Wednesday 15 February 2017

How to Choose The Best Indoor Rabbit Cage in 2017

Rabbit in the best indoor rabbit cage

A first time rabbit-parent, who was searching for the best indoor rabbit cages, recently asked me about the challenges of keeping his bunny in the house. He was using an outdoor hutch, but his pet was petrified of the neighbour’s dog and a couple of days ago, he noticed coyote pugmarks around the home prompting him to consider the possibility of keeping his pet indoors.

When I informed him that rabbits can get a heart attack even seeing a predator approach them, he almost got one himself.

Rabbits are very intelligent, loving and social creatures that thrive inside the home. And contrary to what most people think, they are not going to chew through your furniture or your expensive leather boots if you are careful enough about rabbit-proofing the home.

Six years ago, when Felix my pet cat succumbed to Cancer, I didn’t have the faintest idea that I’d be bringing home rabbits. But as luck would have it, they all came in one by one or should I say invaded the home?

With a little love, care and attention, they will blend into your family. The only thing that you’d want to ensure is that they have their own personal space to retire to once in a day. That’s where indoor rabbit cages come into the picture.

If you’d like to skip through the information and jump straight to my recommendations of the best indoor rabbit cages, then here you go.

Are Indoor Rabbit Cages Humane?

Absolutely! Give them enough time to expend their energy and they will love to retire to their cages themselves. The problem occurs when people keep their bunnies indoor for too long and the rabbits have no playtime.

Also, unless you have spayed or neutered your bunny, they are more likely to mark their territory and get a free run of the home for littering. Using a cage with positive reinforcement is the best way to introduce litter habits that will keep your house from stinking and make life easier for you and your pet.

I have four rabbits in the house and I have tried three cages for them so far. I started with an indoor cage that was suited for one rabbit when I got home Checkers. But when Jasper and Muffin joined him, I had to expand their living space and got them an extra large cage.

Karamel is the latest addition to the gang and I have since graduated to a new cage. The point is that having tried these cages first hand and having scoured the market for hours before making a purchase, I have become a self-made rabbit cage savant who can dole out unbiased and non-salesly information about rabbit cages.

The Best Indoor Rabbit Cages Available on The Market

If this is the first time you are hopping into rabbit cage turf, then sit back with a bunch of carrots and enjoy this list of the best indoor rabbit cages. On the contrary if you already have a rabbit cage and are looking for an upgrade, then these cages are categorized according to their size, price and quality. You can surely find one that best suits your fur ball. So, here goes.

#1 – Petsfit Rabbit Hutch

The first indoor rabbit cage that I got home was the Petsfit Rabbit Hutch and I stumbled upon it by chance. The word ‘Hutch’ in the name had me wondering whether this was meant for backyard use. A quick email conversation with Petsfit ensued and in came this roomy and very attractive indoor cage for Checkers.

Petsfit Rabbit Hutch,Bunny Cage,Bunny Hutch Wood for Indoor Use

For starters, this is a stunner. It is made from solid wood and has a beautiful wine red and white finish that you’d love to flaunt in your living room.

At 36 inches long and 20 inches wide, it is not oversized either which allows you to keep it anywhere in the house. But it gives enough room for one bunny to retire after a tiring day spent hopping around.

It features a top opening design with a pneumatic roof that you can lift easily to get your bunny out for cleaning.

Coming to cleaning, the bottom tray slides out easily and can be cleaned with a quick rinse. The challenge though is to remove this without spilling the contents of the tray to the floor.

Ideally, the floor of the cage and the removable tray should have been separate. But that’s only a minor niggle with easy workarounds.

Construction wise, the Petsfit Rabbit Hutch is built like a rock. It is sturdy, does not wobble and will not come apart even if you have a habitual chewer.

Tip: If you are concerned that your bunny might chew his way through this, then run some wire on the inside of the house and you are protected.

Best features

  • Beautifully designed with solid wood
  • Wine red and White finish
  • Easy access with top opening roof
  • Removable tray for easy cleaning
  • Minimal assembly
  • Perfect for one rabbit

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If you have a single bunny at home and are looking for a roomy, durable indoor rabbit cage, then you’ve just found it. The Petsfit Rabbit Hutch is highly recommended!

#2 – Kaytee My First Home Deluxe Rabbit 2-Level Cage

When I got Jasper home, a cage upgrade was due and this large indoor rabbit cage from Kaytee was suggested by our vet. She uses it for her guinea pigs. One look at it and I knew that this would suffice for the two of them. It is 48 inches long and 24 inches wide giving them enough room to play, rest and use their respective litter boxes.

Kaytee My First Home Rabbit 2 Level Cage with Caster Wheels

The cage has a wire frame design and has caster wheels on the bottom which allows you to move it to any part of the house. I kept mine next to the futon bed in the guest room and it fit snugly.

You can access the interiors from four different openings. There are two top openings and two front ones with latches. I didn’t think that a baby rabbit would find his way out of the cage and kept the door unlatched one night. Believe it or not, Jasper figured his way out. Since then, the latch was in business and order was maintained.

The latches are chew-proof too!

The Kaytee indoor rabbit cage has a bunch of impressive add-ons that make your bunny’s indoor time interesting. There’s a comfort shelf for rest time, a safety ramp that lets them slide their way to the other side of the cage, a water bottle that dispenses water easily, a food dish and a hay buffet (Checkers loves this).

Other than the features that are advertised, I also discovered that this cage has a slightly deep bottom which prevents your bunny from kicking any leftover stuff into the room.

Best features

  • Large and roomy cage for two rabbits or guinea pigs
  • Wire frame design with caster wheels
  • Weighs just 14 pounds
  • Durable construction
  • Chew proof latches on doors
  • Bunch of add on features

check-out-on-amazon-rabbit-expert

There are very few large and roomy indoor rabbit cages in the market. This is one of the best ones of the lot. It is durable, easy to move around and keeps your rabbits’ indoor time interesting.

#3 – Living World Deluxe Habitat

if you are not looking to spend a hundred dollars for an indoor rabbit cage, then you’d want to check out Living World Deluxe Habitat. It is hands down one of the best large sized indoor rabbit cages in the market.

Living World Deluxe Habitat

It has a wire frame design that is very similar to the Kaytee Indoor rabbit cage but it approximately 10 inches smaller.

It is 37.8 inches in length to be precise and 22.4 inches wide. That’s not massive. But it is more room than what an adult sized bunny would need. In fact, you can easily house two rabbits or guinea pigs in this.

The wire frame is durable and chew-proof and it keeps the cage airy and ventilated. There is a comfort shelf (balcony) with an access ramp which looks steep at first glance. But the bunny can easily hop on to it without using the ramp anyway.

Other features include a tip-proof food dish, a water bottle that is advertised as leak-proof but does leak a little and a hay guard.

Best features

  • Budget priced large indoor rabbit cage
  • Durable wire frame design with plastic bottom
  • Balcony, a tip-proof food dish, a water bottle and hay guard
  • Ideal for two rabbits

check-out-on-amazon-rabbit-expert

The living world deluxe habitat is the best seller in the ‘Small Animal Cages’ category on Amazon and has a flawless customer rating that has remained consistent over the years. If you are looking for a budget priced large rabbit cage, this is your best choice.

#4 – Ware Manufacturing Home Sweet Home Pet Cage for Small Animals

I don’t like the word ‘Cheap’ used with pet products because it makes it sound like you are talking about a low quality product. But Ware Manufacturing has really pulled a rabbit out of the hat here (no pun intended). The Home Sweet Home Pet Cage is perfect for a single bunny, has a durable wire and quality plastic design.

Ware Manufacturing Home Sweet Home Pet Cage for Small Animals

That’s an absolute steal considering how durable and sturdy this pet cage is!

It is approximately 24 inches in length and 14 inches in width. All parts are chew proof and there are no sharp or jagged edges. In fact, with a two-piece design, you can be rest assured that you will not lose out on any of the parts during assembly or afterwards.

Best features

  • Compact sized indoor rabbit cage with a wire design
  • Chew proof cage
  • Easy assembly

check-out-on-amazon-rabbit-expert

The Home Sweet Home Pet Cage is a perfect choice for the budget minded shopper looking for a barebones rabbit cage without schmancy features and bells and whistles.

#5 – Living World Deluxe Habitat Extra Large

My final pick in this list of best indoor rabbit cages is this extra large sized rabbit cage from Living World. This is a bigger version of the #3 pick in this list and is perfect for three to four dwarf rabbits or two large adult sized rabbits.

Living World Deluxe Habitat Extra Large 2

It is approximately 47 inches in length and measures 23 inches in width.

All the features of the smaller version of the cage have been retained. So, you have the extended balcony, the access ramp (removable), the tip-proof food dish that is attached to the side of the cage and a sturdy plastic base that keeps the cage from wobbling or sliding when the bunnies move.

Despite the extra large sizing and the amazing features it is a complete value-for-money purchase. If you have multiple pets, then go for this extra large cage from Living World.

Hard to go wrong with this!

Best features

  • Extra large sized cage
  • Chew proof wire design with stable plastic bottom
  • Balcony with an access ramp
  • Tip proof food dish and water bottle
  • Easy to clean

check-out-on-amazon-rabbit-expert

That’s it bunny lovers. I hope that this helps you to make an informed decision and pick the best indoor cage for your rabbit. In my next article, I will be speaking about the best cheap rabbit cages for the spendthrifts out there. Until then, adios!

Top image source: Bigstock.com

The post How to Choose The Best Indoor Rabbit Cage in 2017 appeared first on Rabbit Expert.

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