Having Fun with Your Bun

By A.A.

Anyone who’s had their furniture, electrical cords, carpets or baseboards ruined by a bunny knows that a bored rabbit can be a destructive rabbit. Without a proper outlet for their instinctual behaviors, such as chewing, digging, running, and tunneling, rabbits will claim human possessions as theirs. That’s why it’s important to provide your bunny with toys to keep them active in a positive way.

Unfortunately, people often cite destructive chewing as the reason for giving up their pet rabbit. The reality is that chewing is a necessary part of rabbit behavior. It promotes healthy teeth and provides mental stimulation. There are many kinds of chew sticks, such as seagrass twists and applewood sticks, as well as “flip and toss” carrots made of sisal rope and natural sponge rings, which bunnies use for both chewing and throwing. Those hard plastic Slinkies that never go down the stairs aren’t much fun for people, but bunnies like to toss them.

Bunny toys can be pricey, especially when they’re destroyed in a couple of days, so it’s always a good idea to improvise. Rabbits who play “paper shredder,” love to rip up newspapers, magazines, junk mail, and toilet paper tubes. Shoeboxes, or any bunny-sized cardboard box, are also a great option. They’ll often sit in the box and chew from the inside out, which makes cleanup as easy as dumping out the shredded bits when bunny is done. You can also put some hay or chew sticks in the box to attract their attention. Be sure with any of these options that your bunny is mostly shredding and not eating a lot of paper.

A key component to bunny activity that sometimes gets overlooked is exercise. Lazy bunnies can become overweight, which puts them at higher risk of heart attacks. To encourage activity, you can easily make a bunny obstacle course. Try buying some bunny tunnels or using long cardboard boxes or tubes, and laying them end to end across a room. Bunnies not only love to zoom through tunnels, but they also stretch out inside them and rest. Perches or platforms are also good to provide, as bunnies are a conundrum; they don’t like being picked up, but they like being off the ground on their own terms. Surprisingly, a lot of bunnies love to play and sit on cat trees. Another option for a platform involves large storage bins with a towel or blanket on the lid for traction. This is especially convenient if you’re already using storage bins for litter or hay. For the handy human companion, you can build both tunnels and perches out of inexpensive, untreated lumber. You can place these perches near the exit of the tunnel so that your bunny can do a running jump onto and off of the bin or tree, and as with tunnels, perches also serve a dual purpose by providing a rabbit resting area.

Since the pieces are modular, you can always change the layout if your bunny gets bored with the routine or move them outside in nice weather. Digging is another form of rabbit exercise where it helps to direct their energy appropriately since bunnies can become drawn to a certain spot for their “project,” which can be bad for hardwood floors and carpets. Try putting a straw mat or untreated piece of wood down on their dig spot. Wood will last a little longer and will help wear down their nails.

Another fun option is to clear a space and set up a cardboard box, clean litterbox, or cage with the bottom filled with sand or snow. For outdoor play, you can set up an ex-pen and let them dig in the grass. A sheet hung over one side of the pen will provide extra shade and hiding spots. Children’s chairs are a good height for bunny play and they can be fitted with a secured ramp made out of wood or cat-scratching posts. Also, outdoor chairs are usually made of durable material, so you can let your bunny jump in them and dig without causing damage. When using a chair, just be careful not to put it close to the edge of the expen since the bun might jump out of the ex-pen play area. Much of what you need to build a bunny playground can be found at major retailers. You can buy cat trees, chairs, and all sorts of makeshift bunny toys for a low cost. And don’t forget to take advantage of sales. Remember the importance of spending quality time with your bunny. Most rabbits are social and they’ll be more active if their human friends show interest in playing with them.