Domestic Rabbit
Oryctolagus cuniculus
1. Spacious Exercise Pen (X-Pen), Litter Box & Bunny-Proofing
2. Two Great Ways to Set Up Your Habitat
Home Base: Exercise Pen (X-Pen) vs. Small Hutch/Cage
A rabbit needs room to hop, stretch out, and stand up on its hind legs:
Option A: 30"–36" Tall Dog Exercise Pen (X-Pen) Over a Washable Rug (Our Top Pick!)
Gives lots of floor space (bigger is better), walks right open for easy sweeping, and fits a full-sized cat litter box, cardboard castle, and lounge mat!
Option B: Large Cage With Door Left Open Into an X-Pen Yard
If you use a standard cage as a bedroom/bathroom station, leave the front door open into an attached pen + give supervised room exercise every day.
Effortless Litter Box Training & Cord Bunny-Proofing
Rabbits naturally poop while they munch hay—making them almost as easy to litter train as a cat!
Option A: Cat-Sized Litter Pan + Paper Pellets + Hay Pile
Put a layer of unscented paper pellet litter in a large cat pan (never use clumping or clay cat litter!) and hang your hay rack right over one end.
Option B: Protect Baseboards & "Spicy Hay" (Electrical Cords!)
To a rabbit, phone chargers and lamp cords look just like tree roots! Wrap all floor cords in split plastic cord tubing and give plenty of willow & applewood chews.
Floor-Level Bonding & Safe Two-Handed Support
Because rabbits are ground-dwelling prey animals with light, fragile skeletons, being lifted high off the floor feels like being caught by an eagle:
Option A: Sit on the Floor and Let Them Hop Into Your Lap
Rabbits bond fastest when you sit on the rug with cilantro and let them nudge your hand for forehead rubs! When happy, they softly purr by clicking their teeth.
Option B: Always Support the Hindquarters (Never Lift by Ears!)
If a rabbit kicks out in mid-air without back-leg support, it can hurt its own spine. Always scoop one hand under the chest and the other firmly under the rump.
3. High-Fiber Herbivore Diet (Unlimited Hay + Greens + Limited Pellets)
Gut Health & Cecotrope Facts Every Bunny Owner Should Know:
Dry round cocoa puffs + soft blackberry-shaped 'cecotropes' they eat directly for B-vitamins
Rabbits drink way more water from a heavy ceramic dog bowl than a sipper bottle!
Seeds, corn, nuts, and yogurt drops aren't rabbit food; stick to hay, greens, and plain pellets
If a rabbit stops eating or stops pooping, see a vet who sees rabbits now!
4. Four Keys to a Happy, Thriving Domestic Rabbit
Never Bathe or Trance a Rabbit
Bathing a rabbit in water is dangerous and very stressful for them, and flipping them onto their back ('trancing') triggers a terrifying tonic-immobility prey freeze.
Save a Rabbit Vet's Number
Find a vet who sees rabbits before you need one. If your rabbit stops eating or stops pooping, call them right away.
Brush Heavily During Molts
Rabbits cannot vomit hairballs! Brush them daily during spring and autumn coat blows and keep hay flowing so swallowed fur passes right through.
Ask an Exotic Vet About RHDV2
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease (RHDV2) is present in the Pacific Northwest—ask your Oregon exotic vet about the annual RHDV2 vaccine, even for indoor bunnies.
Bring-Home Shopping Checklist
Tap items to check them off on your phone while you shop at Gresham Pet Supply.
X-Pen, Flooring & Litter Setup
Hay, Pellets & Recovery Kit
Bowls, Hides & Enrichment
Complete Reference Notes & Oregon Keeping Guide
Notable Breeds (The Rex Rabbit)
While all domestic rabbits belong to the same species, the Rex and Mini Rex breeds are highly sought after and require slightly specialized care:
- The Velvet Coat: Rex rabbits carry a genetic mutation that removes the long, coarse "guard hairs" from their coat. This leaves only the extremely dense undercoat, making them feel literally like crushed velvet.
- Sore Hocks Warning: Because they lack guard hairs, the bottoms of their feet have significantly less padding than other breeds. Rex rabbits are highly prone to Sore Hocks (painful, bleeding ulcers on their heels) if kept on hard tile, rough carpet, or wire floors. They must be kept on soft fleece, thick rugs, or vet bedding.
- Standard vs. Mini: The Standard Rex grows to 7.5–10.5 lbs, while the highly popular Mini Rex stays around 3–4.5 lbs.
Housing & Enclosure
The End of the "Hutch" Era
Modern rabbit care has entirely moved away from small wire cages and wooden hutches.
- Enclosure: An indoor exercise pen (X-pen) or a bunny-proofed room. Bigger is better, and pairs need more room than a single rabbit.
- Free-Roaming: Many owners bunny-proof a bedroom or the entire house (covering baseboards and hiding all electrical cords in PVC pipes) and let the rabbit free-roam like a cat.
- Flooring: Solid, soft flooring only. Never a wire bottom; wire hurts their feet.
Litter Training
- Rabbits are naturally very clean and will choose one corner to use the bathroom. Place a large, cat-sized litter box in that corner.
- Litter: Use unscented paper pellets (like Yesterday's News) or kiln-dried pine pellets. Do not use clumping cat litter (it is dangerous if eaten) or cedar shavings.
- Place a massive pile of fresh hay directly inside one end of the litter box. Rabbits love to eat and poop at the same time.
Diet & Nutrition
A rabbit's digestive system is in a constant state of motion. If they stop eating, it is an emergency.
- Hay is the Base (CRITICAL): Unlimited, fresh Timothy Hay or Orchard Grass must be available 24/7. Eating hay is the only way they keep their constantly growing teeth filed down, and the long-strand fiber prevents GI Stasis. (Alfalfa hay and alfalfa pellets are for young rabbits under about 6-7 months, and for pregnant or nursing rabbits. Healthy adults eat grass hay like timothy or orchard; alfalfa is too rich in calcium for them.)
- Fresh Greens: Daily romaine lettuce, cilantro, parsley, basil, or dandelion greens. Avoid iceberg lettuce (no nutrition) and limit spinach/kale (too high in oxalates).
- Pellets (the small part): Plain timothy-based pellets, fed as the label says. Never feed seed/nut mixes or "fiesta" blends.
- Treats: Carrots and fruits (apples, bananas) are extremely high in sugar and should only be given as small, occasional treats.
Health & Husbandry
Spaying and Neutering (Strongly Recommended)
Spaying or neutering is strongly recommended for every pet rabbit. Talk to your vet about it, ideally one who sees rabbits.
- Females: Ask your vet about the health benefits of spaying.
- Males: Unneutered males will spray urine aggressively and can be extremely territorial.
Common Health Issues
- GI Stasis (Gastrointestinal Stasis) — Symptoms: The rabbit suddenly stops eating and stops pooping. Sitting hunched in pain. / Cause: Lack of hay, stress, or eating something they shouldn't. / Treatment: This is a life-threatening emergency. See a vet right away, ideally one who sees rabbits.
- Sore Hocks — Symptoms: Red, raw, or bleeding sores on the bottom of the heels (highly common in Rex breeds). / Cause: Hard flooring, wire cages, or obesity. / Treatment: Move to soft fleece flooring and seek veterinary care.
- Overgrown Teeth (Malocclusion) — Symptoms: Drooling, inability to eat, front teeth curling upwards. / Cause: Lack of hay or genetics. / Treatment: See a vet, ideally one who sees rabbits.
What We Stock & Use in Our Stores
These are products we carry and recommend for this species. Ask any associate for help finding them in-store.
| Category | Product | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Midwest Exercise Pen (30" or 36" high) | The gold standard for indoor rabbit housing |
| Litter | Oxbow Eco-Straw or Fresh News Paper Pellets | Safe, absorbent, and non-clumping |
| Pellets | Oxbow Essentials Adult Rabbit Food | Plain, high-fiber timothy pellets (no seeds/nuts) |
| Hay | Oxbow Western Timothy Hay | Buy in bulk. Keep fresh hay in front of your rabbit day and night. |
| Hay Rack | Oxbow Enriched Life Wooden Hay Feeder | Keeps hay clean and off the floor |
| Chew Toys | Oxbow Enriched Life Apple Sticks & Willow Balls | Essential for keeping teeth trimmed and preventing boredom |
Last updated: 2026-08-04
How We Keep Them at Critter Cabana & Gresham Pet Supply
- Pacific Northwest Seasonal Drafts & Indoor Air Quality: In Oregon, damp chilly winters and sudden August heatwaves are the two biggest environmental stressors for Domestic Rabbit. Keep their pen or free-roam area away from drafty windows, exterior doors, direct furnace vents and direct sun, at a steady room temperature. For space, bigger is better.
- What Our Store Crew Uses Daily: In our Newberg and Gresham animal rooms, we use dust-extracted, scent-free bedding (never cedar or raw phenols), unlimited fresh grass hay, a small portion of plain timothy-based pellets, fresh leafy greens every day, and daily enrichment so young animals are already hand-accustomed and eating a balanced diet before they go home with you.
- Local Exotic Vet Planning: Before an emergency ever happens, save the number of an experienced Oregon avian/exotic veterinarian in the Portland Metro or Willamette Valley area (such as Avian & Exotic Veterinary Care or Scales & Tails Exotic Pet Clinic).
Common Questions (FAQ)
What size cage or habitat does a Domestic Rabbit actually need?
An indoor exercise pen (X-pen) or a bunny-proofed room for free roam. Bigger is better, and pairs need more room than a single rabbit. Ask our staff to help you pick a pen.
How do I keep Domestic Rabbit comfortable through Oregon winters and summers?
Keep them at a steady room temperature, away from drafts and direct sun: well away from cold window drafts in winter and direct afternoon sun in summer. If you're unsure about a room, ask our staff.
What do you feed Domestic Rabbit at Critter Cabana and Gresham Pet Supply?
Our store crew feeds a balanced herbivore regimen built on unlimited grass hay, fresh leafy greens every day, and a small portion of plain timothy-based pellets. We never feed seed or nut mixes.
Where can I meet Domestic Rabbit and talk to the animal care crew in Oregon?
Visit our live animal departments at Critter Cabana in Newberg (514 E First St, 503-537-2887) or Gresham Pet Supply (2185 NW Burnside Rd, 503-665-7606) to meet our animals and get hands-on setup advice.
Shop supplies for this animal
Everything for your Domestic Rabbit setup, ready for pickup in store or shipped to you.
