How to Clean Indoor Large Rabbit Cages
How often should you clean your rabbit cage? There's two answers to that question. First, you want to do a quick clean up on a daily basis. Second, a more thorough clean up will be required, roughly, once a week. If you own more than one rabbit, you need to do it more frequently. It's important that you include it in your schedule, and make it a habit, so you don't put it off. In this article we'll provide you with a few simple guidelines to effectively clean your indoor rabbit cage.
Daily cleaning process
The first thing to do is to take out the bowl and water bottle, and remove any uneaten fresh food from the cage. Wash and rinse the bowl and water bottle, and refill it with water afterwards. If there's any soiled hay you should take it out.
If you keep a litter box in the cage you need to clean it as well. You don't have to do it daily if you have a thick layer of litter. In this case, just scoop out the residues daily, but wash the box every three days at least. There might be calcium deposits stuck on the litter box. Use vinegar to remove them. A daily check up on your pet's urine and feces will let you know if he's having any health issues.
Weekly cleaning process
When the end of the week comes, you should clean up the cage thoroughly. This means taking everything out. You shouldn't leave your pet unsupervised while you clean. If there's no one to watch him, use something like a dog carrier. Use hot water to wipe down the cage, and wash every accessory.
Disinfecting the cage won't be necessary on a weekly basis, but we recommend you do so every other week. It's very important that you rinse the cage extremely well to get rid of the disinfectant, because it can harm your pet. Don't use it on wood, because it soaks up the chemicals. Bleach will do the job (one part of bleach to ten parts of water), and after rinsing it, we recommend letting it dry under the sun. Don't worry if it's cloudy outside, ultraviolet light acts as sanitizer, further breaking down any chemical residue.
Tips for easy maintenance
Keep vinegar in a spray bottle, so you can easily apply it to calcium deposits. If you have difficulties cleaning these up, let the vinegar soak for 10 to 20 minutes.
Get a cage that's easy to clean. You'll usually have more trouble with wood because it soaks up urine and chemicals. If you get into buying indoor large rabbit cages or really tall ones like sugar glider cages, keep in mind you will probably need to tear it down each week to provide maintenance.
Train your pet to use the litter box to make the cleaning process easier. It's also a good idea to neuter or spay your rabbit. It's good for their health, and it reduces territorial urine spraying.
Cleaning up your indoor rabbit cage shouldn't be hard, especially if you follow these simple tips. You'll also be making sure that your pet has a better quality of life.