Prepare your rabbit’s home before they arrive
This new rabbit owner checklist helps you plan the essentials: a roomy setup, unlimited hay, safe bedding, enrichment, cleaning routines and the warning signs every rabbit owner should know.
Everything to prepare for your first rabbit
Bringing rabbits home is exciting, but it helps to prepare properly before they arrive. Rabbits need more than a small cage and a food bowl. They need space, hay, safe flooring, enrichment, companionship, routine and quick access to a rabbit-savvy vet if something goes wrong.
This new rabbit owner checklist generator creates a simple plan based on your setup. Choose whether your rabbits will live indoors, outdoors or free roam, then add the areas you still need help with.
You will get a starter shopping list, daily routine, weekly care list and important health checks to keep nearby during your first few weeks as a rabbit owner.
Build your new rabbit owner checklist
Choose your setup and the areas you want help with. Your personalised checklist will update below.
Your new rabbit owner checklist
Use this as a practical starter plan. Adjust it around your rabbits’ needs, your vet’s advice and your home setup.
Starter shopping list
Daily rabbit care checklist
Weekly setup and cleaning checklist
First-week reminders
What new rabbit owners need ready
A calm start is much easier when the basics are already set up before your rabbit arrives.
Roomy housing
Rabbits need space to hop, stretch, stand, hide and explore. Avoid relying on a small cage or hutch alone.
Unlimited hay
Good-quality hay should always be available because it supports digestion and dental wear.
Fresh water
Use a heavy bowl, bottle or both, and check daily that your rabbit is drinking normally.
Litter tray
A roomy litter tray with hay nearby can make cleaning easier and encourage good habits.
Hiding places
Rabbits feel safer when they have quiet places to hide and rest away from noise or stress.
Enrichment
Provide chew toys, tunnels, forage trays and safe cardboard activities to prevent boredom.
Rabbit warning signs can be urgent
New owners should know the emergency signs before they happen. If your rabbit stops eating, stops pooing, seems bloated, weak, in pain or suddenly unwell, contact a rabbit-savvy vet urgently.
- Not eating
- Not pooing
- Bloated belly
- Severe diarrhoea
- Head tilt
- Flystrike signs
- Breathing problems
- Sudden weakness
Help your rabbit settle calmly
The first week is about safety, routine and observation. Keep things calm while your rabbit learns their new home.
Keep things quiet
Give your rabbit time to explore without too much handling, noise or sudden changes.
Watch appetite and poo
Check hay eating and droppings every day. Changes can be important early warning signs.
Build a routine
Daily feeding, cleaning and health checks make it easier to spot changes quickly.
New rabbit owner questions
What should I buy before getting a rabbit?
Prepare roomy housing, hay, water bowls, suitable bedding or litter, a litter tray, hiding places, chew toys, food bowls, cleaning supplies and a secure carrier.
Should I get one rabbit or two?
Rabbits are social animals and many do best with a suitable bonded companion. Bonding should be done carefully and safely, especially with rescue rabbits or rabbits that have not met before.
What is the most important daily rabbit care task?
Check that your rabbit is eating hay, drinking, passing normal droppings and behaving normally. These daily checks can help you spot health problems quickly.
When should a new rabbit owner call a vet?
Call urgently if your rabbit stops eating, stops pooing, seems bloated, has breathing problems, has flystrike signs, collapses, shows head tilt or suddenly seems very unwell.
A prepared home makes rabbit care calmer
New rabbit owners do not need to know everything on day one, but the essentials matter: space, hay, water, safe flooring, hiding places, enrichment, routine and knowing when to call a vet.
Use the checklist as a starting point, then keep learning from your rabbit’s behaviour and your vet’s advice.
Related rabbit care guides
Useful guides for new rabbit owners, including housing, food, health and enrichment.
RabbitCare.co.uk provides general rabbit care information for UK owners. This checklist is a general guide and does not replace advice from a rabbit-savvy vet. If your rabbit stops eating, stops pooing, seems in pain or is suddenly unwell, contact a vet urgently.
