Housing: Cage Size and Your Rabbit
Copyright Pamela Alley, RVT, 2005

“How big of a cage do I need?” One of the most common questions asked by a novice, this is an excellent and intelligent inquiry to which one should give a fair bit of thought.  Cage size depends on body weight, actual size, purpose of the animal, and room available overall. Height, on the other hand, is generally determined solely by rabbit size and convenience to the owner in the case of multiple-stacking units.

In the US, cage size has varied widely, with little formal control or recommendations other than those dictated by common sense.  In other areas of the world, particular cage dimensions have become an industry standard. The size of the housing your choose will be largely determined by the reason you have the animal.

The pet rabbit cage may range from something quite small, suitable for a Netherland Dwarf or similar-sized breed clear up to large and some downright palatial homes for the pampered companion (in some cases, they simply take over their owner’s entire house, yard, and lifestyle!).

Most caging sold in pet stores and large department stores is not truly suited to the rabbit as a permanent home.  The solid plastic, ungrated bottoms of a number of these can be dangerous to the rabbit should it become frightened and lose traction while on the surface. Providing a generous depth of shavings helps reduce such chances, but they still are not the superior, all-wire type of caging, or the type with roughened floors which are textured, yet easily cleaned.

Dimensions of the ‘standard’ pet cage may be 18” long by 10-12” deep by a relatively scant 13-14” tall, and vary to some of the more common ‘hutch’ type wood and wire condominiums’ 48” wide, 24” deep and 18-30” tall!  Some are even bi- or tri-level condos, so the pet owner may induge his or her pal to their heart’s content.

The show rabbit is usually kept in an all wire cage, although this is not always the case. Cage size is usually determined by multiplying the rabbit’s adult weight by .75 and the result is the area needed in square feet. Thus, a 2.5-lb Dwarf would need approximately 1.9 square feet of floor area, which could be generously accommodated by a 12” deep by 24” wide cage, or any similar arrangement resulting in the same amount of floor space.

For does and litters, a 12 lb doe would need 9 square feet of floor space for herself and her litter to weaning age (about 8 weeks). Dimensions of 30” deep and 36” wide are fairly standard for the larger meat breeds in production situations.

Remember, when calculating, that crocks and in-cage feeders take up floor space, and should be accounted for. Height in the US is usually kept at 18” unless there is reason to go lower or higher, such as in multiple stacking units where total height is an important consideration, or with breeds such as the Checkered Giant, Flemish Giant, and Belgian Hare.

The cage height should be such that the animal may comfortably stand upright; width and length such that normal behavioral attitudes are possible.

Commercial meat animals are generally all kept in the same size of cage. These will vary somewhat with barn layout and desires of the management for ease of maintainance, but most are the aforementioned 30” x 36” x 18”, run in long rows. Some rabbitries utilize shallower caging, compensated for by being greater in length.  Nearly all use automatic watering systems and the vast majority use J-type feed hoppers.

Rabbit housing is a variable which is important to the well-being of the animal; improper housing can cause distress, abnormal behavior, even injury or death. Remember this when you choose your animal’s ‘room’...and make sure that it is right for your rabbit.