What is the ruling on raising a rabbit or a small animal in a cage inside an apartment for companionship?

It is permissible, according to Islamic law, to raise animals, including rabbits, in homes within special cages for benefit, companionship, or decoration. This is supported by the hadith (definition) of Anas ibn Malik in the two Sahih (definition) collections, where the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to ask his younger brother, "O Abu 'Umair, what did the Nughair do?" The Nughair was a small bird he used to play with. Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar mentioned in "Al-Fath" among the benefits of this hadith the permissibility of spending money on permissible amusement for children, and the permissibility of keeping birds in cages.