Can I keep a bunny in my closet?

[4 Georgia Hens]

Okay, okay I know that the title sounds cruel, but just hear me out. Recently, I have been looking into what it would require to have a pet rabbit. From my research, I concluded that keeping such a vulnerable and fragile animal outside is really cruel. So is housing a bunny in a cage. Free roam really isn’t an option right now....but it is a possibility for the future. I got to thinking, and I came up with this idea: I could transform my closet into a rabbit room! So, my closet is 2ft 6in wide and is 9ft 4in long. It has plenty of room for a rabbit to run, play, and binky. I would either remove the carpet and replace it with something easier to clean or line the floor with yoga mats, blankets, and etc. which could be washed frequently. I plan to take off the door and replace it with a curtain for ventilation purposes and a baby gate to ensure that the rabbit stays inside. I could put a fan in there as well to assist in air circulation. Of course, I would clean/vacuum the area and litter box often to reduce nasty scents. Also, I would let the bunny out as often as possible to get exercise and fresh air. I do plan to remove my clothes from the closet and store them in my dresser if the bun moves in. I really need some opinions. Is this cruel? What is a better alternative? How could I approve my plan? I have never had a rabbit before so I am open to receiving new information!

 

[21hens-incharge]

I would not ever recommend a bunny loose in a house.
Reasons....

droppings and urine
chewing (they MUST chew to wear teeth down)

They will chew walls, flooring, baseboards, power cords, cabinet doors, furniture etc, etc, etc.​

A question.......
Why do you feel outdoor rabbit hutches are cruel?

I kept several rabbits outside in large hutches for many years. Mine lived 11 years outside.

They had fresh air and sunshine that indoor bunnies would not have.

 

[blackandtan]

I’ve had a few, they had a cage (part time) and the rest of the time we’re loose in (most) of the house. You have to be incredibly diligent about removing electrical cords, and tight spaces won’t protect the cords cause that just makes it seem like bunny’s natural habitat.
They eat furniture corners.
They eat walls.
They can be litter trained, but will still have pee accidents, especially males (they spray, sometimes even if they’re fixed).
They love love LOVE trim around doors, baseboards, etc.
Loose or soft plastic or foam like yoga mats, tarps, is just fun stuff for bunny to destroy.
Cages seem mean, but they also protect the bun from trouble that he can get into. Wire sides are hard, not like chicken wire, so he can’t chew thru them. Hard plastic bottoms are easy to scrape clean and being HARD plastic, they don’t have fun floppy corners to chew. Did I use the word chew enough? Cause it’s all they do. Books chairs people shoes floors.....!
But they’re cute and fun

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I guess as long as you own the house the rabbit will destroy, to each his/her own.

 

[Cascade_Quail_Eggs]

My bunny lives indoors and I love it it’s a great way to bond with them and get to know them even more compared to them living outside. My bunny has half of my room for his pen until I fix up my room for him to be freely roaming the house. And yes rabbits can be litter box trained.

 

[NatJ]

... keeping such a vulnerable and fragile animal outside is really cruel. So is housing a bunny in a cage.

I've kept rabbits outside in Alaska, and they were fine. I haven't tried it in a hot climate, but I know plenty of people do it, so maybe someone will chime in with info about that.

You don't want to keep a rabbit in a cage, but you want to make your closet into a cage for a rabbit? Cages do come in different styles and sizes. They can be small or large, with wire floors (easy-clean) or solid floors (better for the rabbit when kept really clean but worse than wire if dirty), with solid sides vs. wire for seeing and ventilation, and so forth.

You could make a closet-sized or larger cage outside, where there's lots of fresh air and plenty of other animals for the rabbit to see, so it's less bored.

Or, if you really want it inside, I'd recommend a cage that fits in your closet space. That can protect both the rabbit and the closet. (Drywall and electrical wires are not the safest chew toys, and missing the litter box even a few times could be quite bad for the floor. Rabbits also dig, which is likewise bad for the floor.)

Another issue I see with the closet is isolation: even if a rabbit doesn't want another rabbit in its own personal space/cage, it doesn't really like to be completely alone either. Being able to see/interact with people or other animals would probably make it happier--so putting it in a cage near other animals, or in a room where people spend a lot of time, would be good choices.

 

[aart]

From my research, I concluded that keeping such a vulnerable and fragile animal outside is really cruel.

With proper housing it's not cruel at all.

Do you keep your tiny chickens in the house?
"6 Silkies, 3 Bantam Cochins"

 

[aart]

The pee is high in ammonia

It's like caustic acid...will 'rot' metal and wood you name it...and do it pretty quickly.
Funny, as the poops are the best fertilizer, no need to compost can use fresh when planting.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I plan to adopt a rabbit from a local shelter in which they spay/neuter their animals, so the bunny will already be fixed.

Kudos to you on two counts: first, for doing the research and the homework and getting informed BEFORE getting an animal, so you know what you're getting yourself into, rather than jumping in feet first and possibly finding yourself in over your head, wondering "what was I thinking," and having to re-home an animal -

And second, for being willing to rescue an animal in need of a home! As you are no doubt aware, taking responsibility for another life can be a major commitment! It's people like you that make BYC a community I'm happy to be a part of! Can't wait to meet the new member of your family, and see its new "digs" when you get it all squared away! I know the rabbit community here will welcome the two of you!

 

[NatJ]

It is smart of you to seek information before you jump in. My comment was not meant to be snarky. I really did want to know why you thought keeping a rabbit outside was cruel.

I asked too since in the first post it was stated.
Never really got an answer either.

Answer on page 2:

Thank you. It is seems to be a controversial topic because I have met/read about/ watched so many people avocating rabbits as indoor animals. It’s all really confusing

Answer on page 3:

I don’t think keeping a rabbit outside is cruel! I never agreed with that statement in the first place. Obviously, I know very little about rabbits. When I wanted to learn more, I discovered many helpful YouTube channels and blogs where the people running it declare that bunnies are meant to be inside. They say that it is cruel to allow such a vulnerable animal outside. I believed that statement because so many people seemed to agree with it. However, I am now seeing how that is inaccurate and my view is constantly shifting.

Looks like OP is asking questions and learning, but the internet is full of information, much of it disagreeing with other information, and some of it probably downright wrong. It's hard to sort it out. So what one "knows" can change pretty fast!