Creating the right home for your rabbit
Providing housing that meets your rabbit’s complex environmental and behavioural needs is an important part of responsible ownership, and crucial to their overall health and happiness.
From space to exercise, places to hide and areas to socialise, on this page you’ll discover all the necessary requirements for suitable rabbit housing for indoor and outdoor rabbits.
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Housing checklist
The ideal rabbit setup should always include:
- Space: At least a minimum of 3m x 2m x 1m (but the bigger the better!)
- Separate areas: Rabbits’ sleeping and resting areas should be kept clean and separate from toilet areas, while providing enough space for them to move around, socialise, and choose where they spend their time.
- An exercise area: In addition to their sheltered space.
- Areas to mark territory: Where they can leave droppings and scent mark.
- Space to dig and explore: As well as perform other natural behaviours.
- Ventilation: Dry and away from draughts.
- A comfortable temperature: The ideal temperature is between 10°C and 20°C.
- Weather protection: A dry area, safe from wind, rain, and direct sun.
- Security: To prevent rabbits escaping and predators getting in.
- Shelter: With shade from the sun.
- Enrichment: With plenty of room and toys to play with.
- Safety: With hiding places for your rabbits to retreat to.
- Access: Rabbits should be able to get to everything they need (e.g. toilet, exercise, sleeping areas, food) at all times.
- Choice and control: Rabbits should be able to choose where they rest, hide, eat, explore, and interact, allowing them to feel secure and in control of their environment.
- A suitable floor surface: Flooring should be comfortable, non-slip, and protect their feet.
- Opportunities to forage: Encourage natural feeding behaviours by allowing rabbits the opportunity to forage.
- Companionship: Rabbits need the company of another suitable rabbit.
- Multiple resources: Provide enough food and water sources, hiding places, toys, and enrichment items for all rabbits to access without competition or one rabbit preventing another from using them.
- Suitable food and water sources: Rabbits need constant access to hay or grass and fresh water.
Rabbit housing essentials
You’ll likely come across the following housing terms for rabbits:
- Enclosure: This is their main living space consisting of a sheltered area and exercise area, where they can rest, socialise, hide and play.
- Shelter: A secure, sheltered area within the enclosure where rabbits can rest, sleep, eat and retreat when they want privacy. Rabbits should have constant access to a shelter area.
- Hutch: This is a traditional type of rabbit housing and is what a shelter area is commonly called. Hutches on their own are not large enough to be able to meet your rabbit's needs.
- Exercise area: A spacious area within the enclosure, connected to the shelter where rabbits can run, hop, play and explore. Rabbits should have constant access to an exercise area.
Your rabbit’s environment is their whole world. When creating their living space, there are several standards that should be met, and things to keep in mind:
- Access to safe spaces: As a prey species, rabbits need to be able to hide somewhere secure, away from the sight and smell of predators such as foxes, cats and dogs, or other things that may scare them. They also need time away from other rabbits. Learn more about hiding spaces here.
- Opportunities to exercise: Rabbits are active animals needing regular, frequent exercise. Their most active periods, when they like to graze, forage and be sociable, are early morning, late afternoon and overnight. Ideally, they’ll have 24/7 access to a large exercise area attached to their main shelter.
- Areas to mark territory: Rabbits use scent as an important means of communication, so add objects and areas within your rabbit’s home where they can scent mark using chin secretions, urine and droppings. This is a rabbit’s way of marking their territory and making it smell familiar and reassuring to them.
- Safe toys: Rabbits need enrichment items like toys to play with or chew on. This helps them keep physically and mentally active. Read more about rabbit enrichment here.
Find more detailed information on rabbit essentials below.
Rabbits must have access to everything they need at all times
Food, water, space, hiding spots, toilet areas, toys, platforms, their companions, etc. Nothing should be off-limits and inaccessible.
Enclosure size and security
Your rabbit’s enclosure needs to be secure and spacious – with enough room for them to exercise, express their natural behaviours, such as running, jumping, foraging, digging and stretching, and to:
- Stand up on their hind legs without their ears touching the roof
- Lie fully outstretched in any direction
- Turn around unimpeded
A living space for two medium-sized rabbits should be no smaller than 3m x 2m x 1m, including their main shelter and exercise area.
Check that your rabbits, when fully grown, are able to perform the above behaviours within each section of their housing (both the shelter area and exercise area) as an absolute minimum. If you have baby rabbits, ensure the space meets their needs as they grow.
Rabbits need a main sheltered/sleeping area to rest and hide in, large enough for all your rabbits to rest in together. They should be able to access this at all times. This could be a large hutch, kids playhouse, wooden shed or a robust box inside or attached to their exercise area. Additional shelter areas can be provided in the rabbits exercise area through small hides.
Their shelter should also contain separate areas for eating, toileting and enrichment.
What it’s made from
The floors of their housing should be solid (not wired or barred, as this can hurt their feet) and non-slip – rabbits are burrowers, so their housing needs to be designed to stop them digging and escaping, or predators digging their way in. However, shiny/polished laminate or wooden flooring and tiles can be slippery and stressful for rabbits. If any areas of their enclosure have unsuitable flooring, cover it with newspaper.
Outside shelters should be raised above the ground to help deter predators and stop them getting damp. Any wire mesh walls must be heavy gauge with strong fastenings, to stop predators and deter rodents.
Where it’s kept
Housing should be located in a quiet and calm part of your home or garden, away from areas where children play (except when children are supervised) and the threat of potential predators (cats and dogs, wildlife or anything else that may frighten them).
Indoor rabbit housing should be located away from noisy household appliances (televisions and stereos emit frequencies that may distress rabbits). Monitor the temperature, as rabbits are particularly vulnerable to heatstroke. Learn more on the differences between indoor and outdoor rabbit housing below.
How many rabbits
The more rabbits kept, the larger their housing will need to be as they’ll need space both to interact with one another, and be alone when they choose.
RSPCA top tip
We highly encourage owners to build their own rabbit home. It can be difficult to buy purpose-built accommodation measuring the correct dimensions. Building your own gives you the freedom to suit your individual rabbit’s needs!
Bad rabbit housing
To avoid providing unsuitable housing, here are some things you should never do:
- Don’t make it too small: A traditional small hutch should never be the only home of any rabbit – this won’t meet their needs and can lead to physical and mental suffering.
- Don’t have wired/barred floors: Rabbits can get sore feet and hocks if kept on wire floors and there is a risk of injury to their feet – they also have a preference for solid flooring.
- Don’t place it near draughts: They need to be kept suitably warm at all times.
- Don’t place it in direct sunlight: Provide shade and shelter in and over their enclosure.
- Don’t place it near potential threats: Housing should be located away from the sight and smell of potential predators, such as foxes, birds of prey, and unfamiliar dogs and cats. Several hiding places should be included with the living enclosure to ensure rabbits can hide when afraid.
Warm and dry bedding
Rabbit bedding should be comfortable, warm and also safe to eat, such as:
- Dust-free straw
- Dust-free hay
- Shredded paper
Add safe, absorbent materials below the hay. These could include:
- Newspaper
- Dust-free (non-cedar) wood shavings
Exercise and activity space
It’s vital to your rabbit's health that they have space to exercise, forage, hop, run, jump, dig, stand fully upright and stretch out when lying down. This activity area needs to be permanently attached to their main shelter, and accessible at all times.
Rabbits also require space for enriching activities, where they can play with toys, their companion and you. This prevents boredom and supports their wellbeing.
Rabbits should only have access to outdoor exercise areas when weather conditions are suitable. Once the temperature is heading towards 20°C or if it's sunny, provide plenty of shade. In warmer weather, move your rabbits to a shaded area as this protects them from heatstroke.
You can provide your rabbits with more space to exercise by connecting their existing enclosure to an additional run using tunnels.
Toilet area
Rabbits need constant access to a suitable toilet area, separate from their sleeping areas. Usually, they naturally choose a specific area to leave their droppings, away from where they sleep. They may also scatter droppings around their living space as a form of territory marking.
Rabbits can be trained to use litter trays. If you provide litter trays, use newspaper, hay or straw, shredded paper and/or paper-based, non-clumping, non-expanding cat litter. You can place a hay rack over the litter tray to allow the rabbit to eat whilst they use the litter tray.
Clean toilet areas every day.
Ventilation and weather protection
Domestic rabbits don't have the thick fur of wild rabbits, so they’re more sensitive to low temperatures.They’re also vulnerable to heat stress and get very ill if exposed to high temperatures.
The ideal temperature for rabbits is between 10°C and 20°C.
Make sure your rabbit’s home is placed away from draughts, radiators and fires, is well ventilated and dry. Living in draughty, damp, hot, poorly ventilated or dirty environments can cause suffering and illness.
You can ventilate their housing by positioning windows, mesh panels or vents across from one another, to allow air to flow through. Placing them up high means air can escape without letting a draught in, and stops your rabbits from escaping.
Ensure their home isn’t in constant direct sunlight. Move the housing to an area that’s naturally shaded (such as beside a wall or beneath a tree), or add shade by draping a blanket over the parts of it that are in the sun.
Hiding places, platforms and other enrichment
Your rabbits should feel safe in their home environment. Having places to hide, platforms to escape to and other enriching items can reduce stress and encourage mental stimulation.
There should be as many hiding places as there are rabbits, with one extra, if possible – in addition to their main shelter. Provide platforms to climb on, a space to dig and lots of other toys, including safe objects to chew and manipulate.
Rabbit-proofing and hazards
Rabbits are curious creatures with an instinct to chew, so it’s important to remove hazardous or toxic items (such as wires, houseplants, small toys, foam, etc) from in and around their living space.
To rabbit-proof their home you should:
- Make sure their housing is made from chew-resistant materials
- Ensure waterproofing or other preservative treatments are non-toxic
- Only use non-toxic materials with smooth, rounded edges
- Cover or remove electrical wires
- Move indoor plants out of reach (and ensure petals can’t fall into their housing)
- Block access to any ‘no-go’ areas (such as near the oven)
- Regularly inspect items for damage or risk of injury
- Repair, replace or remove damaged or dangerous items
Cleaning your rabbit enclosure
Your rabbit’s home should be thoroughly cleaned around once a week, but the toilet areas should be cleaned every day. However, if your rabbits frequently soil the space you may need to clean more regularly, to keep their environment clean, dry and comfortable.
The more rabbits you keep together, the more often you'll need to clean out the entire enclosure.
Only use non-toxic cleaning products or natural DIY cleaners. Make sure the housing is dry before the rabbits go back inside.
Important: Cleaning can be stressful for rabbits as it disrupts their familiar routines. Put a small amount of the used bedding back in after cleaning, so there’s a familiar smell to return to.
Rabbits need more space than you may think! Their environment should give them room to run, jump, stretch, explore and express their natural behaviours. A safe, spacious and enriching home is essential for their wellbeing.
Indoor and outdoor rabbits
Whether your rabbits live inside or outside, their five basic welfare needs must be met. These are a healthy diet, a suitable place to live, protection from pain and suffering, the right company, and the opportunity to behave normally.
All of our advice above applies to both indoor and outdoor rabbits. However, below we have more detailed advice for rabbits kept inside, as well as seasonal considerations when moving outside rabbits inside, then out again. If you’re unsure whether to keep your rabbits indoors or outdoors, read more here.
Important: If you’re worried about the welfare of your rabbits, or are unsure what’s best for them, always speak to a vet.
Indoor rabbits
For rabbits kept indoors, their enclosure could be an indoor pen or even a ‘rabbit proofed’ room in your house – as long as hazards are removed and your rabbit's needs can be met, this can become a safe, enriching and happy home for them. Living indoors can provide protection from extreme weather and allow closer monitoring of health, but rabbits still need plenty of space, enrichment, and opportunities to behave naturally.
Indoor rabbit houses need the following things:
- Safety: You'll need to fully rabbit-proof all areas your rabbits can access. Dangerous areas, such as near the oven, should be blocked off.
- Supervision: If you let them out of their enclosure for any reason, make sure to keep an eye on them.
- Suitable temperatures: The ideal temperature for rabbits is between 10°C and 20°C. Keep them away from draughts, radiators and fires.
- Calm surroundings: Your rabbits will need a large, safe enclosure in a calm, quiet part of your home where they won't be disturbed.
- Outside exercise: Ideally, you'll be able to put your house rabbits outside regularly for exercise in the warmer months. They'll be able to practise behaviours such as digging and grazing on growing grass. Their secure enclosure should include shelter, enrichment items and hiding places.
- Time to adapt: When your rabbits first move into your home, we suggest that you leave them within their enclosure for at least 48 hours, to get used to their new home.
- Mental stimulation: Rabbits need to be given opportunities to stay active and exhibit natural behaviours that they would show in the wild. Even indoors, you can encourage them to dig by giving them a ‘digging box.’
- Space away from other pets: If you have other pets, you need to make sure they don’t harm or frighten your rabbits, and your rabbits are able to get away from them. Never leave them together unsupervised.
If you’re planning to move your outside rabbit indoors during the winter, find our advice on how to do so safely here.
Pet rabbit rehoming
Adopt a rabbit
Looking to rehome a rabbit or two? You don’t need to go down a rabbit hole of your own – we can find the right bunnies for you and your home.
A video guide on how to create a rabbit environment
This video is a great introduction to how to create the right rabbit environment for your pet rabbit.
What your rabbit needs for a comfortable home
A secure living space with enough room
Rabbits are active and need to be able to hop, run, jump, dig and stretch out fully when lying down. They need enough room to exercise and stand up fully on their back legs without their ears touching the roof.
For two medium-sized rabbits, we recommend a living space no smaller than 3m x 2m and 1m high – this will include their main shelter and exercise area. A dedicated shed, hut or playhouse with an exercise area attached can make a great home. Rabbits like to have separate areas in their shelter for eating, resting and toileting.
A safe shelter
Provide a secure shelter and an exercise space where they can rest and feel safe. They also need to be protected from predators and extremes of weather and temperature. Add a shade over part of the exercise area if it’s warm and sunny.
The rabbits’ main shelter should be raised above the ground to help deter predators (and stop it getting damp). Any wire mesh should be heavy gauge to stop predators getting in and deter rodents. Fastenings need to be strong.
Rabbits are burrowers, so their housing needs to be designed to stop them digging and escaping – or predators digging their way in. However, we don’t recommend having a wire floor as this can hurt their feet. Their shelter can have a solid (non-slip) floor. In the exercise area, you could dig down, fit a wire bottom to the run below ground level, and then cover it with soil and grass.
A well-ventilated, dry and draught-free home
Living in a draughty, damp, hot, poorly ventilated or dirty environment can cause suffering and illness.
Provide hiding places
Rabbits are a prey species, so need to hide in secure places away from the sight and smell of predators such as dogs, cats, ferrets and birds of prey. Give them constant access to safe hiding places – in their main shelter and the exercise area – so they can escape if they're feeling afraid. Cardboard boxes and tunnels are ideal. They’ll need more than one opening to help the rabbits feel safe.
There should be as many hiding places as there are rabbits, with one extra, if possible. Vary the sizes, so rabbits can hide together or separately – whatever they need at the time. Do bear in mind that rabbits need to move around freely, so don’t fill too much of the space with hiding places (and other objects).
Daily exercise
Rabbits are intelligent, inquisitive and active animals. If they're bored, they may suffer, so they'll need daily exercise to stay fit and healthy. Rabbits are most active in the early morning, late afternoon, and overnight, so ideally they need access to their exercise space during these times. It can be easier for you – and your rabbits – if their exercise space is attached to their home, so they can use it whenever they want.
Toys and stimulation
Think about giving your rabbits a platform to climb on, a sand pit to dig in, a cardboard box to hide in, and lots of other toys, including safe objects to chew and manipulate. Try hanging their food so they need to reach up on their hind legs to eat it, and you could put some hay in a rack or cardboard tubes and empty egg boxes. Encourage foraging by hiding their food in and under things.
Company
Your rabbit needs companionship. Keep them with at least one other friendly, compatible rabbit (though remember that they’ll need space to be together and space to be alone).
Most rabbits enjoy human company too – but take it slowly. Start by getting your rabbits used to your presence and your voice without any physical contact. Later, you can sit on the floor with them and offer some food or a toy and gently stroke them. Let the rabbits come to you. Don't force them to interact with you if they don't want to.
Bedding for warmth
Their bedding should be warm and also safe to eat – dust-free straw or hay is perfect. Add safe, absorbent materials below the hay. These could include newspaper and dust-free (non-cedar) wood shavings.
Suitable toilet area
Rabbits need regular (ideally constant) access to a suitable toilet area. If you provide litter trays, use newspaper, hay or straw, shredded paper and/or paper-based non-clumping, non-expanding cat litter. Their toilet areas should be separate from sleeping areas.
A daily clean
The toilet areas need cleaning every day. The whole enclosure should be cleaned around once a week. You may need to clean more regularly, so keep an eye on the amount of soiling. The more rabbits you keep together, the more often you'll need to clean out the entire enclosure.
Cleaning can be stressful for the rabbits. We suggest putting a small amount of the used bedding back in, so there is a familiar smell. Check that the cleaning products are non-toxic and make sure the shelter is dry before putting the rabbits back.
Hazard-free space
Rabbits are inquisitive and will chew. Make sure their housing is made from chew-resistant materials and that any waterproofing or preservative treatments are non-toxic to rabbits. Keep their space clear of hazards and make sure there’s nothing dangerous nearby that they could try to reach.
Make sure all materials are non-toxic and have smooth, rounded edges. Regularly inspect items for damage or ways they could injure your rabbit. Repair, replace or get rid of items that are damaged or dangerous.
Going away
If you’re going away, try to find someone who can look after your rabbits in your own home, for familiarity. If boarding, keep pairs or groups of rabbits together and take familiar items such as their toys.
Read our advice on transporting rabbits.
