1.  Place your rabbit’s cage in an area of the house where the temperature does not often change.  This means that it should not be be near a door that is frequently opened, or near an air conditioner or heat vent.  Just like humans, rabbits are fine with slight fluctuations in the temperature.  You just do not want to expose them to high heat (especially humidity), or frigid temperatures.

2.  Keep the cage out of direct sunlight.  As mentioned above, rabbits are very susceptible to high heat temperatures.  Setting the cage within direct exposure to the sun can cause heat stroke.

3.  Keep your rabbit out of the basement and attic.  These areas are usually damp, and have barely any ventilation, which can be unhealthy for your rabbit.

4.  Keep the cage in an area were people frequent.  But at the same time you need to ensure that your rabbit has quiet time where he can rest.

5.  Rabbits need 8 hours of sleep, so be sure your bunny is not exposed to light for at least 8 hours a day.  They have circadian rhythms based on light just like we do!  If you keep your rabbit’s cage in an area that is always light (ex: if you leave a lamp on 24 hours a day,) then be sure to cover the cage with a towel to be sure your bunny can get proper sleep.

6.  Make sure the cage is not in a place where there is lots of noise.  An example would be next to TV or music speakers.

If you do not have a rabbit cage, you have plenty of options.  You can get a relatively simple cage, like the My First Home for Rabbits – Large Teal.  Or you can get a more sophisticated cage, like the Habitat Defined Home for Rabbits, pictured above.  This huge cage gives your rabbit plenty of room to play and explore.  The best part of the Habitat Defined Home for Rabbits is that it sits on wheels, so it can be easily moved to a good place in your house where your rabbit will thrive!

A great idea is to get your rabbit an exercise pen, like the Clean Living Playpen for a Small Dog or Pet.  This circular pen has 8 panels, and is 43 inches in diameter.  With its height of 29 inches, your rabbit will always remain safely inside because he will be unable to hop out!   The cage can be used indoor or outdoors, and it is light enough so that it can be easily moved.  It is also collapsible so it can be easily stored when you do not want to use it.

When you have an exercise pen like the Clean Living Playpen for a Small Dog or Pet, you will probably also need a plastic mat to protect your carpet or other types of flooring from rabbit waste.  Luckily, the makers of the Clean Living Playpen for a Small Dog or Pet also created the Clean Living Pen Cover or Floor Mat, seen in blue in the picture above.  You can use it as a cover for your rabbit if you keep him outdoors.  This will protect your rabbit from sun or rain.  Or you can use it as a mat to protect your floor from rabbit messes.  Buy two if you want to have both a mat and a cover!

These pens are good for exercising your rabbit, but you can also use them as a regular cage.  One great thing about the Clean Living Playpen for a Small Dog or Pet is that it is specially designed to attach to any Clean Living Rabbit Cage, like the Large Clean Living 2 Level Cage for Small Animals.  All you have to do is open the door of the pen and place the small cage right at the opening with its door open.  Your rabbit is free to either spend time in his small cage or the exercise pen!  Your rabbit will love having so much more space to live.

• Size of the cage:  Make sure that the wire cage is large enough for your rabbit to fit comfortably inside.  If your rabbit is young, plan on buying a larger wire cage for your rabbit to grow into.  The minimum size wire cage should be at about four times the size of the rabbit, so if your rabbit is going to be larger, you will want to choose a roomy wire cage.  You will also need to consider room for a variety of cage accessories and enough space for a litter area, a sleeping area, a feeding area, and a play area.  One of my favorite roomy wire rabbit cages is the Super Pet Large Welcome Home Hutch by Super Pet.  This wire cage has lots of room for your rabbit to roam and plenty of area for all of the rabbit accessories that you will need.
• Type  of flooring:  Most cages have a wire floor that allows the waste to fall through and helps to keep the cage cleaning for your rabbit.  If you plan on litter training your rabbit, then choose a solid floor for the cage.  A solid floor is more comfortable for your rabbit and easier on the feet.  My First Home Extra-Large for Rabbits has a solid plastic base that is easy to clean and easy on your rabbit’s feet.
• Horizontal v. Vertical Space:  It is more important to choose a wire cage with lots of horizontal space than vertical space (four or more levels), since it is harder for rabbit to hop up steep ramps.  If you find a wire cage with lots of vertical space, make sure that the wire cage has ramps designed especially for rabbits to hop on and only a few levels.

• Bring a sturdy metal cage for your rabbit to stay in, especially when you are not around to supervise your rabbit, to help keep your rabbit contained and out of trouble.  Depending on the size of your rabbit, choose a cage that is easy to transport and clean when on a trip.  The My First Home Extra-Large for Rabbits & Ferrets is a great cage to use when traveling with your rabbit.  It is a roomy cage that will not take up much space and is very easy to clean.  Your rabbit will be safe and secure and won’t be able to run free and get into trouble.
• Don’t forget to bring the cleaning supplies for your rabbit.  Nothing is worse than when your rabbit has an accident and you don’t have anything proper to clean up the mess with.  It is always a good idea to bring a small amount of cleaning supplies with you to help deal with a variety of messes.  Make sure that you bring plenty of paper towels and a cleaning solution to help clean up the mess.  The Wee Wee Super Strength Stain and Odor Remover is available in a 16 oz. size and makes cleaning up the waste easy and quick. 
• Take some toys and rabbit chews for entertainment.  To help break up your rabbit cage boredom and to prevent him from chewing on furniture or other items, make sure that your rabbit has some toys to play with and some wood or mineral chews to nibble on for entertainment.  The Bag-O-Chews Wood Chew Toys by Ware Mfg. are safe for your rabbit to chew and very entertaining.  These wood chews may be placed on a treat kabob to help keep them off of the cage floor.