Rabbits are quite vigorous animals. Therefore, the cage for an active decorative rabbit is selected to be quite spacious and safe. Given the choice of building materials, it is not difficult to assemble the structure with your own hands. Or you can take advantage of the assortment of pet stores that offer a wide range of cages assembled from various materials.
The main requirements for a cage for decorative rabbits
Basic design requirements: the walls and ceiling are made of metal mesh, the animal should not slide on the floor, so the coating should be rough. For safe and convenient movement, the doorway is equipped with a removable wooden gangway. An interesting solution is multi-story structures.
Dimensions and design drawings
To limit the movement of a dwarf rabbit, it is recommended to combine a compact cage with an enclosure. Or they choose a spacious structure 0.8-1 m long, 0.6 m high, 0.5 m wide. Often two-story structures are assembled for pets.
The construction layout is simple: a tray, bowl and drinking bowl are placed on the first tier. The second tier is made as free as possible, and the hole-house is built at the end. Such designs are especially practical because they take up little space in the apartment and provide space for the animal to move.
Choosing a location
When choosing a place for a cage, you need to take into account the characteristics of your pet’s body. Rabbits are quite capricious - they react poorly to cold, and are also susceptible to drafts and overheating. Therefore, the structure is not placed near heating devices and radiators, or under air conditioners. It is not advisable to leave a rabbit's home in the hallway or kitchen. The best option is in the living room, near the window.
How to make a cage for a decorative rabbit with your own hands
If you have the necessary tools (drill, pliers, metal scissors, hammer, hacksaw) and materials (plywood, metal mesh, wood slats, nails), then it is not difficult to assemble a structure of the required size. Main stages of work:
- Two bottoms (60x90 cm) are cut out of plywood, the back wall is 90x50 cm.
- Frames are assembled from wooden slats, onto which metal mesh walls are secured.
- The back plywood wall is attached to the base using metal corners, then the side walls.
- The second tier is assembled in the same way. Install the ladder on the second tier.
The final stage of assembly is to secure the door on the hinges. The bottom is covered with linoleum or a piece of plastic.
Arrangement of the cage
Special devices will ensure the animal’s comfort and ease of care. The cage contains a tray, a drinking bowl, a food bowl, and a hole-house.
Feeders
It is recommended to arrange the feeding area with ceramic bowls with a thick bottom so that the pet cannot turn them over. The best option is a deep bowl into which it is convenient to pour feed and add vegetables and fruits. Or the container is fixed low on the wall. For dry or green food, a separate tray is installed or a special nursery structure is fixed on the wall of the structure.
Drinking bowls
To make it easier to keep the cage clean, an automatic drinker in the form of an inverted bottle equipped with a valve is attached to the wall. Not all pets can be trained to drink from such a drinking bowl. Therefore, an alternative is a traditional bowl with a depth of 5-7 cm. It is advisable to equip a place for drinking water away from the feeder so that the rabbit does not pollute the water when scattering food.
Tray
It is recommended to select a plastic product that is easy to clean and wash. Manufacturers offer triangular-shaped containers with a depth of 10-12 cm, which can be fixed in the corner of the cage. They also use a regular rectangular tray with a lattice bottom and a tray.Most often, special cat litter is poured into the container. You can train your pet to use the toilet using finely cut paper or napkins.
Shelter
Every pet needs a secluded corner where it can hide or rest. Usually the house is installed inside a spacious cage. An original solution is to fix the hole-shelter on the outside of the cage, while the internal area of the structure remains free.
Litter
The bottom of the cage should not be slippery. A hard surface or metal grate is not the best option. Some owners add a layer of sawdust into the cage. It should be taken into account that accidentally wet particles will stick to the paws of animals. A practical option is to lay a piece of thick fabric on the bottom, which is easy to pull out and wash, or linoleum.
Possible problems
A rabbit needs a well-ventilated home. Therefore, cage options with plastic walls are not suitable. The cage should be high enough so that the rabbit, standing on its hind legs, can straighten its ears freely. The design must have enough space to allocate feeding, resting and toilet areas.
It is not recommended to choose products with enameled metal elements, since a rabbit can chew the coating. If there is no separate door on the second floor, then getting the rabbit out will be problematic.
Approximate cost of finished products
Budget options for cages made of galvanized mesh (dimensions 59x36x31 cm) cost 3-4 thousand rubles. A structure of the same shape, assembled from wooden elements, is estimated at 10 thousand rubles. More spacious designs (parameters 102x52x40 cm) are valued higher - about 6 thousand rubles. A spacious cage with a plastic base, equipped with bowls, a drinking bowl and a small house, is estimated at 7 thousand rubles.
When choosing a design, it is not recommended to focus on the age of the animal and buy a small cage for a baby rabbit. The pet will grow up very quickly. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately choose a model that is spacious and comfortable for your pet, and that will be easy to clean.
