Rabbit Care
Indoor Rabbit Setup Guide: Space, Enclosures & Checklist
Sep
Short answer: rabbits need far more room than a hutch. The RSPCA points to the Rabbit Welfare Association’s guideline of 3 m × 2 m × 1 m high of total space for a pair, including their exercise area. Indoors, the easiest way to give that is a pen or a rabbit-proofed room, with a smaller “home base” inside for food, a litter tray and a hide.
House rabbits are clean, social and easy to litter-train. Set up right, they are one of the most rewarding indoor pets.
Step 1: Give them enough space
The home base (hutch, cage or pen corner) should let each rabbit lie fully stretched out and stand on its back legs without its ears touching the roof. For guidance, Agriculture Victoria’s guidelines set these minimum living areas for a single rabbit:
| Rabbit weight | Minimum living area |
|---|---|
| Under 2 kg | 2,000 cm² |
| 2–4 kg | 4,000 cm² |
| 4–6 kg | 5,400 cm² |
| Over 6 kg | 6,000 cm² |
- The exercise area is where they run, binky and explore. Aim for the 3 m × 2 m pair guideline, or free-roam of a rabbit-proofed room for several hours every day.
- A hutch alone is not enough. Use a hutch such as our Large Indoor Rabbit Hutch as the bedroom, with the door open into a pen.
Step 2: Pick the right spot
- A cool room out of direct sun, away from draughts, heaters and loud noise.
- Rabbits are comfortable at about 15–24 °C and are prone to heat stress. In an Australian summer, plan ahead with cooling tiles, frozen water bottles and air-conditioning on hot days.
- A family room is better than a spare room. Rabbits like to be part of the household.
Step 3: Flooring that suits rabbits
Rabbits slip on floorboards and tiles, which can strain joints. Rabbits also love to chew fabric, so fleece cage liners are not a good idea for most rabbits.
- Use washable, chew-resistant mats or rugs over hard floors. Our Bunny Bumper Mats suit special-needs or older rabbits.
- Keep a deep layer of hay or paper bedding in the sleeping area.
Step 4: Litter training
- Give one litter tray per rabbit, plus one extra.
- Put paper-based litter in the tray and good hay on top. Rabbits like to eat and toilet at the same time.
- Put the tray where they already choose to go, usually a corner.
- Never use clumping cat litter or dusty wood shavings.
Step 5: Rabbit-proof the room
- Cover or lift power cords, phone chargers and cables.
- Block gaps behind couches and fridges.
- Move houseplants out of reach. Many are toxic.
- Protect skirting boards and furniture legs, and give them plenty of legal things to chew.
Indoor rabbit setup checklist
- Pen or rabbit-proofed room (aim for about 3 m × 2 m for a pair)
- Home base: a hutch, cage or pen corner with a hide or cosy bed
- Non-slip, chew-resistant flooring
- Litter trays: one per rabbit plus one
- Unlimited hay in a hay bag or feeder
- Water bowl (most rabbits drink more from a bowl than a bottle)
- Chew toys and enrichment
- Summer cooling plan: Rabbit Summer Cool Pack
Frequently asked questions
Can rabbits live in a hutch indoors?
Yes, as a bedroom. They still need several hours of exercise space every day.
How big should an indoor rabbit enclosure be?
The RSPCA-referenced guideline for a pair is 3 m × 2 m × 1 m, including exercise space.
Can I use fleece liners for rabbits?
Many rabbits chew and eat fabric, which is dangerous. Choose washable, chew-resistant mats instead, and watch your rabbit closely with any new material.
What if I go away?
Our rabbit boarding in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs keeps their routine and diet the same while you are away.
Sources: RSPCA Knowledgebase – Where should I keep my rabbits?; Agriculture Victoria – Guidelines for keeping pet rabbits.
