Ideal Temperature For Rabbits

At the time of this writing, a quick Google search will give the ideal temperature for rabbits as 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This is something slightly above 18 degrees Celsius. Room temperature is usually around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), meaning that your rabbit needs conditions that are somewhat below that figure.

If an adult rabbit gets appropriate care, it won’t have any problems when temperatures go down to about 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius) or even lower. However, if temperatures go below the 20-degree-Fahrenheit mark, the situation may be a little too cold for the bunnies. On the hotter side, the temperature should not go beyond 86°F (30°C).

This section is going to have two sub-sections: a hotter and a colder one. The more burning section will guide you on what to do when the temperatures go high, like during the summer months. On the flip side, the cold area will give you tips on getting your rabbit through winter.

Ideal Temperature For Rabbits	Degrees Fahrenheit	Degrees Celsius
Upper Limit (Hottest)	86	30
Lower Limit (Coldest)	40	4

Rabbits And The Heat (Dealing With It)

When temps go up, your rabbit becomes more likely to get overheated. To ensure that your bunny friends are healthily cool during summer times, I will give you some vital tips.

With each tip, you are more likely to bust the heat and save your bunny.

Tip One: Using Moist Towelettes (Wet Wipes) Or Wet Towel

If you can meet the associated expenses, get wet wipes. But the ones that are odorless so that the scent is not too strong for the bunny’s nose. When you rub the wipes all over the rabbit’s fur, it will experience a great sense of relief, especially if the summer heat is at its all-time high.

The cheaper alternative is to get a towel wet. Take a towel or a new piece of cloth and then dump it in ice-cold water. After wringing it thoroughly, proceed to partially cover the rabbit’s cage, ensuring that you leave room for airflow.

To make this wet towel idea work effectively, you should get an electric fan to improve the airflow. And whenever the towel dries up, rinse it and then repeat the process.

Tip Two: Get Some Ice

During the summer, a little ice goes a long way into calming things down. When you get the pieces of frozen water, you should place them under the rabbit’s cage. As they melt down, they will cool the entire enclosure.

Remember to add some of the ice cubes to the rabbit’s water bowl or dispenser. This will help make the water cool enough to take care of both the thirst and the heat. 

With ice cubes, the one thing you should avoid is rubbing them on the rabbit’s body. This is because the bunny’s body temperature could go too low and cause stress or shock.

Tip Three: Get A Spray Bottle And Spritz

With rabbits, heat loss happens around the ear area. This implies that if you mist the little ones, they will stay cooler.

So, get a spray bottle and fill it with cold water. Then, apply some gentle pressure and spritz the ‘coolant’ on the ears as you ensure that none of the water gets into the ear canal. When evaporation occurs, the rabbit will experience a cooling effect.

Tip Four: Get A Shaving Item And Trim Some Fur

For the mammals that have it, fur has insulator properties and helps maintain particular heat levels. During the summer, fur is more of a hindrance than a help because it makes the insulation levels go high.

Before you even start shaving, you can get a soft brush. It will help you deal with extra hair without sounding any buzzers. If the rabbit breed you’re dealing with is longhaired, it will help if you went to a pro-groomer. This is because they will shave down the fur to heat-friendly levels without making the mistakes that a newbie would.

Rabbits And The Cold (Dealing With It)

When temps go down, we all run the risk of freezing. Since humans have developed sophisticated ways of remaining warm, they are unlikely to die of the cold. Bunnies, however, are at risk of getting too cold, and that is why you have the following pointers to help you deal with the winter’s chills: 

Tip One: Move The Rabbits Or Their Cage To A Warmer Area 

This should be the quickest, cheapest solution as your try to get the ideal temperature for rabbits. Some parts of your house could be colder than others, so you need to know your home well. If your rabbit used to stay outside, you should bring it into the house. That move may require you to get an enclosure, which shouldn’t be a problem because you can learn how to make one.

As you bring the bunny into your house, you need to ensure that the place is bunny-proof. Rabbits love to chew and elope. So, one minute, the rabbit could be chewing on your couch and the other, it could be lost – gone for good. I’m sure you want to keep the couch’s fabric intact, together with the rabbit, or what?

If you’re dealing with kits (baby rabbits), you should expedite the process of bringing them in. Ensure that you take them off the cold and provide little blankets or baby rabbit clothes.

Tip Two: Add Dry Blades Of Hay Every Day

Hay is not food alone; it serves blankety functions when winter comes. If the hay is dry, the rabbits will hide in it if they feel a little too cold. You can fix some of it in the rabbit’s sleeping area to ensure that the nights are cozy and warm.

Because of sanitation and health issues, you should change the hay from time to time. Also, to prevent the rabbit from get injured, avoid using straw as it is a little too sharp.

Tip Three: Get Heating Pads To Warm Up The Room

Since it would be risky to leave the rabbits near the fireplace, you should buy a good heating pad. Ensure that the one you get is safe and easy to use for bunnies.

Before you use the pads, you may need to microwave them for some good time. After they are warm enough, wrap them up in thin blankets and then put the bundles in the cage’s corners.

Tip Four: If You Can, Engage The Rabbit In Some Exercise

Exercise is one of the reliable ways of guaranteeing pets a long life. When winter comes, you must get your rabbit hopping because it will enjoy the heat.

Out there, wild rabbits are constantly running and jumping to escape potential predators. As they move about, their blood circulation increases, and thus, heat is produced.

If your rabbit is not trained or isn’t a show dog, you just need to let it out of its cage. It will start jumping around, regardless of the weather. This will help to maintain the ideal temperatures.

Final Words

When you are not operating within the ideal temperature for rabbits, the little ones are likely to get affected immensely. For example, extreme heat may trigger a heatstroke, and extreme coldness may freeze the rabbit to death through stress or shock.

If you’re a bunny owner, you must stay within limits. The tips offered in this article will surely come in handy when you wake up to a cold winter day or a hot summertime.