A professional magician needs three items to pull off the trick in the most effective manner. He must have a specially made container, chest, table or other type of surface to begin with. The surface must have a trapdoor that leads to a hidden compartment underneath. The second item, the rabbit, should be nestled comfortably in this hidden compartment. The traditional top hat from which the rabbit is pulled should have a trapdoor on top. The top may flap open when pushed.
The magician first shows the audience the inside of her hat for added effect so that the audience sees that there isn't a tiny mammal stuffed inside it. Then the magician places the hat on the surface over the trapdoor and reaches inside. However, she will actually be reaching through the trapdoor in the hat; through the trapdoor in the surface; and into the hidden compartment, where she will grab the rabbit and take it out through the hat. This will give the illusion that she has produced the rabbit from nothing.
The rabbit in a hat trick has numerous variations to suit different circumstances. Some magicians will actually put a small rabbit in a compartment in his top hat covered in charcoal dust to initially hide it from the audience. However, this could be difficult considering the unpredictable nature of the animal. Another variation involves sleight of hand and a distraction, perhaps from the magician's assistant.
The most obvious complication with the trick is the use of a live rabbit that requires care, feeding and housing while it is being used. A magician or her assistants must supply proper caging, bedding and food to the animal before and after it is used in the trick. The rabbit may defecate in the hat if it is left in there too long. Some magicians may use plush bunnies instead of live animals.