Rabbits are curious, sociable, and active animals, but unfortunately, they are still far too often kept improperly. A cage in the nursery, keeping them alone, too little space, or the wrong food: All of these can lead to behavioral problems and health issues over time. In this blog post, we want to demonstrate how to keep rabbits appropriately, with heart, understanding, and plenty of knowledge.

1. Rabbits are not loners

Despite long-held beliefs, rabbits are not meant to be kept alone. They are highly social creatures that need companionship for cuddling, grooming, playing, and communicating.

• The basic rule: At least two rabbits, preferably a small group.
• The best combination: A neutered male with one or more females.
• Important: Humans can never replace rabbits; we speak a completely different “language.”

2. Place, place, place! No cage is big enough

Many commercially available cages are far too small and nowhere near species-appropriate. Rabbits need plenty of space and the opportunity to engage in natural behaviors such as digging, jumping, and zigzagging.

Guidelines for indoor housing (minimum):

• 6 m² floor space for 2 rabbits
• Permanent, not just “running out”
• No wire cage
• Better: DIY, enclosure or entire room.

For outdoor use:

• Safe enclosure with protection from predators, rain, sun and drafts
• Digging and escape-proof floor (aviary mesh!)
• Structured area with hiding places, caves, climbing and digging opportunities

3. Employment & Structure

Rabbits are intelligent animals and need variety. Boredom can lead to frustration and even aggressive behavior.

This includes:

• Tunnels, cork tubes, boxes with entrances
• Sandboxes with soil, sand or litter
• fresh branches for nibbling (e.g. apple tree, hazelnut)
• Toys to discover (but please no plastic or small parts)

Tip: Change the decor regularly to encourage curiosity and movement!

4. The right soil & environment

Rabbits have sensitive paws. Hard, smooth floors (e.g., tiles or laminate) are unsuitable and can lead to joint problems.

Better are:

• Carpets, coconut mats, natural wood floors
• Cover stable areas with straw, hay or wood pellets
• Quiet, draft-free environment without constant noise

5. Hygiene & Cleaning

Even though rabbits are clean, their habitat needs care.

Regular cleaning:

• Daily: Remove leftover food, change water
• Several times a week: Clean toilets (rabbits often become house-trained!)
• Once a week: Clean the enclosure completely. Tip: Avoid using strong-smelling cleaning products. Rabbits have sensitive noses!

6. Rabbits are not “children’s toys”

As cute as rabbits may be, they are observation animals, not cuddly toys. They often don’t like being picked up or carried around. Loud play, rapid movements, or restlessness stress them out.

Children can learn:

• Observe rabbits with patience
• Dealing with them calmly
• Getting to know them positively through treats and activities

7. Nutrition, health and prevention

Proper care alone is not enough; healthy nutrition and regular visits to the vet are also important.

8. Conclusion:

Species-appropriate care is both responsibility and love. Keeping rabbits is not „easy“ animal care. Those who choose it take on responsibility, but are also richly rewarded: with trust, curiosity, social interactions, and unique behaviors.

Kaninchen brauchen Platz und Gesellschaft

Eine artgerechte Kaninchenhaltung bedeutet weit mehr als nur Futter und ein Käfig. Kaninchen sind sehr soziale Tiere und benötigen daher unbedingt Gesellschaft – am besten durch Artgenossen. Einzelhaltung führt häufig zu Stress und Verhaltensstörungen. Ebenso wichtig ist ausreichend Platz: Kaninchen sollten täglich die Möglichkeit haben, zu hoppeln, zu graben und ihre natürlichen Instinkte auszuleben. Ein großes, abwechslungsreich gestaltetes Gehege mit Rückzugsmöglichkeiten, Tunnel und erhöhten Ebenen trägt wesentlich zum Wohlbefinden bei. Frisches Heu, Wasser sowie eine ausgewogene Ernährung mit frischem Gemüse sind essenziell für ihre Gesundheit. Nur wenn alle diese Bedürfnisse berücksichtigt werden, können Kaninchen ein glückliches und gesundes Leben führen.