Will new cage cause too much stress?

[LittlePuffyTail]

I want to build Stormy a cube condo so he can have two levels. He’s been in the same cage for over 5 years, although he gets out for run time and seems content, I really want to make him something bigger. I’ve been putting it off, however, because he can be a sensitive little guy and I worry that a brand new cage, new walls, etc might stress him out. What do you think?

[Lintini]

hmm, I think it will be up to your judgment of how his personality is but I just built a new cage and it was an instant hit. Sure there are some poops around to mark it and lots of chin rubs but heck that’s okay for how much more room there is when Indy is locked up! How is he when you move him to new areas in your home? That could give you an idea – maybe try him out in a different room and see how he is so you can kind of get an idea! If you put all the same toys and dishes/liter trays etc in I don’t see how he could be too stressed out. Granted Indy hasn’t been with me for 5 years but it was a easy move – he ran right in when I introduced him to it…well actually he just hid under the bed until we were done putting the doors on in my room because it couldn’t fit through the door otherwise! I only got my Bun last May so maybe I don’t have the best info but that would be my instincts. It’s great you want to update his cage – I personally don’t think any of my Buns would stress out over it, they would be curious and would love to explore a new area!

[Beka27]

Could you somehow incorporate his existing cage into the new structure so there is something familiar, and then maybe after awhile remove it? You don’t absolutely have to make him a larger cage. It sounds like he’s content, I know he gets plenty of exercise and attention at your house. I guess it’s your call. What did you have in mind for a new cage?

[Elrohwen]

I think it’s really up to your bun and you know him best. Otto can be a cautious guy, but at this point he’s totally comfortable being driven somewhere and set up in an xpen. He wouldn’t stress at all with a new cage. But some bunnies don’t like any change at all! It’s really up to Mr Stormy.

[peepi&warri]

If you have the space, what about making the new cage and leaving it open when he has his run time. He might explore it on his own. Then you could move to keeping him in the new cage for an hour or so before putting him back in his old cage. Just slowly introduce him to it.

[RabbitPam]

My parents bought a new cage for Spockie as a gift after he’d been in his first one for a few years. He’d totally outgrown it and I didn’t know what to try, so they went shopping and got this huge thing Sammy is in now. He loved it. As long as his familiar food dishes and litter pan was there, so it smelled like his own home, he stretched out and had a blast. I say go for it. He can always go back into his old cage if you leave it open and available for a day or two.

[DeVaStAt0r]

Gizmo loves her new pen, we wanted to move her out of her cage before her spay so she would have more room (she also keeps it tidy) plus her other cage had a shelf which worked out to keep her litter and food area apart but we wouldn’t want her jumping up there.

We went to the pet store and bought a 80 dollar puppy pen, and set it up in the same area as her cage, so her area didn’t change but she’s on ground level now instead of higher. She used to play in that corner during her free time and we moved her litter and little house into the new area, it’s good for us because i can actually fit in there with her and visit, but i feel better knowing that it’s tidier and she has room to run around.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I’ve always found mine love a new upgrade -but it’s totally up to you. I know Stormy has had some GI stuff happen-so it comes down to if it was due to stress and if you think he would stress out in new digs. I like the suggestion to incorporate his old cage into the design-maybe as the basement-and leave the door open into the condo?

[Deleted User]

I would do the upgrade. I don’t know how sensitive your Stormy is, LPT, but many rabbits really enjoy making a new bigger space their own. I would let Stormy feel as if he is the one who is making this choice. Once the cube condo is up, incorporate the old cage by attaching it to the condo. You can eventually take it away or always have it attached as an extra space.

[Deleted User]

Posted By LittlePuffyTail on 02/27/2010 04:34 AM

I want to build Stormy a cube condo (..)  he gets out for run time and seems content, I really want to make him something bigger. I’ve been putting it off, however, because he can be a sensitive little guy

 

The thing is that rabbits are active at hours outside their scheduled exercise times. For this reason I believe a bigger habitat is always to be preferred. Just make the transition easy on him.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I’m trying to think of good plan for his cage. I want to incorporate his old cage, like K&K suggested, as the “basement”. The problem is he is used to being up high. His cage is on a wide bookshelf, always has been, and I think he might not like being on the floor with the other two so I’m trying to think of an idea with the cubes that can be sort of narrow but tall to sit on the bookcase. I don’t want to double shock him with a new cage and a new place in the room.

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