While most rabbit cages are designed with a wire floor for easy cleaning, the wire floor in the cage can be hard on your rabbit’s feet.  Keeping your rabbit’s feet healthy and in good condition is important to the overall health and well-being of your rabbit.  To prevent your rabbit’s feet from being inflamed, here are some simple solutions:

1. Provide your rabbit with a large space to easily move around.  If your rabbit is stuck in a tight, cramped space, it will be hard for your rabbit to move around and get the blood flowing to the feet.
2. Spend some time with your rabbit outside of the cage.  Rabbits need to spend some time, whether it is in your home or yard, hopping around and touching a solid surface with their feet.  Time spent outside of the cage is also great for getting in some great exercise.
3. Offer your rabbit a solid surface to rest on while inside the cage.  A mat is great for offering your rabbit a nice foot resting spot.  Use a mat like the Small Animal Multi-Mat for a comfortable place to stand or sit.  Another great option for a resting place is to place a soft bed or hammock for your rabbit to rest in.  The Fuzz-E-Bed for Small Animals is easy for your pet to rest in and comes in three sizes to fit your cage and rabbit.
4. It is also important to keep the flooring clean and free of waste.   Waste can cause bacteria infections in your rabbit’s feet when not properly cleaned.  Use a litter box to help keep the cage free of your rabbit’s waste.  A great litter box to have is the Enclosed Hi-Corner Litter Pan, which is made especially for use by rabbits.  The cover also helps to keep the cage cleaner by helping to prevent the litter from being scattered around.
5. Lastly, is important to monitor your rabbit’s diet to keep the weight in check.  Offer your rabbit low calorie, high fiber foods, such as timothy hay and low calorie treats. Give your rabbit treats sparingly.  Obese rabbits tend to have more foot problems due to the excess weight on the feet.