How to Have a Free-Range House Rabbit

If you're allergic to cats, but want something fluffy bouncing around your house, consider having a house rabbit. Rabbits are naturally social animals. If you keep an open cage nearby, a rabbit can learn where his litter box is, and how to hop in and around the family like a genuine member. You can open your whole house to your rabbit. With a little rabbit-proofing, your rabbit can live out of his cage and hop amongst you happily.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Decide which areas of the house you are designating for your rabbit to roam freely. Rabbits are chewers by instinct, so keep that in mind. If you are choosing only a few rooms, kitchens and bathrooms are ideal for the naturally curious rabbit.

2. If you are allowing your rabbit full range of your house, make sure to rabbit-proof your wiring with plastic tubing from the hardware store. You might also want to protect chair and table legs with hard plastic furniture protectors, or with animal-deterring sprays found in pet stores. (You can also use perfume, as rabbits dislike the smell and taste.)

3. Set up an area with an open cage containing the rabbit's litter box, water and food. This is a place the rabbit will use to feel safe, to rest and to use the bathroom.

4. Start with your rabbit in a small area first, such as a kitchen. Get him used to that being where his cage and litter box is. Then gradually allow him access to as many rooms as you like, one at a time.

Tips & Warnings

• It's best to cage a rabbit at night, or contain him in one room.
• Remember, rabbits like to dig, chew and squeeze into small places, so be very diligent when rabbit-proofing your house.
• Rabbits should always be supervised with other pets, especially dogs.