Bringing a rabbit into your home is an exciting adventure, but it comes with responsibilities. Proper care requires having the right supplies on hand. From housing to nutrition, grooming to entertainment, rabbits have specific needs that must be met to maintain their health and happiness.
The items on this form the foundation of rabbit care, allowing you to provide a comfortable and enriching environment. If you are a new rabbit caretaker, I recommend stocking up on the necessary supplies before bringing your rabbit home.
You’ll be better prepared to meet their needs from day one. This proactive approach sets the stage for a positive relationship with your new pet and helps prevent common issues that can arise from inadequate care or preparation.
1. A pet playpen
Instead of purchasing an expensive rabbit cage or hutch, I recommend getting a pet playpen for your rabbit’s enclosure. Most of the cages that are marketed towards rabbits are actually much too small for them. They’ll lead to an unhappy rabbit who loudly rattles on the cage bars and will never want to go back into their enclosure after exercise time.
A rabbit playpen, on the other hand, is large enough to give rabbits space to hop around and sprawl out. They are also much easier to clean. All you need to do is move the gates aside and run the vacuum. The best part is that this type of enclosure is one of the cheapest options out there. Instead of paying hundreds for a rabbit cage or hutch, you can usually get a playpen for somewhere around $50 (check out the current price).
2. A cat litter box
To encourage your rabbit to use their litter box, you’ll want to make sure you get them a box that’s large enough for them to fit in. Those small corner litter boxes are not big enough to be comfortable for rabbits and many will ignore those little boxes altogether. Instead, get a large cat litter box.
3. A water bowl
A lot of rabbits like to play with their food and water bowls by grabbing onto the edge and flipping them over. This can end up making a pretty big mess, so it’s best to try to find heavy ceramic bowls to use for your rabbit so that they can’t be flipped.
A water bowl is better for rabbits than a water bottle. Bowls are a more natural way for rabbits to drink and encourage rabbits to stay better hydrated.
4. A hay rack
I used to use a hay bin for my rabbit, but I found that it was easier for me to put the hay directly into the litter box instead. This works for me because my rabbit only uses one end of the litter box to do her business, so I could put the hay on the other end and it would stay mostly clean.
If you decide you want to get a hay bin, get one that has large holes for your rabbit to pull the hay out of. Something like this hanging hay bin is best for keeping your rabbit’s hay clean and also making it easily available.
5. Simethicone gas drops
Rabbits have a sensitive digestive system and can suffer from a gas build-up. To help ease your rabbit’s discomfort and prevent GI stasis, it’s a good idea to have simethicone on hand, also known as infant gas drops. This is sold in most grocery or drug stores in the baby aisle.
If you notice your rabbit is sitting uncomfortably, pressing their belly onto the floor, they may be suffering from gas. Try to give them 1 mL of the simethicone formula. If there is no improvement over the next couple of hours, and your rabbit has not been eating or pooping, then you should treat it as an emergency situation and get your rabbit to the vet immediately.
- Learn more about GI Stasis in rabbits
6. Vinegar
Inevitably, you will have to clean up messes around your rabbit. To avoid your rabbit potentially licking up or breathing in harmful chemicals, you’ll want to have a pet-safe cleaning spray on hand. Vinegar is one of the safest cleaning products you can use. Mix a cup of white vinegar with a cup of water. Shake them together in a spray bottle and use it to clean up messes in a completely pet safe way.
If you don’t want to bother with vinegar (maybe you can’t stand the smell), you can get a pet safe cleaning solution instead. My current favorite is one called Fizzion, but I’ve also heard good things about Puracy brand cleaning sprays too.
7. Timothy hay
Hay is the most important part of your rabbit’s diet. You want to make sure they have hay available for munching all day long. Timothy hay is best for adult rabbits, since it is rougher and will help grind down a rabbit’s teeth to keep them from overgrowing. Rabbit’s that are 6 months or younger should get alfalfa hay (learn more about a young rabbit diet).
You can get hay at a pet store (and if you do I recommend getting Oxbow brand hay), but I actually prefer to get hay for my rabbits online at Small Pet Select. This is an excellent online store that I always trust to have high-quality hay. It’s greener and fresher than what you’ll find on the pet store shelves making it much more enticing for rabbits to eat. And you can get 15% off your first order if you use the code BUNNYLADY at checkout!
8. Healthy pellets
Pellets should only be a small part of a rabbit’s diet. They really only need about ¼ cup of pellets per day. And it’s completely okay, even expected, that they’ll run out before the day is over. Instead of having a dish with pellets always available to rabbits, it’s much healthier for them to be munching on hay all day.
I recommend getting Oxbow Garden Select pellets for your rabbit. This is a brand that is known for having high-quality food that has a good balance of fiber and nutrients. My rabbits love eating them so much that I use them as healthy treats too.
9. A fridge with fresh greens
Rabbits need one to two cups of fresh leafy greens on a daily basis. You can get these at your local supermarket, farmers market, or even by keeping a garden in your backyard. Most leafy greens are safe for rabbits, but you do want to avoid iceberg lettuce (other types of lettuce are fine). Iceberg has a small amount of a chemical called lactucarium that can build up in a rabbit’s system over time and cause health problems.
10. Rabbit-safe litter
Clumping cat litter is NOT safe to use with bunnies. Rabbits will often eat pieces of their litter, and it can clump up in their stomach and cause a dangerous blockage. Instead, get a paper-based litter or a wood-pellet based litter (NOT wood shavings). I like to use Small Pet Select because it’s an eco friendly recycled paper litter that’s safe for rabbits and doesn’t contain baking soda like most other brands, and it does a good job at controlling the smell from rabbit urine.
11. Cord covers
Rabbits like to chew on wires and run the risk of getting electrocuted if they bite into a live wire. To protect your rabbit (and your chargers) you’ll want to get split loom wire covering so your rabbit won’t be able to do any damage.
12. Cardboard boxes
Cardboard is a versatile tool that can be used for rabbit proofing and as a toy for rabbits. You can make a lot of your own DIY toys using toilet paper tubes and cardboard boxes, or flatten the boxes to use as mats to protect your carpets and flooring.
Try making these DIY toys for your rabbit, or if you need more ideas try out these toys too!
13. A pet carrier
You might receive a small cardboard carrier when you first bring your rabbit home, but you’ll want a more permanent carrier for when you need to take trips to the vet or travel with your rabbit. Most cat carriers are a good size for rabbits.
The safest carriers are ones that have been crash tested. For that reason, I recommend SleepyPod pet carriers (learn more about why I recommend this carrier for pet safety).
However, it is quite expensive. So if you need to go with a cheaper option, I recommend a sturdy plastic carrier that opens at the top because these can make it easier to get a rabbit inside. When traveling in the car with one of these carriers, place it on the ground in back of the passenger or driver’s seat for safety.
14. Nail clippers
Rabbits need to have their nails clipped about every 2-3 months. If you plan on clipping their nails yourself, you’ll need to have a pair of nail clippers available. I prefer to use the manual nail clippers since they give me more control, but some people prefer to use the spring-loaded nail clippers instead.
15. Critical Care
Critical care is an emergency food formula for your rabbit. Rabbit health depends on the constant movement of their digestive system. If they stop eating for long periods of time, they may need to be syringe fed this Critical Care formula.
Most of the time, your veterinary office will have packages of critical care on hand for you to purchase when your rabbit has an emergency. However, my vet recommended I always have a bag at home just in case. Sometimes there is a shortage in supply, and it’s best to be prepared.
16. A Hiding Spot
Rabbits are prey animals, which means they survive in the wild by finding places to run and hide. For our pet rabbits, this means they’ll feel a lot safer and more comfortable if you give them a hiding house.
You can get nice-looking hiding houses online made of wood or woven hay. I love the castle pieces from Small Pet Select (and so do my rabbits!), but even a simple cardboard box is good enough.
