Are you wondering how much exercise a rabbit needs?
Bunnies are active animals, so they need a couple of hours of exercise daily to stay happy and avoid common health problems.
So, I'm here to talk about everything you need to know about rabbit exercise time and how to ensure your bunny stays active.
Just keep reading.
Key Takeaways
- Inactive rabbits risk developing health issues due to weight gain, lack of grooming, and boredom.
- An attached exercise space ensures your bunny gets its daily dose of exercise.
- You can encourage your rabbit to stay active with toys and games.
Why Do Rabbits Need Exercise?
Before talking about how much exercise a pet rabbit needs, let's find out why daily exercise matters so much for your furry friend.
Wild rabbits are prey animals that can run up to five miles per day, covering a large area in search of food, entertainment, and company.
Domestic bunnies don't have the same physical needs as their wild cousins, but exercise still matters for your pet's overall physical and mental health:
- Without plenty of exercise, your pet bunny is at risk of muscular-skeleton problems, such as bone weakness, muscle loss, and poor skeletal frame.
- According to vets, weight gain in rabbits is almost always due to too much food and not enough adequate playtime. (1)
- Obese rabbits can't groom themselves well, leading to lesions, sore hocks, and other skin problems.
- Rabbits that don't have a regular exercise schedule are prone to boredom and display destructive behavior. Bored rabbits are also likely to get depressed or stressed.
But how much exercise does a rabbit need? Let's find out.
How Much Exercise Should You Provide for Your Bunny?
In general, your pet rabbits should have constant access to their exercise to run, hop, and jump whenever they want.
As experts from the RSPCA say, "Only if it is absolutely necessary should you secure rabbits in their shelter, preventing access to their exercise area." (2)
Moreover, domestic rabbits are crepuscular animals, meaning they're most active at dawn and dusk. So, it's hard to meet their natural needs when confined in a cage.
I recommend pet playpens as the best enclosure for house rabbits. They allow you to create enough space for your bunny to have lots of fun without feeling trapped.
However, if you keep your outdoor rabbits in a cage, you should provide at least four hours of daily access out of the enclosure.
It's best to split this time into two periods: morning and evening. In this way, you ensure your bunny gets adequate exercise and has the opportunity to bond with you.
Now, let's talk about what factors can influence how much exercise your bunny needs on a daily basis.
How Do You Determine How Much Exercise Your Bunny Needs?
Each rabbit has a unique personality, so it's normal for some bunnies to be less active and playful than others. But a few factors matter when it comes to exercise needs:
- Age. Baby and adolescent rabbits tend to be more active than seniors because they're full of energy. Senior bunnies tend to sleep a lot and play less, but they still need lots of exercise.
- Breed. Dwarf breeds are usually more active than larger rabbit breeds. Make sure you talk to your vet about the needs of your chosen breed.
- Neutering. Spayed/neutered adult rabbits are less active than intact ones. It's also better for your pet's health to fix it to prevent dominance, biting, and other behavior issues.
But what type of activities are best for your active rabbit? Let's find out!
What Type of Exercise Do Rabbits Need?
Your bunnies need a rabbit exercise pen where they can run, jump, hop, sprint, and explore. The exercise area should be at least 32 square feet, but the larger, the better.
To enclosure physical activity, rabbit owners should also provide:
- A digging box to encourage natural burrowing and digging behavior
- Exercise equipment, such as ramps, rabbit tunnels, cardboard tubes, cardboard boxes, snuffle mats, plastic balls, etc.
- Rabbit-safe toys
It's also vital to ensure your bunnies have a suitable hiding place. Rabbits are prey animals and need a safe environment to retreat when scared.
And now, I've got a few more tips to ensure your bunny has plenty of physical exercise to stay happy and healthy.
5 Tips on How to Keep Your Rabbit Active
Rabbits are not content when they lack opportunities to express their natural behavior. Here's how to make sure you've got it all covered up!
#1 Provide Enough Space
Most rabbit cages are too small to provide ample space for your bunny. Where there's not enough room, all rabbits can do is sit and watch the world go by.
I always tell rabbit owners to get as big an enclosure as possible and have a permanently attached exercise pen to keep the bunnies active.
I also recommend platforms from which your pets can hop on and off to observe their environment for potential threats.
#2 Rotate Rabbit Toys
If your bunny has to play with the same toys every day, it'll soon get bored. I recommend rotating toys every few days to keep your pet interested.
Also, try different types of toys to determine what your bunny likes. Check this video for some DIY rabbit toy ideas!
#3 Engage Senses
A happy bunny should have opportunities to use its mind and sense of smell. I use LuftPets' snuffle mat to make my pet forage for its food and exercise at the same time.
#4 Play with Your Pet
If you have a shy rabbit, you can keep it active by playing rabbit games like reverse fetch, tag, tug of war, or find the treat! Just make sure you don't scare your pet.
#5 Let them Explore
Rabbits love exploring, so keeping them active is easy by providing a cardboard box with holes to explore or obstacle courses to run.
FAQS
1. Do rabbits get tired easily?
Rabbits are active animals but can tire quickly, especially when hopping, sprinting, and jumping.
2. Can a rabbit stay in a cage all day?
You mustn't keep your rabbit caged all day. It's bad for their physical and mental health, leading to various medical problems.
3. Do bunnies need attention 24/7?
Rabbits don't need your attention 24/7. But they must feel part of the family and be included in your daily schedule.
Conclusion
How much exercise does a rabbit need? Rabbits need at least four hours out of the rabbit hutch to maintain a healthy body and mind.
Since rabbits are most active at dawn and dust, it's best to provide an attached exercise run to ensure your bunny can exercise whenever and however it wants.
What do you think about this topic? How much exercise does your rabbit need? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Resources
- PDSA. Obesity in Rabbits. [Cited on 15 July, 2024] Available from: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/obesity-in-rabbits
- RSCPA UK. How to Take Care of Your Rabbits. [Cited on 15 July, 2024] Available from: https://www.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494939/7712578/How+to+take+care+of+your+rabbits+%28PDF+1.15MB%29.pdf/0d35d6fa-1623-a264-1642-352fc4576be6?version=1.2&t=1575551910094