ Let's keep pets without cages! Towards a world-standard room setup]