How To Build a Bunny Condo

Store bought cages are not only expensive, but usually too small for anything but a six-week-old bunny.  If you're gone most of the day, your bunny will need to be kept in a safe place.  This may mean a spare bedroom that has been bunny-proofed, a seldom-used bathroom, or your laundry room with a baby-gate across the doorway.  If you don't have the luxury of an extra space, building a homemade "bunny condo" is an inexpensive alternative.  We've also found that they're easy to collapse and transport!

We construct our cages out of storage cube 'shelving,' sold at Target, Sam's Club or Costco.  It comes disassembled in a box and contains little round plastic connectors which you won't be needing for this particular project (you may find a use for them in the future though, so don't throw them away).  Next, get a pack of 100 cable ties from a hardware store.  These you will use to secure the 13" grid squares together to make cage walls. The excess cable tie length can be trimmed off. The total cage size will be three grids across, two grids deep, and two grids high.  

• Start out by making the walls of the cage. You will need to make two walls that are two grids across and two grids high, and two walls that are three grids across and two grids high. Once you get to the final stages it may be helpful to have someone hold one wall while you connect it to another.  

• You will need to make another 'wall' three grids across and two grids deep for the top ("roof") of the cage.  Connect the top only at the back (and partially on the side) of the cage.  The front can be secured with small spring clamps (from a hardware store).  Now you have a roof  that is hinged in the middle, so you can open it from the top and have easy access to the bunny's cage for feeding and cleaning.  It's a good idea to slip a 1" dowel rod just under the roof at the center point (long ways) for support and attach it to the roof with more cable ties.

• In addition to that opening, your bunny should have a 'door' on the bottom (front-middle location works best).  Simply attach one of the grid squares on one side with cable ties and leave the other two sides "unhinged".  Again, a small spring clamp makes a nice door 'lock'. 

• Most of our volunteers find that their bunny appreciates a second level.  This is extremely easy to make and is good exercise for you bunny while he's confined to his cage; it is simply two grids across and placed approximately 11" off the cage floor, connected to the cage walls with cable ties.  On top of that, place a lightweight wood board with an old blanket over that as a "cushion". Now your bunny has a lounging balcony.  The larger hardware store chains will cut boards to any size you like for no extra charge.

Metal cage floors are not good for a rabbit; they're too cold in the winter and rust over time.  Here's a link to a site that sells ABS plastic replacement dog crate trays that work perfectly as a cage floor.  From this site, some of our members use the $26.95 model and we cannot recommend it enough; it is lightweight yet sturdy, very easy to clean, and a perfect fit for the above cage size.  Another option is to go to Pier One or Cost Plus Market and purchase sea grass mats as a "carpet" for the bottom.  This is a fine alternative and the mats are edible for a rabbit.  If you have other ideas for a cage floor, just make sure it's safe for the bunny.

Here's your shopping list:

1. 2 boxes of storage cube grids (Target or Costco) - price will vary - look for sales
2. 1 jumbo pack of cable ties (Home Depot or Lowes)
3. 1 - 1" dowel rod (Home Depot, Lowes or Meijer)
4. 3 small spring clamps (Home Depot or Lowes) (2 at the top, one for bunny's door)
5. 1 lightweight, thin wood board 27 3/4" X 13 3/4" (for a two-story cage)
6. 2 litter boxes - one for the cage, one for the rest of the run space outside his cage (corner of whichever room bunny will have his run time in)
7. We also recommend that you tuck all of your electrical cords (computer, phone, lamps, etc.) into pre-split vinyl tubing, available at Lowes, Radio Shack, or Murray's Discount Auto store.  ALL BUNNIES CHEW CORDS no matter how old they are -- they just do.

If you find you have extra grids, they're useful for making barriers for bookcases and even homemade baby-gates (here's where those round connectors come in handy).