The best water bowl for rabbits
If you have read any of my other post about “the best water bottle for rabbits” you know that I am not a fan of rabbits drinking from a bowl for numerous reasons. Although I hold this opinion I do realize that it is necessary for rabbits to drink from a water bowl for medical reasons or other uncommon issues.
If you do not know why I do not like my rabbits drinking from a bowl I will explain myself in a little bit.
List of the best rabbit water bowls
I am thinking, well I know this is going to be a short list. Why? Because there really is only a couple good options that will work well and are safe. Okay so here is my top pick, sorry it’s boring. Very functional though I promise.
1) Ethical Stoneware Water Dish for Rabbits
This water bowl is perfect for rabbits and priced well. Even though I do not use this as a water bowl I do use it for my rabbits pellets.
I think that most people would actually call this a crock, like the the ceramic insert that goes into a crock pot. Regardless this is the best water bowl that money can but. I don’t care how strong your rabbit is there is no way on earth he or she is going to be able to pick this water bowl up or spill it. Now your rabbit may hop into the bowl, poop or pee in it but they will not spill it.
There a number of features that make this the best water bowl for rabbits.
- Finish – The glaze on this ceramic is hard and non porous so it easy to keep clean.
- Weight – Heavy enough that your rabbit can not knock it over.
- Easy to fill – Since it is not connected to your rabbit’s cage you can easily pull the water bowl out of your rabbits cage and fill it up or clean it as needed.
- Sizes – They offer multiple sizes to accommodate different size cages and play areas.
- Capacity – The largest dish will hold plenty of water for your bunny.
Simple, cheap and effective makes this the best water dish for rabbits.
2) Lixit Animal Care Rabbit Feeder/Water Fountain, 48-Ounce
Not a bad idea here, this water bowl has a reservoir and refills the bowl automatically.
An interesting aspect of this rabbit water bowl is that it can be used for pellets also. Here is what I like about this water bowl.
- The capacity is 48 ounces, which is great if you are going to be away from your rabbit for an extended period of time.
- It is possible for this water bowl to be knocked over and rabbits love knocking things over. You can attach the bottle portion to your rabbits cage if needed.
- The design is sturdy, you don’t have to worry about your rabbit tearing it up or anything.
- If you want to use this water bowl as a pellet feeder just flip the base over.
3) Kaytee – Paw-Print Pet Ware Bowl
This is very similar to the first bowl I listed only more decorative.
What I like about this water bowl.
- It’s cute as it gets!
- Economically priced
- It is heavy so your rabbit can not tip it over, throw it or destroy it
- Made from 100% ceramic
- 4 1/2 inch diameter, holds plenty of water.
4) Mid West Homes – Snap’y Fit Stainless Steel Water Bowl
This was designed for dogs but the small size or medium size will work for your rabbit.
What I like about this water bowl.
- Attaches to Cage – This is great if you have an over zealous rabbit. No more dumping and spilling!
- Multiple Sizes – Great fore one rabbit or multiple rabbits. Sizes include 10 ounces (1.25 C), 20 ounces (2.5 C), 1 quart (4 C) and 2 quart (8 C).
- Easy Removal – The bowl can easily be pulled off from the mount allowing you to easily clean and fill the rabbit water bowl.
- Stainless – The bowl is made from stainless steel which is anti-bacterial and easy to clean.
- Price – Economically priced
5) Lixit –Quick Lock Cage Bowl for Small Animals
This is similar to my number 4 pick but a bit different. I have not used this water bowl for my rabbits but it looked like a great product and has great reviews on amazon.
What I love about this water bowl.
- Attachment – East to attach to cage and simple to remove bowl for cleaning or filling back up.
- Material – The bowl is made from high density (very hard) plastic. This may not be best for rabbits with aggressive chewing habits.
- Multiple Sizes – There are two sizes, small is 10 ounces and the large is 20 ounces. I would recommend the 20 oz size for most rabbits.
6) Vannon – 30oz Leak-Proof Top Fill Water Dispenser
Okay, I know this is not a water bowl but I had to post this water bottle for rabbits because I love it. You can find other bottles here if you are wanting recommendations.
The top filling design is great but there are numerous other features that make this no drip water bottle over the top. Here is what I love and don’t love about this bottle.
- Positioning – You can position the is rabbit water bottle inside or outside of any type of cage. Many bottles can only be mounted to the outside of your rabbit’s cage.
- Sizes – They make two sizes, a 25 oz and a 30 oz water bottle.
- Safety – The plastic parts are BPA free and the nozzle is food grade stainless steel. The size of the nozzle is 10 mm which is the standard for rabbits. There are no moving parts or anything that can harm your bun.
- Hygiene – Having a water bottle for your bunny is a much safer, and cleaner than a water bowl.
- Leak Protection – Double food grade stainless steel balls with silicone seal on lower spout connection.
- Easy Attachment – Attaching it to your rabbit’s cage is easy and will not move after instillation.
- Guarantee – Vannon, the maker of this bunny water bottle offers a money back guarantee.
- Filling – You can either open the top of the bottle to fill it or take it off of the mounting bracket, fill it up at your sink and then snap it back into the bracket on the cage. It is nice to be able to remove the entire bottle for cleaning.
How much water should a rabbit drink?
There is no straightforward answer to this question because there are several factors that play into how much water your rabbit should drink. The main factors include the following:
- Size of the rabbit
- How much vegetation your rabbit is eating
- Ambient temperature
- Overall health
Rabbit Size
The larger your rabbit breed the more water he or she is going to drink. A general rule of thumb to follow is that rabbits will drink about 1.5 to 3 ounces of water per 2.25 pounds of body weight.
How much vegetation your rabbit is eating
This is a big factor in how much water your rabbit drinks. If your rabbit is eating a lot of fresh vegetation then he or she will drink a lot less water than normal. Many of my rabbits will drink almost no water when on a diet of very fresh, water laden vegetables. I remember when I was young and got my first rabbit, I thought something was wrong after I started feeding him the proper amount of vegetation and he backed off from drinking water.
The best diet for for rabbits includes hay, pellets, vegetables and very small amount of treats.
Ambient temperature
Even though rabbits use their ears as radiators to cool themselves of they still sweat around their lips a little and inefficiently pant. So, if temperatures are higher than normal your rabbit may drink a bit more water.
Overall health
Your rabbit’s overall health will play a factor in how much water he or she drink. If your rabbit is drinking a lot of water then this may be a sign of an underlying health issue. If this is happening, you should call your vet and make an appointment.
Is tap water safe for rabbits to drink?
Yes, tap water is considered to be safe for rabbits to drink. Never give your rabbit distilled water since it does not contain minerals like tap or spring water does. The nutrients rabbits, and even us absorb from our water is very important for a long, healthy life.
Do rabbits prefer to drink from a water bowl or bottle?
In my 20 years of owning pet house rabbits I have never used a bowl for any real length of time. I do not believe that rabbits have a preference in either drinking from a bowl or water bottle. What I can tell you for sure is that bowls can be unsanitary for rabbits and problematic.
Many pet rabbit owners believe that it is more natural for rabbits to drink from a bowl than a water bottle. I agree that this may be true but contamination from urine and feces can be problematic depending on where your rabbits water bowl is.
Water bowls can be unsanitary
Even if you keep your rabbits water bowl away from his or her food,pellets, litter and hay it is still possible for it to become contaminated. If someone sneezes or coughs in the same room as the water bowl it is very possible for it to be contaminated. Although most viruses and bacteria do not cross between humans and animals it does happen from time to time.
Aside from coughing and sneezing hair, dust, cleaning products, hair, dead skin cells, pollen, mites, bugs, poop and urine can end up in your rabbit’s water bowl. While this might not cause your rabbit a health issue most of the time is it worth the risk?
I only use water bowls if needed due to a medical issue or advised by a veterinarian for some reason. If you are looking for the best water bottle for rabbits check out this post. I promise no leaks and no problems!
About the Author
My name is Vanessa and I love my buns. My current house rabbit is Mr. Bunny, he is a black and white Dutch that just turned 9 years old.
I believe that rabbits are a magnificent animal that make great pets for SOME people. My mission is to share what I have learned about rabbits over the past 20 years to improve the relationship between our pets and us. Please contact me or comment if you have any questions or comments.