Rabbits are cute, sweet animals that make great pets. Because of the size and quiet habits of these mammals, they are perfect for apartment dwellers. While caring for a rabbit is much the same for homeowners as apartment living, there are a few more things you need to do to make sure the rabbit stays healthy and doesn't break anything. As long as you take these precautions, your rabbit will be happy and will live many, many years!
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Placing Protections in the Apartment to Accommodate the Rabbit
Step 1. Confirm that the condo allows rabbits
If you are going to live in a new place or have already moved, always check if the condominium or the owner of the property (in the case of rent) allows animals and what the rules are before adopting a pet. This is very important in the case of rabbits, because they love to chew things and can do a lot of damage to such a small animal. Confirm that the property allows rabbits before adopting one.
- Don't assume that the condominium allows rabbits just because it allows cats and dogs. Many owners place rabbits in another category, so it's best to ask.
- If the property owner hasn't spelled out that they don't allow pets and you're not sure, make an appointment to see the property and make a good impression before mentioning your rabbit. He may be more willing to make an exception if you seem like a good tenant.
Step 2. Place plastic carpet protectors in the corners of the room if the room has carpet
Rabbits love to dig and have a tendency to burrow into rugs and carpets in corners. If the apartment has carpet, put plastic protectors in the corners, like the ones people use under desks and chairs.
- If you prefer, just block his access to rooms that have carpet.
- Put some hay in the rabbit's cage so he can dig it. This will distract you to prevent damage to the carpets.
Step 3. Use baseboard covers
The baseboards are the perfect height for the rabbits to go chew and their little teeth can do a lot of damage. Fortunately, home and construction stores sell baseboard coverings that avoid this problem. Buy some and install to protect the walls.
- You can also use furniture or boxes to block the baseboards, but doing this throughout the apartment is not practical.
- There are also bitter apple sprays to give furniture and walls a bad taste. This can prevent the rabbit from trying to bite them.
Step 4. Block out the areas that have electrical wires so the rabbit cannot chew them
These little bugs tend to bite the wires, which not only kills energy but also hurts the rodent. Walk around the entire apartment and try to block out areas that have a lot of electrical wires. Common places are: behind the TV, on your desk, near the router, and near any appliance. If you can't block these areas, try lifting the wires so the rabbit can't reach them.
- You can buy small plastic accessories at home and building or electronics stores to stick the wires to the walls and lift them off the floor. Duct tape is also a good choice.
- Check the entire apartment for any wires you may have missed. Your rabbit may go into small spaces and find some strands giving soup to bite.
Step 5. Wrap the wires with a cover to protect them
If you can't block all the wires or just want to be extra careful, protective covers can also keep your rabbit from biting electrical wires. Try to find metal or plastic covers at electronics stores and wrap wires around them for added protection.
These covers are just a precaution and the rabbit can still bite them if he tries hard. Keep an eye on him and stop him from biting any cold
Step 6. Raise any plants you have so that the rabbit cannot reach them
Most of the plants people tend to have around the house are toxic to rabbits, but that won't stop you from trying to eat them. Raise all the plants until they are at a height that the pet cannot reach.
Part 2 of 3: Fixing Your Rabbit's Space
Step 1. Choose a large, quiet space to place the rabbit's cage
Even if you're going to let the rabbit roam around the apartment, it's best that they have a set place to rest, eat, do their chores and play. Start by choosing a space large enough to place a large cage. The environment should be calm, but not too far away from everyone, so the rabbit doesn't feel alone.
- If your apartment is small, you may need to move some furniture to find space.
- If you have enough space, give the rabbit an entire dormitory. So you can take security precautions in this room only, rather than the entire apartment.
Step 2. Leave the rabbit in a cool area away from direct sunlight
The separate area for the rabbit should be cool and away from heaters, as these animals get overheated easily. It also cannot receive direct sunlight. You may have to put up curtains to block out the sun and keep the rabbit comfortable.
Winds can also make rabbits uncomfortable, so close windows and keep their cage out of the way of air ducts
Step 3. Set up a cage for your rabbit
In general, the cage should be four times the rabbit's length and twice the rabbit's width, but the bigger the better, because the rabbit will grow. You can buy a large cage made for rabbits or fencing off an area for rabbits.
- You can keep the rabbit in this area much of the time to help protect the apartment. That way, you can keep an eye on him as he jumps around and prevent bites where he shouldn't.
- Any type of cage you use for the rabbit should have a level floor. Wire flooring is bad for their feet and it helps them to destroy the carpet or rug underneath.
Step 4. Put water and food in the rabbit's cage
Rabbits like to eat in the cage, so do it for him. Put a bowl of food in the cage and hang his water bottle so he can hydrate whenever he wants.
This is important for both caged and free-range rabbits. Leave water and food in his normal living area
Step 5. Place a necessities area in his cage
Rabbits can be trained to clean up in the right place, which is very important to have one in an apartment. Placing an area for necessities in the cage is pretty easy. Just put some crumpled newspaper in a bowl for the rabbit to use.
- This area needs to be sanitized every day.
- Do not use wood chips or cat litter. These materials can be toxic to rabbits.
Step 6. Clean the rabbit's cage once a week
Rabbits are usually cleaned, but the cages get dirty and smelly, and there's nothing you can do about it. Fur, old straw and pieces of food can accumulate quickly. Once or twice a week, do a thorough cleaning of the cage. Remove any old food and fur. Wash the floor with soap and water. Put fresh straw, cardboard and newspaper in the cage as soon as it dries, before bringing the rabbit back to it.
- You can either let the rabbit loose or put it in another cage while you clean.
- Clean the area around the cage as well, especially if it is covered with rug or carpet. Vacuum and sweep the fur, food or straw that is on the floor so as not to smell bad.
Part 3 of 3: Taking care of your rabbit
Step 1. Neuter the rabbit
This surgery solves several behavior problems, such as the habit of biting and destroying things and aggression, in addition to facilitating training at home. In general, castration should be done between three and a half to six months of life. Go to a veterinarian to get the procedure done right.
If the landlord is undecided whether to let you have a rabbit on the property or not, explain that neutering solves several problems (and talk about them). This will help convince you
Step 2. Trim the rabbit's nails regularly
If you leave your nails long, the chance of the rabbit damaging the walls, floors and carpets is much greater. Inspect his nails often and cut when they're big.
- Cutting them once a month is ideal. As soon as they start to bend, it's time to cut.
- If you don't know how to cut your rabbit's nails, a veterinarian can show you how to do this.
Step 3. Give the rabbit several toys to bite
He will be more likely to destroy your furniture and walls if he is bored. Therefore, it is necessary to give chew toys to occupy them. That way, you lessen the amount of damage their biting habit causes.
- You can find chew toys in pet stores. Rabbits like to bite into cardboard too, so offer toilet paper boxes and rolls if you want to save money.
- They like non-toxic baby toys too, so you can buy some of those.
Step 4. Let the rabbit exercise for at least three hours a day
Even small, rabbits are full of energy and need to move a lot to stay in shape. They require three hours of exercise a day on average, so let your rabbit out of the cage each day to explore the environment. They like to jump, bite, play and explore the environment itself. So your rabbit will take care of itself when you let it out.
- This will cause more wear and tear on the apartment, but there is no need to have a lot of space. As long as the rabbit has enough time and space to jump around, it will be able to exercise well.
- Keep an eye on the rabbit while it is free. He needs to stay away from all electrical wires, windows and the front door.
Step 5. Spend time with your rabbit to make him happy
Rabbits need attention just like any other pet. Play with your rabbit and spend time with him every day. This keeps them happy and up to date with their social needs.
- They don't usually like to be picked up, so don't do it often. You can let him sit or lie down on your side while you're on the couch to enjoy this moment together.
- Rabbits are happiest when they are in a group, so it might be a good idea to adopt a second rabbit for company. However, only do this if you are sure you can handle more than one rabbit.
Step 6. Protect your rabbit from other pets
Even though they can live with other animals, you need to ensure the rabbit's protection at all times. Dogs and cats are natural hunters and can attack the rabbit if you don't present them correctly. The rabbit's cage needs to be completely secure and other animals cannot get into it. When letting the rabbit out, keep an eye on the other pets so that no accidents happen.
- If possible, train other animals well so that they respond to commands before bringing home a rabbit. This should prevent problems.
- Rabbits are sensitive to loud noises, so dogs' barking can scare them. If your dog starts barking, try to get him to stop.