MidWest Deluxe Rabbit Cage X-Large Review

The deep-based cage that costs half what the big names charge, and what you give up.

The verdict: MidWest's Deluxe X-Large gives you the deep 5.5 inch base and the included accessories of much pricier cages for around $105, and it accepts wire or hutch extensions later, which makes it the sensible starting point for a first rabbit. Buy it if you want a well-made base station you can expand. Skip it if you expect 47 inches to be a rabbit's whole home, because it is not, and a 36 inch pen from the same maker gives twice the floor for less.

Specifications

Specifications above come from MidWest Homes for Pets' published product information. Treat pricing as approximate, since Amazon pricing moves.

What it does well

• The 5.5 inch deep base is the same depth as cages costing twice as much, and it is the single feature that decides how much litter ends up on your floor.
• Top access plus a side door means you can lift a rabbit out from above rather than dragging it through a low opening, which is easier on a nervous animal.
• It takes MidWest's wire or hutch extensions, so the cage can grow rather than being replaced when you realise it is small.
• Tool-free assembly, which also means tool-free disassembly for the deep clean that every rabbit enclosure eventually needs.
• At around $105 it leaves budget for the things that matter more, meaning floor space, hay and a vet fund.

Where it falls short

• Forty-seven inches is short. That is roughly 7.7 square feet, well under what a rabbit needs as a permanent space, so it only works as a base inside a larger setup.
• At 19.68 inches high a medium rabbit cannot sit fully upright, and periscoping is normal behaviour that this cage blocks.
• The included hay feeder is small, and unlimited hay means refilling it several times a day or putting hay in the litter box instead.
• The bottle should be treated as a spare. Rabbits generally drink more from an open ceramic bowl, and hydration matters in a gut-sensitive species.
• The bars are close-spaced and coated, and rabbits that chew bars will mark them. Bar chewing is usually a request for more space, not a hardware defect.

What owners report

Owner reports on the MidWest Deluxe are dominated by two themes: it is easy to clean and it is smaller than people expected. The deep base draws consistent praise, particularly from owners who moved from a shallow-tray cage and saw litter scatter drop sharply, and the top-opening access is repeatedly described as the thing that makes daily care quick. The accessories are generally described as usable but basic, with the hay feeder the item most often replaced first.

The size complaint is worth taking at face value rather than treating as a fault. Almost every enclosure sold for rabbits is undersized against the space guidance, and the useful response is to plan for the cage to be a base with a pen or a rabbit-proofed room around it. Our cage size guide gives the numbers, and our cage versus free roam comparison covers what changes when you stop thinking of the cage as the home.

Where this cage earns its place is on price. It does the same job as the Ferplast Krolik XXL for roughly half the money, giving up 16 inches of length, and it does it better than the Living World Deluxe on litter containment while giving up the height and hideaway. All three sit in our cages and pens roundup, and if the enclosure budget is tight, spending less here and more on floor space is the better trade.

Who it suits

• First-time owners who want a solid, cleanable base station without spending $200.
• People who intend to expand later and want a cage that accepts extensions.
• Owners of small and dwarf breeds, who fit the footprint better than large rabbits do.

Who should skip it

• Anyone treating the cage as a rabbit's entire living space.
• Owners of large breeds and Flemish Giants, who need both more floor and more height.
• People who want a built-in hideaway, which this does not have.

Alternatives worth considering

Keep reading

• Cage vs free roam compared
• Hutch vs exercise pen
• How much space a rabbit actually needs
• Best rabbit cages and pens
• Rabbit cost calculator

This review draws on published specifications, manufacturer figures and the consensus of verified owner reviews. We have not tested this product ourselves, and we say so rather than implying otherwise. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.