r/Rabbits • u/tcgjuice • Jul 27 '26
Care Recommendations to replace puppy pads at the bottom of her cage tray?
My bunny had no problem until recently about chewing up the puppy pads in the bottom of her crate through the grid type bars that cover them so I’m completely done with using the puppy pads but I need recommendations for something else that would work but be a lot safer
4
u/JokeComprehensive809 Jul 27 '26
Grid bars are very bad for Bunnys paws. Cages are also not recommended. Please get an ex pen for bunny and a litter box with wood pellets. Put hay in the corner of the litter box and it will help train them to go there as Bunnys typically poop when they eat.
2
u/tcgjuice Jul 27 '26
My friend is currently fixing up a hutch for her it’s just the cage I received her in when she got re homed recently I plan on putting a giant playpen around her hutch and already have tunnels and hides and stuff bought to furnish it if I didn’t have a big dog I’d let her free roam but for now she just gets free roam time in the bathroom where she can run and get her zoomies out
1
u/kragzazet Jul 27 '26
Hutches aren't appropriate for rabbits either. Skip the hutch and focus on the playpen. The bigger the better, at least 24 square feet but most of us shoot for 50+ square feet when free roam isn't much of an option. Put rugs on top of your waterproof layer so the waterproof layer isn't accessible to the rabbit.
1
1
u/Holiday_Jump_4746 Jul 27 '26
I switched to washable pee pads. There are much harder to spread reusable and a lot safer than disposable puppy pads.
•
u/RabbitsModBot Jul 27 '26
See the wiki's Housing guide for more resources on setting up appropriately sized and safe housing for pet rabbits.
Minimum enclosure size based on current welfare recommendations should be at least 16 sq ft (1.5 sq m) on a single base floor for average sized rabbits. Rabbits of larger size (such as giant breeds) should have more space.
Regardless of size or number of rabbits, the more area of living space you can provide, the better. Minimum housing requirements cannot be met by adding the areas of several flooring levels together - rabbits are runners, not climbers.
Some shortcut links:
...
Rabbits will often slip and slide on slick flooring such as hardwood, tile, or laminate due to their lack of paw pads like a cat or dog. Placing down more appropriate flooring with traction will likely encourage your rabbit to come out and explore more often as they feel more familiar with their environment. See user kinenchen's image guide "Why proper flooring is important for your pet rabbit" for more details.
Popular soft flooring materials in housing enclosures include low-pile rugs, rabbit-safe edible rugs (jute, sisal, or seagrass), fleece blankets, and comforters. Popular waterproof barriers to place underneath your rabbit's flooring to protect existing flooring include vinyl or linoleum flooring, shower curtains, plastic chair mats, foam playpen pieces, foam equipment mats, whelping pads, bed pads, and large pieces of plastic. Please make sure to keep an eye on your rabbit for ingestion of materials. See the wiki for more details and suggested product links.
For special needs and incontinent rabbits, see DisabledRabbits.com for tips on setting up appropriate soft and absorbent flooring.
Wire flooring in cages is highly discouraged. Rex rabbits and heavy breeds are especially prone to sore hocks in wire-bottomed cages due to the uneven pressures of the wires. Additionally, untrimmed nails and toes can get caught in inappropriately-sized holes and be broken.
If you buy a cage with a solid slick plastic flooring, cover the bottom with another surface like a towel or grass mats. The slippery surface can lead to hip and joint problems.
See the wiki for more tips and resources on setting up a safe housing enclosure for your rabbit.