DIY Rabbit-tat

Not too long ago, Olive got a rabbit-tat which was a major upgrade from her previous pet store cage. I know that the majority of people who read my blog won't be interested in this, but I figured it might help future bunny parent's who stumble across it. Sadly, the majority of rabbit cages that you can get at pet stores are actually too small. Rabbits need space to sprawl out and relax - it's what makes them happy!

Now Olive is definitely a small bunny (she weighs about 4.5 lbs), but she's actually quite long too (around 20 inches). Which means by the time you put a bowl, litter box, and hay container, a pet store cage gets small pretty quickly. The last cage she had was livable only because the top of her 'hidey hutch' had a lounging area. But it was still too small. This is where an x-pen comes into play.

The best part is that x-pens are usually about $50 less than a large rabbit cage at any given pet store. I paid $100 for Olive's first rabbit cage and only $25 for her current "cage". See those quotation marks there? It's because her cage isn't really a cage. There isn't even a topper on it and the only time the door to it is closed is when I'm at work. Since we keep her in our heavily bunny-proof bedroom, there's nothing to worry about. And honestly, now that we have a higher bed, she spends most of her time under it anyway. We refer to it as her lair. Haha!

This is what her set up looks like:

Here's the breakdown of what it entails:

• "Cage": a metal x-pen - this one is 24 inches high and works like a dream. It can be made into a long rectangle and has an opening that you can use as a door. The best part is that Olive hasn't tried to jump out of it. If you worry that 24 inches is too short, they have taller ones as well.
• Hidey-Hutch: a mesh hamper w/ the bottom removed and a blanket on top (we got ours from IKEA - they look like this and they can be found at every store)
• Flooring: a plush blanket with a twin-size sheet on top - it makes cleaning up all the loose hay a lot easier
• Bathroom: a litter box surrounded by cardboard for privacy
• Water Container: a ceramic bowl (a water feeder or bottle isn't the way to go)
• Hay Feeder: a pine-slat box that I lined with fabric so it won't get hay everywhere
• Toys: cut up toilet paper tubes (just make sure there isn't any glue left on the tube)

As you can see on the outside of her cage I have her pellets, chamomile flowers, ceramic food bowls and cup for water. Why? Because I like having everything she needs right there and honestly, maybe it's out of laziness. Either way, it works.

If you're considering getting a rabbit as a pet, be sure to check out my Quick Guide To Having A Pet Rabbit. And as always, if you have any questions - let me know in the comments below. I will try my best to answer your questions.