Rabbits - Barky.com.au

June 8, 2023

How to Set Up a Rabbits Cage: 6 Key Tips

If you own a pet rabbit, you will want to take all necessary measures to ensure that your rabbit is content and at home with you. Among them is setting up a comfortable cage that they’ll adore. Remember that the cage will be their sanctuary, thus you must do it right.

While setting up a home for your bunny is not at all challenging, determining what it actually needs can be quite tricky. When you enter a pet store, you’re sure to encounter a lot of brightly colored packaging trying to get you to buy more. But some of them may not be necessary for your bunny.

In this handy guide, we’ll go over how to get the right cage for your rabbit and how to put it up so that your furry friend has the finest possible habitat. Read on!

Before You Start: Choosing a Rabbit’s Cage and Supplies

little white rabbit on vinyl floor with cage — Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock

Get the Right-Sized Cage

A cage that’s too small can restrict your rabbit’s movements. Besides, it can lead to boredom and behavioral problems. A general guideline is that the cage should be at least four times the size of the rabbit, with enough space for your bunny to hop, stretch, and stand up on its hind legs.

The size of the cage also depends on the rabbit breed you have. The largest rabbit breed is the Flemish giant. It can weigh up to 22 pounds. (10 kg). On the flip side, the smallest breed weighs two to three pounds. (1.3 kg).

Here are the recommended cage sizes for a small and a large bunny.

Rabbit Size	Recommended Cage Size
Small Rabbits	1.5 m long x 0.6 m wide x 0.6 m height
Large Rabbits	1.85 m long x 0.9 m wide x 0.9 m height

The Cage Should Have a Solid Floor

Many rabbits have a disorder called pododermatitis that causes pressure sores to form on the backs of their hind legs. The sores develop when your bunny sits on hard flooring or damp bedding. If the cage flooring is made of wire mesh, cover it using a piece of plywood. Then, cover the plywood with bedding.

The Cage’s Base Should Have a Urine Guard

A urine guard is a crucial feature as it prevents your rabbit’s urine from leaking out of the cage and onto your floors or furniture. It makes the rabbit’s cage much easier to clean, thus hygienic.

You can improvise if your cage doesn’t have a urine guard. Use materials that won’t hurt the bunny if it chews on it. The best material is cardboard.

The Sides of the Cage Should Be Made of Wire

Wire mesh is the best option for some reason. To begin with, it provides excellent ventilation, which is essential for the bunny’s respiratory health. Wire sides also allow for easy cleaning and maintenance. Urine and feces can pass through it easily.

two rabbits inside the cage indoor — Image Credit: Vereshchagin Dmitry, Shutterstock

The 6 Key Tips for Setting Up a Rabbit’s Cage

1. Find an Ideal Location to Set the Cage

An ideal spot should feature the following:

Well-ventilated: Don’t set up a rabbit’s cage in a basement or an attic. These areas are full of dirt and dust, which may affect your bunny’s delicate lungs.
Sunlight exposure: The bunny needs sunlight, but this should be indirect sunshine rather than the direct sun pounding on them.
Away from noise: Rabbits dislike loud noises and quick movements. For instance, placing the cage close to a tumble dryer may cause the rabbit undue stress. A spare bedroom would be a wise idea.
Safe from predators: Rabbits can be prone to predators such as cats, dogs, foxes, and birds of prey. When setting up its cage, ensure that it is tucked away from these predators. Moreover, cats and dogs may cause unnecessary stress to your bunny. You can raise the cage from the floor if you have a dog around because the dog’s sniffing may scare the rabbit.
Spacious: Rabbits shouldn’t always be confined to their cages. They need some time out of the cage to exercise. Thus, it would help if you put the cage in a space where you won’t worry if your rabbit hops around and explores. Ensure there are no cables, small toys, sharp edges, or anything else that could hurt your rabbit.

2. Make the Space in the Cage Comfortable for Your Bunny

When tired and feeling lazy, bunnies love to get comfortable. You can line the cage with bedding to protect the rabbit’s legs from sores. You can use a thick cushion of bedding, and this could be sawdust, hay, or straw. However, don’t use a carpet to line the cage as it may lead to bowel blockage in case your bunny chews it.

rabbit cage III_Rita_Kochmarjova_Shutterstock — Image Credit: Rita_Kochmarjova, Shutterstock

3. Consider Cage Hygiene

Buy a litter box for the cage and fill it with non-toxic litter at the bottom, a layer of newspaper on top, and a top layer of hay. The newspaper absorbs moisture and controls odor. The hay will provide a comfortable and absorbent surface for the bunny to rest on. Besides, it encourages natural foraging behaviors. Ensure you replace the hay each day.

You will need to train your bunny on how to use a litter box if you live with it indoors.

Remember to remove any urine or pellet-covered spots and replace them using fresh straw every day. Clean the cage thoroughly once each week.

4. Put in the Right Food and Water Bowls

These are among the supplies never to be forgotten when setting up a rabbit cage. Rabbits need access to fresh and clean water at all times. Sipper drinkers are the best because water bowls can tip over or get soiled with pellets.

The food bowl, on the other hand, should be heavy and have a flat bottom so it won’t tip over and spill its contents. If you have several rabbits, ensure there’s a bowl for each one and an extra bowl. Place the bowls around the cage so that no single rabbit can get access to all of them.

Change the water every day so that it always stays fresh. Clean the drinker and the food bowls every morning.

brown and white rabbit inside the clean cage — Image Credit: Farhad Ibrahimzade, Shutterstock

5. Put Toys in the Rabbit’s Cage

Once you have set up the cage, it’s time to add some toys to keep your furry friend entertained and even encourage exercise. You can find various rabbit-safe toys at pet stores, or you can DIY using household items such as cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls.

When selecting toys for your rabbit, make sure they are safe and durable. Avoid small toy pieces that your rabbit can swallow. Get rid of any toys that get damaged or worn out. Rotate your rabbit’s toys every few days to keep things interesting.

6. Lay Items for Your Bunny to Chew

Rabbits have continuously growing teeth and they need to chew on things to wear them down. Providing safe and appropriate chew toys like wooden blocks, hay cubes, and untreated willow branches can prevent dental problems and also help alleviate boredom.

cute lop ear rabbit in a cage holding a lot of hay in its mouth — Image Credit: Ellyy, Shutterstock

Conclusion

Setting up a rabbit’s cage is a crucial step in ensuring that your furry friend lives a happy and healthy life. The cage doubles up as a sanctuary where your bunny will be spending most of its time. Therefore, you need to create a comfortable, safe, and stimulating living space.

Remember to add in a litter box, chew toys and comfortable bedding. Moreover, hygiene is paramount; make sure to keep the cage clean. Replace soiled hay as needed and clean the water and food bowls every day.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Alex Desanshe, Shutterstock

The post How to Set Up a Rabbits Cage: 6 Key Tips appeared first on Pet Keen.

June 7, 2023

Why Does My Rabbit Climb on Me? 10 Reasons & What to Do

Rabbits are adorable, but despite their cute nature, they are often not very lucky to be adopted from the orphanage like other pets. This is why most people do not get to know much about their behavior. However, there is a lot more to learn.

For instance, why would a rabbit climb on you? Generally, rabbits feel safest in their cage, but if you notice a climbing behavior, it could be seeking your attention or the little bunny is scared.

This article further explains several reasons why your rabbit climbs on you. Continue reading to get a better understanding of your bunny.

The 10 Reasons Your Rabbit Climbs on You

1. Showing Dominance

A rabbit will climb on higher surfaces to feel superior or show dominance. The higher the surface, the more superior they feel. At times, they have to climb on top of you to feel superior to you and show you they are in command. Such behavior is often observed in mature rabbits.

Apart from climbing on you, if you want to know that your bunny is just showing dominance, look out for other signs like grunting, aggressiveness, refusing to be picked up, climbing on chairs and couches, and feet thumbing.

Dutch dwarf rabbit color agouti — Image Credit: Volha Suhakova, Shutterstock

2. It Is Time to Breed

Like most pets, rabbits also go through a breeding season. During the breeding season, the rabbits often behave like dogs in that they will begin to climb or hump mostly on your legs. Surprisingly, a rabbit may mistake your leg for a fellow rabbit. Therefore, do not be surprised if you see your rabbit trying to mount your leg.

When your rabbit is in heat, apart from climbing and trying to hump on your leg, you will also notice other behaviors like aggressiveness and biting. Biting is often the behavior of a male rabbit in the wild when trying to hold down a female one in the mating process.

However, the humping does not necessarily have to happen on your leg; the rabbit may also climb your arm or any other part of your body that can be mistaken for a female rabbit. To avoid this kind of behavior, consider spaying and neutering them.

3. Your Rabbit Is Lonely

Just like other pets, such as dogs, rabbits also enjoy spending time with their owners, a sign of affection. A lonely rabbit will climb on you to get your attention, especially if you are not always around. Alternatively, they may run around you excitedly or even give you a tiny bite to gain your attention.

In addition, a rabbit will climb on you in a bid to spend time with you rather than play with its toys. Often this happens when it does not like its toys. Therefore, get your bunny new toys or try to spend time with them because boredom may lead to stress and depression.

rabbit on human lap with love touching and caring — Image Credit: Wanwajee Weeraphukdee, Shutterstock

4. The Rabbit Wants to Groom

Sometimes a rabbit will climb on you just to groom you. It is their little way of showing you affection, trust, and bond. Others will even try to give you a nip. Often a rabbit will try to get to your hair, which feels like the fur on their body, and which makes them feel like they are with another rabbit.

5. Your Rabbit Is Scared

A rabbit may climb on you to seek shelter or protection from something that scares them, such as loud noise and the scent of predators. This also shows that your pet trusts you and can depend on you when faced with danger.

You can tell that your rabbit is scared by observing signs like rapid breathing, folded ears, a stiff body, and nose twitching. It would help if you tried to avoid things that may scare your rabbit as much as possible. For instance, avoid picking them up too fast from the ground, sneaking up on them from behind, yelling at them, or keeping them in tiny spaces.

Too much fear can cause a fear-related heart attack. If you notice any of the above signs of fear in your bunny often, consider consulting a vet.

happy young girl holding bunny rabbit in the backyard — Image Credit: sirtravelalot, Shutterstock

6. Curiosity

Rabbits are naturally curious pets. When they climb on you, it is probably because something has enticed them—for instance, a new watch or jewelry, and they would like to inspect it.

At the same time, a rabbit will climb on you when perceiving an enticing smell. They are known to have a very strong sense of smell. In fact, rabbits rely too much on their sense of smell than their sight. A new perfume that smells nice and sweet can capture their attention, and they may even mistake it for a treat.

Curiosity is often observed in recently adopted rabbits or young ones. It should not worry you; it only means they want to know you better. Digging into your clothes and staring at you are other behaviors that show that a rabbit is curious about something you have on you.

7. They Want to Play

Climbing is fun for rabbits, especially the young ones; therefore, they may just engage in it to play around. You will notice that your rabbit is in a playful mood when it is hyper, full of energy, climbs on you, and even gives you a nib on your skin.

Even if they don’t jump or climb on you, you will also know they are playful if they keep playing and jumping around the house. This should not be of concern unless the behavior causes harm to them or to you.

Young woman with adorable rabbit indoors — Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

8. The Rabbit Is Hungry

When a rabbit jumps on you, it may be passing a message that it is hungry. As small as they are, rabbits have a big appetite. They will put anything that smells sweet in their mouth and feed on anything edible.

You may notice this behavior mostly when you are having your meals. If you always give them food each time you have yours, there is a high chance they will develop the behavior of climbing on when you are eating in the hope that they, too, will have some treats.

However, be careful not to feed human food to rabbits. They may feed on snacks like grain crackers, cornflakes, shredded wheat, and Cheerios.

9. They Want to Get to Another Higher Place

A rabbit is intelligent and can easily learn how to use your height to reach its next destination. They also love high surfaces; therefore, if climbing on you enables them to reach a higher surface, they will do so. It also means they trust you so much.

young woman holding adorable rabbit — Image Credit: New Africa, Shutterstock

10. Your Rabbit Needs Comfort

Climbing on you may mean your rabbit needs comfort, love, and cuddles. Rabbits enjoy it so much when you cuddle them, especially bonded rabbits. They love to stay too close to each other and rely on the comfort of the other. Therefore, if you own a bonded rabbit, expect occasional cuddles.

What to Do When a Rabbit Climbs on You

When your rabbit climbs on you, allow it, and only stop it if the climbing is causing harm either to you or to the rabbit. Stay as still as possible so you may not scare it or make it fall off. However, gently get it off you when it bites you so hard. Biting is a sign of asserting dominance.

In addition, if the rabbit makes a habit of climbing on you and then jumping off, you need to discourage that. Jumping from high surfaces can be a bit risky as it may eventually cause harm and serious injuries like spinal cord injury, especially if they fall on their backs.

Climbing on you can also turn out to be a bad behavior that can be embarrassing, which is why it is advisable to spay or neuter the rabbits.

woman holds a rabbit in her arms — Image Credit: Liuba Bilyk, Shutterstock

Final Thoughts

Rabbits may not be all that fun, but they also have moments when they are playful and need some love and affection from their owners. With the above information, you can tell what is going on when your rabbit climbs on you.

The rabbit may be seeking your attention, asking for food, or escaping from something that scares them. Therefore, allow it to enjoy spending time with you. However, if the climbing becomes too aggressive, embarrassing, or likely to cause harm, you must stop it.

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Pixel-Shot, Shutterstock

The post Why Does My Rabbit Climb on Me? 10 Reasons & What to Do appeared first on Pet Keen.

April 13, 2023

How To Keep a Rabbit’s Teeth Short: 7 Vet Approved Tips

A rabbit’s teeth will constantly grow throughout their life. They have special teeth that are open-rooted, meaning that they never grow to a certain length but continuously produce new tooth material. As a result, a rabbit’s teeth will grow almost 5 inches in a year! That is why it’s essential to keep them short and sharp. Read on to learn seven tips and tricks for keeping your rabbit’s teeth short and healthy.

The 7 Expert Tips to Keep a Rabbit’s Teeth Short

1. Give them Hay

You should already be providing your rabbit with plenty of hay of all types.¹ Hay should comprise around 90% of your rabbit’s diet since it contains long fibers and other nutrients that only hay can provide. Timothy hay is important for rabbits to have, as it helps them wear down their back teeth (molars) and keep them short.

Rabbits chew the hay in a side-to-side grinding motion, which is the only way to reliably and efficiently wear down the ever-growing teeth at the back of their mouth. Hay is beneficial to rabbits, and they can have as much as they like, so always ensure they have a fresh daily supply!

Note

With the exception of grass hay, other materials in this article should not be actively consumed by your rabbit. If you notice your rabbit consuming the other materials listed, please remove them from your rabbit’s enclosure and consult your veterinarian promptly.

2. Wooden Blocks

Wooden blocks and toys made of wood, such as untreated, kiln-dried pine (not fresh), are great toys for rabbits to play with. They offer a satisfying chew that can keep their sharp teeth in shape.

Some woods are less suitable than others, and some are potentially toxic, but most wooden toys marketed for rabbits should be safe for them to chew. While rabbits will avoid swallowing any wood that they chew, make sure to monitor them while they’re nibbling away. Swallowed wood can become lodged in the stomach and cause obstruction.

3. Twigs and Branches

Similar to wooden toys and blocks, rabbits will love indulging their wild chewing instinct by gnawing on twigs and branches. It’s advisable to buy these already dried from a pet store, as it can be easy to misidentify types of wood. However, a few branches should never be given to rabbits as they are toxic.

The following wood should be avoided:

Citrus
Cherry
Peach
Plum
Juniper
Cedar
Avocado
Spruce
Cypress
Holly
Fresh Pine
Yew

This also applies to wood blocks and toys. Kiln-dried pine is safe for rabbits to chew; the kiln-drying process removes the phenols in the wood, which are toxic to rabbits.

4. Cardboard

An alternative to wood and branches is cardboard. Cardboard that is non-printed (free of ink) can serve as a chew toy for your rabbit while also offering some enrichment. As with all chew toys, keep an eye on your rabbit when they’re chewing cardboard. Remove the item if you notice your rabbit consuming the cardboard.

5. Check Their Teeth

An essential part of keeping your rabbit’s teeth short is checking them regularly for signs of overgrowth. Most rabbits won’t like you touching their mouths for very long, so only a quick look is needed to ensure the teeth look healthy and are at the correct length.

However, if your rabbit’s teeth start to look yellow or crooked, they require veterinary assistance. Keep in mind that you’ll only be able to see the front teeth (the incisors) when checking the length, so keep up to date with your rabbit’s vet checkups so they can look further in the mouth.

examining rabbit's teeth at veterinary clinic — Image Credit: sirtravelalot, Shutterstock

6. Know the Signs of Problems

Knowing the signs of dental problems in rabbits is just as important as checking when keeping their teeth short. The most common reason rabbits stop eating is dental problems and overgrowth, which is extremely detrimental. If a rabbit stops eating, their gut motility (movement) slows and can stop altogether.

The other signs of dental problems in rabbits include:

Drooling
Face rubbing
Wet mouth and chest
Runny eyes
Cheek and face swelling
Reduced grooming

7. Get them Burred

If your rabbit has teeth that are misaligned or have other problems that prevent them from keeping them short, they will have to go to the vet to get them burred. Burring is the process of filing down a rabbit’s teeth, usually with an electric file, while under anesthetic. Rabbit teeth used to be clipped, but burring has replaced the method because of the risk of infection and splitting. Likewise, you shouldn’t try to file your rabbit’s teeth yourself.

Rabbit with overgrown teeth — Image Credit: Todorean-Gabriel, Shutterstock

Why Do Rabbits’ Teeth Get Misaligned?

A rabbit’s teeth can get misaligned for different reasons, including hereditary causes. Dwarf breeds are more likely to have genetic malocclusion, which they inherit from their parents. Acquired malocclusion is any tooth misalignment that’s not from genetic causes. This includes rabbits not being able to grind their teeth down on roughage such as hay, pulling on the wire of a cage, or even accidents that change the position of the teeth.

Why Is It Important To Keep My Rabbit’s Teeth Short?

If a rabbit’s teeth are allowed to overgrow or become misaligned, it can cause serious problems for their health and welfare. The main problem is that overgrown teeth get sharp and cause acute pain as they cut into the mouth’s soft tissue.

Teeth that grow too long can prevent a rabbit from eating, leading to a condition known as gut stasis; in gut stasis, the rabbit’s digestive system slows to a stop. Bacteria in the gut then become unbalanced, leading to stomach swelling and further inappetence. This can rapidly become fatal, so keeping your rabbit’s teeth short is crucial!

Because of how a rabbit’s teeth grow, teeth that get too long can also have elongated roots. These can then grow up into the face and the eyes, causing weeping eyes and abscesses. Infections, the loss of teeth, and large amounts of pain can all occur from poor dentition; keeping your rabbit’s teeth short and giving them all the hay they want is a critical part of their care.

rabbit getting teeth examined by veterinarian — Image Credit: wiparat juthamanee, Shutterstock

How Many Teeth Do Rabbits Have?

Rabbits have 28 teeth: 16 at the top of their mouth and 12 at the bottom. This includes four incisors, two auxiliary incisors, ten premolars, and 12 molars.

Incisors: These are the four large, chisel-like teeth we associate with rabbits that sit at the very front of their mouth. They are used for slicing and cutting food before it is passed down to the premolars and molars for chewing.
Auxiliary incisors (peg teeth): Two tiny peg teeth sit directly behind the top incisors in a rabbit’s mouth. They help the bottom incisors settle perfectly into position under the top incisors, helping them grind each other down.
Premolars: The premolars are the first set of “cheek teeth” that sit further back in the rabbit’s mouth. Rabbits have six upper premolars and four lower. These teeth help grind food before the molars make it soft enough to swallow.
Molars: Rabbits have six upper molars and six lower, sitting right at the back of their mouths. The molars are the crushing teeth that pulverize the food well enough for the rabbit to swallow it.

Conclusion

Looking after your rabbit’s teeth is very important, and letting them get out of hand can have serious consequences. Rabbits naturally wear their teeth down by grinding them on each other (in the case of incisors) and on fibrous food like timothy hay. If rabbits have a poor diet that lacks hay, their teeth can become overgrown and cause problems. Malocclusion can be dangerous for rabbits and can be hereditary or acquired. Checking your rabbit’s teeth regularly is the key to keeping them short and your rabbit happy!

Sources

Featured Image Credit: Roselynne, Shutterstock

The post How To Keep a Rabbit’s Teeth Short: 7 Vet Approved Tips appeared first on Pet Keen.