Last Updated on June 12, 2023 by Admin
A bunny’s habitat plays a pivotal role in its overall health. You should clean a rabbit cage as often as possible to prevent it from being a dump, smelly, and unbearable. It is therefore essential to keep your rabbit’s cage clean if you want them to lead a healthy life. This article talks about all there is to know when it comes to cleaning your rabbit’s cage.
How Often Should I Clean a Rabbit Cage?
A rabbit’s cage needs regular if not daily cleaning. The clean-up procedure entails picking up trash such as leftover food, poop on the floor, and also ensuring that you empty their litter boxes too.
What rabbit cage part should I clean on a daily basis?
What you need to clean on a daily basis is usually a rabbit’s litter box and picking up any leftovers. You should also ensure that you remove any uneaten hay from their food dish to avoid any health-related issues that may arise with eating stale hay.
Also, clean out the water bottle or bowl and fill it with fresh water and food. Not only is it essential to replace your bunny’s water but also ensure that you wipe clean their water bottle.
What rabbit cage part should I clean on a weekly basis?
Unlike daily cleaning which is usually less thorough, weekly cleaning is usually more intense. The entire cage is and everything inside your bunny’s cage is spotlessly cleaned. Ensure that you wash the floors, beddings and even the toys your rabbit is fond of.
Use soap and water, particularly when cleaning the toys, and thoroughly scrub the toys to remove any dirt or grime that might contain germs. On the other hand, toys made of cardboard or paper should be replaced as often as possible.
When it comes to beddings, always ensure that you clean them every week or find a replacement in case you have paper beddings. It’s always advisable to have an extra pair of beddings in case you want to replace the one you just washed or in case of any emergency. You can wash your bunny’s beddings using a washing machine.
Lastly, using warm water, wipe all the places your bunny has been in contact with to get rid of any germs, especially if your pet has fallen ill.
What should I use to Clean my Rabbit cage?
When cleaning your rabbit’s cage, always use vinegar and warm water. Vinegar is ideal for removing calcium deposits from your pet’s urine. On the other hand, warm water is effective for cleaning up any messes, dirt, or dust that might be on the cage.
The vinegar and water solution is usually odor-free, harmless to your pet, and quite effective when it comes to cleaning. When cleaning, always avoid using disinfectants such as Lysol or Clorox as they usually contain hazardous chemicals. Inhaling the fumes brought by the two aforementioned disinfectants will lead to ingestion problems for your pets.
Can I use a bleach solution to clean my bunny’s cage?
Yes, you can. Use small amounts of diluted bleach when cleaning and remember to rinse them thoroughly afterward. Bleach is typically effective when it comes to getting rid of bacteria that might be on a cage surface.
In case your cage is made of NIC panels or is easy to disassemble, ensure that you submerge it entirely into the bleach solution for maximum results. When making a bleach solution, ensure that the ratio used is between 1 to 10 and avoid mixing any other chemicals.
Soak your cage into the bleach solution and let it sit in for about 30 minutes, and rinse it off leaving it to dry off completely. In case your bunny has a tendency to chew the floor or cage bars, repeat the rinsing procedure to ensure that it’s clean and free from chemicals.
Lastly, when cleaning your pet’s toys, avoid using bleach or any other disinfectants precisely when they have a wooden material. This particular material typically soaks up the chemicals on the disinfectant or bleach hence harming your pet rabbit. It is, therefore, recommendable to use only diluted bleach and avoid other various chemicals by any means necessary.
Is it recommendable to use Essential Oils when cleaning a Rabbit Cage?
No, it’s not advisable to use essential oils when cleaning a bunny’s cage. The chemicals the oils contain may be harmful when inhaled or ingested. Some of the natural oils to avoid include; clove oil, wintergreen oil, tea tree oil, and anise oil.
Some rabbit owners might be tempted to mix essential oils with cleaning supplies to try to make the cage smell better. However, this is highly discouraged as it will tamper with your pet’s serenity. Most rabbits prefer a habitat that smells familiar since rabbits are all about territory.
Therefore, introducing a different scent will make your pets uneasy and even lead to depression to a certain extent. It’s therefore vital to use unscented products when cleaning their cage.
How can I make my Rabbits Cage Smell Good then?
A clean bunny’s cage is one that typically has less odor. It is therefore essential to keep both your rabbit and their habitat clean at all times. Avoid using air fresheners or chemicals that might give out a good scent but cause more harm to your rabbits. Instead, give your rabbit and their habitat a good old cleaning.
Also, ensure that your pets are healthy. For instance, a strong unusual smell of their droppings or urine would imply a health problem. It’s therefore advisable to have regular checkups or visits to the vet.
Avoiding the buildup of urine and poop is essential if you want a clean and fresh environment for them. Emptying the litter box daily and thoroughly cleaning it after a couple of days is recommended if you want to take care of the unpleasant smell.
Regularly clean your pet’s bedding and replace any paper beddings when it starts giving out any smell. At least clean your material bedding or change your paper beddings on a weekly basis, however, if you notice odor buildup, then you might want to consider adjusting your cleaning schedule to twice or even thrice per week.
Should I remove my bunny outside the cage when cleaning?
When cleaning your pet’s habitat, it’s always advisable to remove it from the cage if you want to have an easier time cleaning. Some rabbits are usually territorial, especially those that haven’t been neutered or spayed, and can become a hindrance when you’re carrying out your cleaning duties. It’s therefore advisable to remove your bunny completely out of sight and return them once you have completed your cleaning routine.
Should I Clean the Cage with kittens in it?
Yes, although it’s always advisable to wait for a few days especially when the kittens have just been born. When cleaning the cage, remove the doe gently while leaving the kittens.
Use warm water to clean the area around the kittens. Avoid touching or handling the babies and also don’t change their beddings. When done, return their mother back into the cage and let her tend to her babies.
What are the consequences of having a dirty rabbit cage?
Not cleaning your bunny’s hutch will lead to a build-up of a bad smell brought about by the accumulation of urine and poop. A dirty cage can also promote the breeding of bacteria that can cause health implications for your bunny.
Dirty or dusty rabbit feed can also cause digestive or respiratory illnesses when ingested or inhaled. Unchanged or unclean beddings can become a breeding ground for maggots, flies which can cause skin infection and even fatality in the long run.
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