Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 3: Rabbit-proof your apartment
• Part 2 of 3: Decorating your rabbit's space
• Part 3 of 3: Grooming your rabbit
• Warnings

Rabbits are cute, cuddly and great pets! Because of their size and quiet habits, rabbits are perfect for apartment living. While caring for a rabbit in a detached house and in an apartment is similar, there are a few extra steps you need to take to ensure your rabbit stays healthy and does not damage anything. As long as you take these precautions, your rabbit will be happy for years to come.

To step

Part 1 of 3: Rabbit-proof your apartment

1. Confirm that you can keep a rabbit in your apartment. Whether you are moving to or already living in a new apartment, you should always check the rules regarding animals before getting a pet. This is particularly important for rabbits, as they love to gnaw and can cause serious harm to such a small animal. Confirm that you are allowed to keep a rabbit before purchasing one.
   • Don't assume rabbits are allowed in an apartment because dogs and cats are allowed. Many landlords place rabbits in a different category, so it's best to ask.
   • If a landlord doesn't specifically state whether pets are allowed and you're not sure, make an appointment to view the apartment and make a good impression before listing your pet. You are more likely to get an exception if you appear to be a good tenant.
2. Place plastic carpet protectors in the corners of the rooms if there is carpet. Rabbits love to dig and have a habit of digging into carpets in corners. If you have carpet, place plastic carpet protectors in the corners, the same kind as for under an office chair or desk.
   • You can also just block out parts of the carpet instead.
   • Make sure to put some hay in your rabbit's cage so he can dig in it. This can distract him from digging in the carpet.
3. Use baseboard protectors to protect your walls. Skirting boards are the perfect height for rabbits to gnaw, and their tiny teeth can do serious damage. Fortunately, you can buy plant protectors at DIY stores to prevent this. Buy some of these protectors and place them over your baseboards to protect your walls.
   • You can also use furniture or boxes to block the baseboards, but it may not be practical to do this throughout your apartment.
   • You can also use something like bitter apple spray to make the walls and wooden furniture taste bad. This can prevent your rabbit from chewing it.
4. Block up areas with wiring so your rabbit can't chew on them. Rabbits have a habit of gnawing on wiring, which can not only cause a power outage, but can also harm your rabbit. Walk through your apartment and try to block areas where there is a lot of wiring. These are usually places behind the television, your desk, at the router and at devices. If you can't block the areas, try raising the wires so your rabbit can't reach them.
   • You can purchase small plastic fasteners from most DIY and electronics stores that allow you to stick and raise wiring to the wall. Tape also works.
   • Make sure to check the entire apartment to find all the wires. Your rabbit will fit in a small space so may find hidden wires to gnaw on.
5. Wrap wires in a layer to protect them. If you can't block all the wires or just want to be extra careful, a protective layer can prevent your rabbit from biting through the wires. Try buying metal or plastic wire protectors from an electronics store and wrapping them around your wires for an extra layer of protection.
   • These protective layers are only a precaution, your rabbit can bite through if he works extra hard at them. Make sure to keep an eye on your rabbit so you can avoid chewing on wires.
6. Increase houseplants so that your rabbit cannot reach them. Most houseplants are poisonous to rabbits, but this will not prevent them from chewing them. Make sure to place all houseplants high so that your rabbit can't reach them at all.

Part 2 of 3: Decorating your rabbit's space

1. Choose a spacious, quiet place as a habitat for your rabbit. Even if you plan to let the rabbit roam freely around your apartment, it is good if the rabbit has its own place to rest, eat, play, and relieve himself. Start by choosing a spacious area large enough for a large cage or other type of enclosure. Make sure it's a quiet place that's not too far from the rest of the household so that your rabbit doesn't feel alone.
   • If you live in a small apartment, you may need to move some furniture to make room.
   • If you have enough space, you can set up an entire room as a habitat for your rabbit. This way, you can focus on making that room rabbit safe, rather than your entire apartment.
2. Keep your rabbit in a cool place away from direct sunlight. Make sure your rabbit's living area is cool and away from heating vents as he can easily overheat. Also, make sure there is no direct sunlight on the area. You may need to use sunscreens to block out sunlight and keep your rabbit comfortable.
   • Any drafts can make your rabbit uncomfortable, so make sure to close any vents or arrange the habitat away from them.
3. Target one cage or run in for your rabbit. In general, you should buy a hutch that is at least four times as long and twice as wide as your rabbit, but the bigger the better as your rabbit will grow. You can use a large rabbit cage or a fence to create a fence.
   • Keep your rabbit in its habitat most of the time, this will make protecting your apartment easier. That way you can easily keep an eye on your rabbit when it is walking around and prevent it from chewing something.
   • Make sure any hutch you use for your rabbit has a flat floor. Bars are bad for your rabbit's legs and can press into the carpet.
4. Put food and water in your rabbit's cage. Rabbits like to eat in their living environment, so make sure you facilitate this. Put the food in the cage or fence and hang the water bottle up so your rabbit can drink when he wants.
   • This is important whether your rabbit is in a cage or roaming free. Leave the food and water in your rabbit's normal habitat.
5. Create a toilet area in your rabbit's run. Rabbits can be house trained, which is very important if you want to keep one in your apartment. Setting up a toilet area in your rabbit's run is very easy. Simply place some crumpled newspaper in a container for your rabbit to use.
   • Make sure to clean the toilet area every day.
   • Do not use wood chips or cat litter on your rabbit's toilet area. These materials can be toxic to rabbits.
6. Clean your rabbit's habitat weekly. Rabbits are usually quite tidy, but their environment inevitably gets dirty and smelly. Hair, old straw, and bits of food can quickly build up. Clean the cage completely once or twice a week. Scoop out any old food and hair and wash the floor with soap and water. Place fresh straw, cardboard and newspaper in the cage and let everything dry before returning the rabbit to the cage.
   • You can let your rabbit roam or move it to another cage while you clean.
   • Also clean the area around the cage, especially if there is carpet. Vacuum and wipe away hair, food scraps and straw so it doesn't start to smell.

Part 3 of 3: Grooming your rabbit

1. Spay or neuter your rabbit. Letting your rabbit help solves many behavioral problems, such as gnawing and aggression, and makes toilet training easier. In general, you should have your rabbit assisted when he is 3.5-6 months old. Go to the vet for the correct procedure.
   • If your landlord is not convinced about a rabbit in the house, it can emphasize that your rabbit has been helped and that this solves many problems. This can help convince the landlord.
2. Trim your rabbit's nails regularly. If your rabbit has long nails, it is more likely not to damage your walls, floors, and carpets. Inspect your rabbit's nails regularly and trim them if they are too long.
   • In general, a monthly haircut is perfect. So that a nail starts to bend, it must be cut.
   • If you don't know how to trim your rabbit's nails, the vet can show you.
3. Provide your rabbit with lots of toys to chew on. Rabbits are more likely to gnaw on furniture and walls when they are bored. Make sure your rabbit has plenty of toys to keep him occupied. This can significantly reduce chewing on your apartment.
   • You can buy chew toys for your rabbit from a pet store. Rabbits also like to chew cardboard, so try to use some old boxes or toilet rolls as an inexpensive option.
   • Rabbits also love to play with non-toxic baby toys, so you can buy some of these too.
4. Exercise your rabbit for at least three hours a day. Although small, rabbits have a lot of energy and need a lot of exercise to stay in shape. In general, they need about three hours of exercise per day, so let your rabbit out of its cage daily to get some exercise. Rabbits move by hopping, gnawing, playing with toys, and generally exploring. Your rabbit can do it all by himself once he is allowed out of his cage.
   • This may be a bit more difficult in an apartment, but you don't need a lot of space. As long as your rabbit has enough time and space to hop around, he should be able to get plenty of exercise.
   • Keep an eye on your rabbit while it walks around. Make sure it stays away from wires, windows and your front door.
5. Spend time with your rabbit to keep it happy. Rabbits, like any other pet, need attention. Play with your rabbit and spend time with him every day. This keeps him happy and social.
   • Rabbits don't usually like to be lifted, so don't do this too much. You can instead have your rabbit sit or lie next to you while you are on the couch to spend time together that way.
   • Rabbits are happy in groups, so consider getting one more so that your rabbit has a friend. However, only do this if you are sure you can care for more than one rabbit.
6. Protect your rabbit from other pets. While rabbits can definitely get along with other pets, make sure your rabbit is protected at all times. Dogs and cats are hunters by nature and can go after your rabbit if not properly introduced to each other. Make sure your rabbit's habitat is completely protected from other pets and that they cannot enter it. When you let your rabbit run around, keep an eye on all your pets so that accidents don't happen.
   • If possible, make sure your other pets are properly trained and respond to commands before introducing a rabbit. This should avoid any problems.
   • Rabbits are sensitive to loud noises, so a barking dog can make your rabbit anxious. If your dog starts barking, try to silence it.

Warnings

• You may think rabbits are low maintenance, but they require just as much work as any other pet. Make sure you're ready for work if you're considering getting one.