Rabbits are cute, adorable, and make great pets! Because of their small size and quiet nature, rabbits are great pets for those of you who live in apartments. While keeping rabbits in your apartment is the same as caring for them at home, there are a few extra steps you need to take to ensure that your rabbit stays healthy and doesn't spoil anything. As long as you take these steps, your bunny can keep on jumping happily for years!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Protecting the Apartment from Rabbits
Step 1. Make sure the apartment allows you to raise rabbits
When moving to a new place or living in an old place, you should always pay attention to the pet regulations that the landlord has provided. This is important before raising a rabbit because they like to chew and can cause property damage despite their small size. Confirm in advance that rabbits are allowed into the apartment before raising them.
- Don't assume the apartment will let you have rabbits just because they allow the tenants to keep dogs or cats. There are many property owners who put rabbits in different categories. So, asking is the best way.
- If the property owner doesn't explicitly forbid pets and you're not sure, make an appointment to see the place for yourself and make a good impression before discussing pets. He may be willing to make an exception if you seem like a good tenant.
Step 2. Place a plastic rug in the corner of the room if you have carpet
Rabbits love to dig and have a habit of digging into the corners of carpets. If there is carpet in the apartment, install a plastic carpet protector in the corner. The plastic used is the same as the product used under a computer desk or chair.
- You can also ban the rabbit from playing in the carpeted area.
- Make sure you have a pile of hay near the rabbit's cage so he can dig it. This can distract the animal from digging into the carpet.
Step 3. Use a baseboard shield to protect the walls
The baseboard is just the right height for the rabbit's teeth so he can chew on it and cause serious damage. Fortunately, hardware companies sell baseboard protectors to prevent such problems. Purchase this product and install it on the baseboard to protect your walls.
- Using furniture or cardboard to cover the baseboard is another option, but it may not be practical to protect your entire apartment.
- You can also use products such as bitter apple spray to make wooden walls and furniture feel bad when bitten. This may prevent the rabbit from chewing it.
Step 4. Block the wired area so the rabbit can't chew it
Rabbits have a habit of chewing on wires. Besides being able to cut power, this can injure them. Look for areas with a lot of wires in your apartment and try to cover them. The dots are usually behind the tv, on the table, near the router, and around electrical furniture. If you can't cover the area, lift the cable so the rabbit can't reach it.
- You can buy plastic attachments at most hardware or electronics stores and use them to attach the cable to the wall so that it's higher up. You can also use tape.
- Make sure you check the entire apartment for any missed wires. Rabbits can get into tight spaces so they can find wires to chew on.
Step 5. Use cable liner to protect it
If you can't block the entire cable or just want to be careful, use cable liner to prevent the rabbit from biting it. Purchase a plastic or metal cover at an electronics store and wrap it around the cable for extra protection.
This coating is just a precaution and the rabbit can still chew it with minimal effort. Make sure you monitor the rabbit's behavior and prevent it from biting any wires
Step 6. Raise the plant so the rabbit can't reach it
Most houseplants are toxic to rabbits, but this won't stop the animal from chewing them. Make sure all the ornamental plants are positioned high enough so that the rabbit cannot reach them.
Method 2 of 3: Setting Up a Room for the Rabbit
Step 1. Choose a quiet and spacious area for the rabbit to live in
Even if you let them roam around in your apartment, your rabbit should have a designated area to rest, eat, pee, and play. Start by choosing a space large enough to place the cage or divider. Make sure the area is quiet enough, but not too far from other people so the rabbit doesn't feel lonely.
- If you live in a small apartment, you may need to rearrange some of the furniture to make room.
- If you have enough space, you can make one room as the rabbit's living area. This way, you can focus on securing the area instead of protecting the entire apartment.
Step 2. Keep the rabbit in a cool place and away from direct sunlight
Make sure your rabbit is shady and away from heat dissipation, as they overheat very easily. Also, make sure the area is not exposed to direct sunlight. You may need to use curtains to block out the sun and keep the rabbit comfortable.
Airflow can make rabbits uncomfortable. So, make sure you block the airflow or keep it away from your living room
Step 3. Prepare a cage or cage for your rabbit
In general, you will need to set up a cage that is 4 times longer and 2 times wider than the rabbit's body, but it is best to prepare a larger cage as the rabbit will get bigger. You can use a large cage designed for rabbits or some kind of gate to create a delimited area.
- You can keep the rabbit in the cage as much as possible so that your apartment will be easier to protect. This way, it will be easier for you to keep an eye on the rabbit running around and prevent it from chewing something.
- Make sure the cage used for the rabbit has a level floor. Wire floors are not good for rabbit feet and they can dig through carpet.
Step 4. Provide food and water in the cage, Rabbits like to eat in the cage
So, prepare the food there too. Place the rabbit's food in a cage or cage, then hang a water bottle so he can drink to his heart's content.
This is important for both caged rabbits and free rabbits. Prepare food and drink at his residence
Step 5. Place the litter box in the rabbit's cage
Rabbits can be trained to defecate, which is very important for those of you who want to keep them in an apartment. Setting up a litter box in a rabbit's cage is very easy. Just put the crumbs of newsprint in a container for the rabbit to use.
- Make sure you clean the litter box every day.
- Do not use wood chips or cat litter in the rabbit's litter box. These products may be toxic to rabbits.
Step 6. Clean your rabbit's cage every week
Rabbits are fairly clean animals, but over time their cage will turn messy and smelly. Feathers, used hay, and food debris can build up quickly. Clean the cage thoroughly once or twice a week. Remove any food residue or hair, then wash the cage floor with soap and water. Place the new hay, pieces of cardboard, and newspaper in the cage, then allow it to dry before putting your rabbit back in.
- You can let the rabbit roam or put it in another cage while cleaning.
- Also clean the area around the cage, especially areas that are carpeted. Sweep and remove any remaining hair, food, or straw with a vacuum cleaner to prevent odors.
Method 3 of 3: Taking Care of Rabbits
Step 1. Neutralize or neuter your rabbit
Castrating a rabbit can solve a variety of behavioral problems, such as chewing and aggressive behavior, and makes it easier for you to train it to stay at home. In general, you can castrate rabbits at 3, 5 and 6 months of age. Visit the vet for proper treatment.
If the owner of the apartment is still hesitant to give permission to keep a rabbit, reassure him by letting him know that the castration process can solve many problems
Step 2. Trim your rabbit's nails regularly
If your rabbit has long nails, he is more likely to damage walls, floors and carpets. Check your rabbit's nails regularly and trim them neatly when they are long.
- In general, trim your rabbit's nails once a month. When the nails start to curl, you will need to trim them.
- If you don't know how to trim a rabbit's nails, ask your vet to show you how.
Step 3. Give the rabbit lots of toys to chew on
Rabbits usually chew on furniture and walls when they are bored. Make sure your rabbit has plenty of chew toys to keep it busy. This way, you can reduce the risk of damage to your apartment from a rabbit bite.
- You can buy chew toys for rabbits at pet stores. Rabbits also like to chew cardboard. So, use old cardboard or used toilet paper tubes as a cheaper alternative.
- Rabbits also love to play with non-toxic baby toys so you can buy them.
Step 4. Let the rabbit play for at least three hours each day
Despite their small size, rabbits are very energetic animals and need to move around a lot to stay healthy. In general, these animals need 3 hours a day to move. So, let him out of his cage to play. Rabbits play by jumping around, chewing, playing something, or exploring. It can take care of itself after wandering around for a while.
- This may be a bit difficult for those of you who live in an apartment, but you don't really need a lot of space. As long as the rabbit is given enough time and space to jump, it will move around a lot.
- Watch the rabbits as they roam. Make sure the rabbit is away from wires, windows, or the front door.
Step 5. Spend time with your rabbit to keep him happy
Rabbits need attention, just like any other pet. Play with rabbits and spend time with them every day. This will keep the rabbit happy and sociable.
- Rabbits usually don't like to be picked up. So don't do it too often. You can let the animal lie down or sit down while you're relaxing on the couch to get closer to it.
- Rabbits like to be in groups. You may need to raise another rabbit so your rabbit has companions. However, only do this if you are sure you can take care of more than one rabbit.
Step 6. Protect the rabbit from other pets
Even if rabbits can coexist with other pets, you should make sure they are protected at all times. Dogs or cats are natural hunters and can chase rabbits if they are not used to it first. Make sure the rabbit's cage is completely safe and cannot be entered by other pets. When the rabbit is allowed to roam, pay close attention to other pets to avoid accidents.
- If you can, make sure the other pets are well trained and can respond to commands before you pet the rabbit. This will prevent various problems from arising.
- Rabbits are very sensitive to loud noises, so the barking of dogs can scare them away. If your dog starts barking, tell him to shut up immediately.
