Rabbits make fantastic house pets. Pet rabbits are cute and can learn to be friendly, even with children. They are also much smarter than many people realize. They can learn to use a litter box like a cat, and can also learn to walk on a leash or to come when called. Many rabbit cages for sale in pet stores are tiny and have poor ventilation. There is no reason to house your pet in an environment in which it is bored and uncomfortable when you can build your own simple indoor rabbit enclosure for a fraction of the price.
Purchase Your Supplies
You'll need these things to build your bunny cage:
- Laminate flooring, slightly larger than the rabbit cage
- 14x14 inch wire shelving units, such as Neat Idea Cubes
- Zip ties
- Scissors
- 2 binder clips
Plan Your Rabbit Cage
Decide how large you want your rabbit cage to be. The minimum size for one rabbit should be four shelving squares long by two shelving squares wide and two shelving squares high. If you want, you can make a much bigger cage that has shelves inside for your rabbit(s) to hop on.
Lay a piece of laminate flooring on the ground where you want your cage to sit. This piece should be slightly larger than the floor of the cage, and is meant to protect your floor from your pet.
Assemble Your Bunny Cage
Lay out the shelving squares on the ground in a rectangle, two squares by eight squares. Attach the squares to one another with the zip ties. Run a tie around the wire at the edge of one square and the wire at the edge of the square that abuts it. Use three zip ties for each seam that you want to seal. There should be one zip tie at the top, one at the bottom, and one in the middle. Attach all the squares on the floor in the shape you have set out.
Bend two squares at each end of the rectangle so that they are perpendicular to the squares in the middle. Set the squares on their edges so that now you have three walls of your cage up. Attach two squares oriented vertically to each side at the open end of the cage so that you have a fourth wall with a large gap in the middle of it.
Assemble a two-square by six-square roof for your cage with the zip ties; attach it to the top of your cage. Now you have a cage lid.
Make a two-square by two-square cage door. Attach it with the zip ties, only on the right edge of the opening. You should be able to swing it open and shut as though it was on hinges.
Cut all loose ends from the zip ties so that your pet does not chew them.
Place your rabbit's supplies and your rabbit in your cage. Use the binder clips to fasten the door shut.
Caring for Your Pet Rabbit in Its New Cage
Now that you have a new home for your pet bunny, you can make a few alterations to your cage. You can make a much bigger cage for your rabbit by including wire squares fixed horizontally into the middle of the cage with zip ties. You must cover the wire floor of these levels with something solid like plywood so that your rabbit is not injured.
You should note, though, that it is not good for rabbits to be locked in their cages all the time. They should have some supervised playtime during which they are allowed to run around a bigger space.
