By Mary Cvetan

Want a happy house rabbit? Make sure your bunny's digs are suitable.

The best indoor spaces for rabbits are both safe and stimulating. They keep your bunny out of trouble when you are away from home, but give him the space to dig, chew, play, stretch, snooze or just sit and think.

The right housing has room for a large litter box, a generous stack of hay, a water crock, toys to chew and toss, and a towel to arrange and rearrange. A surprising must-have: a cardboard digging box, double or triple the size of your bunny.

The right spot will give your rabbit an entertaining view of family members as they cook, clean, talk on the phone, watch TV, use the computer and get ready for -- or come home from -- work.

Some options include:

The entire house, free-roam: Many older rabbits are past their woodwork-chewing "baby stages." These bunnies have earned their owner's trust and roam the house freely. However, all rooms must be rabbit-proofed, to protect your bunny and your valuables. That means electric cords, computer wires, toxic house plants, rubber bands, remote controls and any treasured wooden furniture must be kept out of reach.

One or two rooms, free-roam: Perhaps the kitchen and dining room are open to the bunny, or the family room and the bathroom. Baby gates keep him from entering other rooms when you are not able to supervise. The rabbit will choose favorite spots to snooze, chew a hay cube or daydream.

Part of a room, enclosed in an exercise pen: Exercise pens, also called play yards, are a convenient way to keep rabbits confined to a specific area. Available in different heights, these pens feature hinged panels that can be arranged in varying shapes or stretched across the room to divide it. Some rabbits climb or jump out, so owners clip a sheet to the pen to make a "roof" that keeps bunny safely inside.

A two- or three-story bunny condo: If you can't build wide ... build high! Give your rabbit a multilevel condo and he'll be able to not only enjoy his perch, but also have plenty of space for all of his toys and supplies. Many owners build their own condos, using wire-frame storage cube sets from building supply stores. Easy directions can be found online; search for "bunny condo." Make sure that it's tall enough inside for him to stand up on his hind legs and stretch.

A large dog crate: Paired with an exercise pen, a large dog crate can make a great bunny house. The door on the crate swings wide open, giving you easy access for cleaning. Crates allow space for the litter box, bowls and have ample head room. Cover the top with a blanket or towel. This gives bunny's sensitive eyes some protection from overhead lights and provides a nice "burrow" feeling.

A cage: Standard animal cages are too cramped to accommodate a large litter box, hay, digging box, bowls and toys -- so go bigger! Avoid cages with doors that open on the roof. Bunnies don't like to be pulled up out of their houses. Let your rabbit enter and exit his cage on his own. Choose a cage that rests on the floor (not up on legs), with a large door on the side or front.

Whatever house you choose, your bunny will feel more confident about interacting with you if he can easily get back to home base to use the litter box or take a hay break. After all, every rabbit needs his own space to retreat and relax. Isn't that what home is all about?

(Mary Cvetan is a member of the Pet Connection advisory team and the co-founder of the Pittsburgh House Rabbit Club.)

Q&A

Cat allergies put

strain on couple

Q: I have allergies, both to my new girlfriend's cat and to spring pollens. I've been able to tolerate the cat -- barely -- but with spring here, things are getting bad. Is it too much to ask her to get rid of the cat? -- via email

A: Ultimatums often don't work out as you plan them. She may choose the cat over you, or she may resent you for forcing her to give up her feline companion. Why not try to make it work with a compromise or two on her (and her cat's) part instead?

If you can get a good night's sleep, you'll be better able to cope with almost anything, even allergies. That's why one of the best pieces of advice to those who are allergic to their pets is this: Declare your bedroom a "no-pets zone," at least during the worst of spring allergy season.

Reduce allergy triggers further by keeping your sleeping area sparsely decorated with furnishings that do not attract dust, and be sure everything is cleaned frequently. Bedding should be washed often to combat dust mites, and pillows should be made of non-allergenic material -- no feathers. Consider running a HEPA air cleaner in the room at all times.

The idea is to keep your total "allergy load" -- pets and everything else that triggers your allergies -- to a level that you can live with or that can be controlled by medication. It's worth it to make an effort. Out-of-control allergies can make lives miserable and, in the case of asthma, can be life-threatening as well.

Here are more tips for those who have both pets and allergies:

-- Work with your doctor. While you'll still find allergists who insist a pet must go, look for one who's willing to work with you and will prescribe medications that allow your allergies and your pets to coexist. 

-- Limit exposure to other allergens. Avoid cleaning solutions, cigarette smoke and strong perfumes. Consider using a mask when doing yard work and housework, especially when pollen counts are high or your home is especially dusty.

-- Delegate cleaning. Let someone else do the dusting and vacuuming, if at all possible, and if not, invest in a vacuum that filters the air it releases. 

-- Keep pets well-groomed. It's essential for pets to be bathed frequently and to be kept combed and brushed. Ideally, a non-allergic member of the household -- your girlfriend -- should assume this responsibility. Even cats should be bathed, by the way: A weekly rinse of your cat in plain water has been shown to help people who are allergic to them. -- Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

Feline love: It's� not just the food

-- Cats attach to their people out of a social bond, not solely because owners provide food. A study accepted for publication in the journal Behavioural Processes found cat-human relationships closely resemble human relationships. Food is a token of affection, and for humans and their cats, the relationship is similar to a human caretaker and the pre-verbal infant. The study also looked at the difference between bonds of male and female owners and their cats. Cats approached female owners and jumped on their laps more readily than cats with male owners, suggesting that female owners have closer relationships with their cats than do male owners.

-- The "one bite" rule has been around at least since the 1600s. This legal tradition gives a dog owner the benefit of the doubt for the behavior of an animal who has never bitten. After the first bite, however, the owner is presumed to have knowledge of the dog's propensity to bite. While the "one bite" tradition commonly pertains to dogs, it has been used in a court case involving a horse. In 2008, a child was visiting a farm with his family in Connecticut where he was bitten by a horse. The family argued in court that even if the horse did not have a known history of biting, the farm was responsible for the animal's action. Since the horse had not bitten before and had given the owners no reason to believe the animal would bite, the court sided with the owners of the horse.

-- A cat named Smokey is believed to have the loudest purr in the world. While most cats purr at 25 decibels, Smokey can purr at levels that average 80 decibels, which is comparable to the sound of a lawn mower. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

You worry about your job. You turn on the TV and the news is upsetting. Your spouse is distant, and your kids are into their social networks. Whom do you turn to? If you're like most Americans, you'll be talking to your pet. And you won't much mind doing so, either.

And when I say "most Americans," I'm not exaggerating. Last month in Orlando at Global Pet Expo, Bob Vetere, president of the American Pet Products Association, revealed the trade group's annual snapshot of the pet care industry, as well as the executive summary of the association's special two-year in-depth overview of who has pets, what kind, what they spend on them and why.

How many of us are there? Pet ownership is at an all-time high of 72.9 million households -- up 2.1 percent since the last survey two years ago -- and in those households, the number and variety of pets has also increased. Not surprising, that means the amount of money spent on these companion animals has barely hiccupped during the Great Recession, and is predicted to top $50 billion this year. For perspective, the amount of money spent on pets tops that spent on jewelry, candy and hardware, combined, and overall is the eighth-largest retail sector.

"I'm constantly amazed at the resilience of this industry," said Vetere in releasing the APPA figures. "Not only did we weather the recession very well, but we're poised to take advantage of the recovery."

While Vetere is speaking of the pet industry as a whole, it's clear from any time spent on the trade floor that not only have consumers been spending relatively freely on pets, but corporations have, too. The rate of acquisitions of small companies and hot product lines by big international players has been staggering. These companies are now squaring off like the superpowers they are, ready to compete tooth and claw against each other, both within the larger retail sector and in the pet care section. For example, the APPA press conference was followed by the product release of Fiproguard Plus, the Sergeant's Pet Care product that the company says has the same active ingredients as Frontline Plus made by pharmaceutical giant Merial. The difference? Fiproguard and other products will be sold directly to the consumer through retail outlets, not to pet owners through veterinarians.

The Sergeant's product will be competitively priced, of course, and that was the other underlying theme of the trade show. While you could still spot pricey bling here and there, such products were relatively rare compared to years past, and even the "silly stuff" is designed to be appealing in price as well as cuteness.

Aggressive pricing is what everyone's betting will lead the industry to another record-breaking year, as recession-battered consumers ease their way into the purchase of nonessentials with small buys that make them as happy as their pets do.

"Their pets were a rock after a horrible day," notes Vetere. "And now, people are wanting to reward their pets."

And that's what this industry is counting on.

Q&A

Model good behavior

for kids with pets

Q: Any advice about cats for a family with three children from preschool to fourth grade? We're adopting a shelter cat -- our first "big" pet after success with hamsters and guinea pigs -- but we don't want anyone bitten or scratched.

A: Children and cats are natural together, but you need to lay some ground rules for the safety of both from the moment your new pet comes home. Kittens can be injured by the loving attention of children, especially young ones. And with about a half-million cat bites reported every year in the United States, you can clearly see that some cats give as good as they get.

The key to keeping children and cats together safely is to make sure that their interactions are supervised and to teach children how to handle and respect cats.

Toddlers can really try a cat's patience, even though they aren't being anything but normal. Young children can't understand that rough poking, squeezing and patting aren't appreciated. Although most cats figure out quickly that children this age are best avoided, your child could be bitten or scratched if your cat is cornered or startled. Keep an eye on all interactions, and consider putting a baby gate across the entry to a "safe room" for your cat, so he can have a place to go where he isn't pestered.

From the time a child is in school, he or she can start learning to care for a pet and take on an increasing amount of responsibility -- under supervision, of course. One way to teach younger school-aged children to play carefully is to play the "copycat game." If your child pets the cat gently, stroke his arm gently to show how nice it feels. Teach your children, too, how to hold a cat properly, with support under his chest and his legs not left dangling. A cat who feels secure and safe is far less likely to scratch or bite.– Gina Spadafori

THE BUZZ

Poll: Breed matters

less than training

-- Most people believe that training, not breeding, makes a dog either safe or dangerous. A poll by The Associated Press and Petside.com supports the idea that dangerous dog legislation should target all problem dogs, not just breeds believed by some to be a problem. About three-quarters of respondents believed all dog breeds are safe if properly trained, and 60 percent said all breeds should be allowed in residential communities. Only 38 percent believed breed-specific bans were appropriate. As for pit bull terriers, the No. 1 dog target by breed-specific legislation, age plays a large part in how the dogs are viewed: 76 percent of those under 30 believe pit bulls are safe, while only 37 percent of seniors believed the same.

-- The nation's first animal trauma center has been launched by the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Minnesota. The center will be used to help the school's veterinary hospital track how its staff handles cases and drive improvement in care. The new center is working with five other universities around the country to develop other trauma centers that should be able to share information in the future.

-- U.S. News and World Report named the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell as the nation's top veterinary program, followed by the programs at the University of California, Davis, and Colorado State University. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.

Toys are essential to maintaining the physical and mental well-being of parrots large and small. Playthings help keep pet birds fit, while also fighting the boredom that can contribute to behavioral problems such as feather-picking.

There are toys your bird can hold, toys that hang from the top and sides of the cage, and toys that do double duty as perches and swings. Twirlies, holdies, chewies, puzzles and noisemakers can all keep your bird occupied. Although you can buy toys by major manufacturers from the big chain stores, it's also nice to choose from the variety of playthings lovingly made by a cottage industry of bird lovers that are available from independent bird shops, through catalogs and on the Internet.

Some basic rules apply when shopping for toys to ensure they are suitable and safe for your bird. Look for the following when choosing bird toys:

-- Materials: Toys are subject to your bird's healthy urge to destroy, which means safe components are a must. Wood, rawhide, plastic or stainless-steel chain, rope, cloth and hard plastic are among the more popular materials that make up safe toys. Choose toys that break down into pieces that can't be swallowed. An exception: Toys made to hold food items, such as dried corncobs or fruit chunks. With these, eating is a large part of the fun.

-- Construction: Challenging toys, the best choice for busy birds, feature pieces combined in ways that make it hard for the birds to pull the whole product apart -- but not too hard. Indestructible toys are not appropriate for most birds, because the time and energy used to rip apart the gadget is part of the reason toys fill such a need.

-- Size: Little toys for little birds; big toys for big birds. A big bird can catch and lose a toe in a toy made for a smaller bird, and small birds can get their heads trapped in toys made for their larger relatives.

Some birds are apprehensive of new toys. If yours is one of them, try to set the toy outside the cage (but within eye range) for a day or two, and then put it on the floor of the cage for another day or two. Once your bird starts to play with the toy, you can go ahead and attach it to the cage. (Stainless-steel split-ring key chains, available at any hardware store, are a safe, secure and inexpensive way to attach toys to cage bars.)

Don't overwhelm your pet with toys. Instead, keep two or three in the cage and rotate new ones in regularly. Shopping for bird toys can be fun, but the costs do add up, especially if you have one of those gleefully destructive parrots. With some creativity you can make your money go further by complementing store-bought bird toys with alternatives.

The cardboard cores of toilet-paper and paper-towel rolls are perfect for shredding, especially for smaller birds. String those tubes together on a thick leather cord and hang them in your bird's cage. Other cheapies include ballpoint pens with the ink tubes removed, Ping-Pong balls, old plastic measuring cups and spoons, and plastic bottle tops. (Wash in hot soap and water, rinse well and air-dry before offering such items to your bird.)

Toothbrushes are another bargain toy -- sturdy and colorful. You can buy cheap ones new or give your pet your worn ones after running them through your dishwasher. (Or hand-washing in soapy water, followed by rinsing and air-drying.) The hard plastic keys on a ring sold for human babies are also a budget-wise buy that birds love, and real keys can be just as fun, after a scrubbing.

Keep your eyes and mind open for playthings your bird can enjoy -- you may surprise yourself with the possibilities!

Q&A

Cats can be difficult

to keep off shelves

Q: I have many pieces of glassware and figurines that I've collected over the years and that are very important to me. After my sweet old cat died early last year, I adopted a kitten. She's much more active than my old cat, and loves to jump up on things, including the shelves with my collectibles. She has already broken one piece, and two more would have been broken except that they fell onto the couch cushions. How can I keep her on the floor? -- via e-mail

A: Practically speaking, you can't keep cats on the ground -- they're designed to leap and climb. And that's certainly true while your new companion is in the crazy kitten stage.

The best you can do is to display your treasures in ways that keep them safe or, at least, safer. You might consider moving your collections to a single room and keeping the door closed when you're not around to supervise. Glass-fronted bookcases are another option for keeping collectibles and cats apart. For objects that don't need to be on a shelf, consider hanging them on a wall for display.

Although it's probably best to keep your most valuable pieces where your cat can't get to them, other objects can be made safer from the wanderings of active cats. Two products that will help: Quake Hold or Museum Gel -- two putties that seal objects to their display surfaces. If you can't find them at your home supply store, check out catalog and Internet retailers. -- Gina Spadafori

Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.

THE BUZZ

Veterinary visits fall

because of economy

-- Do pets need vets? The struggling economy has people cutting back on many things, including regular veterinary care. A study presented at the North American Veterinary Conference shows that 63 percent of dog owners and 68 percent of cat owners are questioning the need for regular veterinary care. The study, funded by Bayer Animal Health, also showed that older pets see the veterinarian less often than younger pets. When pet owners do go to the veterinarian, they report finding veterinary expenses to be higher than they expected.

-- A recent report suggests that a dog can help fight a sedentary lifestyle. Researchers at the University of Virginia found that having a family dog can help keep teens more active. Teens in dog-owning families did about 15 minutes of additional moderate to vigorous activity per week. Although children and adolescents may not have primary responsibility for walks, they are more active in general when it comes to playing with the dog.

-- Xylitol, a widely used sugar substitute for human consumption, is increasing the risk of poisoning for dogs. The ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center reports more cases of Xylitol poisoning in dogs as the sweetener grows more popular. The APCC also notes that few people are aware of the risk, and are less careful to keep candies and gums sweetened with the product in places where their pets can't get them. Especially vulnerable are small dogs: Even a small dose of Xylitol can send a canine into hypoglycemic-induced seizures and fatal liver failure. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker

ABOUT PET CONNECTION

Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.