Barred cages for rabbits: why they are a false good idea
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The barred cage is the best-selling false good idea in pet shops: at 60-120 € for 80 to 120 cm of length, it offers barely the surface of a doormat to an animal that needs a permanent 3 m² and real daily runs. An adult rabbit must be able to take three hops in a row and stand upright without touching the ceiling: no cage on the market allows it.
Contents · 5 sections
Why is the barred cage a problem?
Beyond the size, everything about it is unsuitable:
- Surface: 0.5 to 0.8 m², four to six times less than the recommended minimum;
- Smooth plastic or wire floor: pododermatitis (sore hocks) guaranteed over time;
- Deep base plus bars: the rabbit gnaws the bars out of boredom, wears its teeth badly and gets stressed;
- Narrow platform and ramp: frequent falls and sprains;
- Price per m²: around 100 €/m², versus 15 to 25 €/m² for a modular pen.
What should replace your rabbit’s cage?
The modular pen made of metal grids is the standard among informed adopters: 40 to 80 € for 2 to 4 m², extendable, washable, easy to move. Inside go a non-slip mat, a litter tray, a hay rack and a wooden hideout. The next step is semi-freedom then full free roaming, as explained in our pen or free roaming comparison.
What should you do with a cage you already bought?
Do not throw it away: permanently open inside a pen, it becomes a simple refuge house where the rabbit finds its tray and hay. The plastic base alone, without the wire top, also makes an excellent giant litter tray. It is the cheapest way to repurpose a regretted purchase.
Is the cage still useful in some cases?
Yes, occasionally: post-surgery recovery on the advice of your exotics vet, car journeys (though a proper rigid carrier is better), or a few hours of safe-keeping during building work. As permanent housing, however, the answer is no. Find our housing solutions in the rabbit bedding and housing section and our apartment rabbit guide.
Frequently asked questions
What about the big 140 or 160 cm cages?
Better, but still insufficient on their own: 160 × 60 cm is only 0.96 m². They are only justified when opened onto a pen.
Is a wooden hutch preferable?
Not indoors: dark, hard to clean and just as cramped. It only makes sense outdoors, paired with a large run.
My rabbit gnaws the bars at night, what should I do?
It is a signal of boredom and lack of space: enlarge the pen, add hay and chew toys, and offer more evening outings.
See it in the Planète Pets shop: 2-in-1 felt tunnel and hideout for rabbits and ferrets (44 × 60 cm) (€37.90) · the whole shop
See it in the Planète Pets shop: Electric pet heating pad 45 × 45 cm (17.7 in) with chew-resistant cord ($48.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rabbits universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
