Bunny Proofing Your Home
As mentioned, rabbits like to chew and dig! It’s natural behavior, and once they get started it’s hard to stop without providing alternate safe and fun activities. They’re also naturally curious and enjoy chewing on new things. Because their first reaction is to put new things in their mouths—just like baby humans—it’s very important to bunny-proof any area of the home where a rabbit will play.
Injury Prevention
To prevent injury or death to your rabbit, protect all light, power, telephone, and other cords. Not only will you lose the use of that appliance if your rabbit chews it but your rabbit can get a nasty shock. If the voltage is high enough, a rabbit could die or receive life-threatening injuries. Home improvement, auto-supply, and electronics stores carry many different items to help you tie up, cover, hang, and get cords out of the way. Flexible or corrugated plastic tubing is one of the easiest ways to protect cords. Just slice the tubing lengthwise and run the cables down the middle.
House Plants
Move all plants to a location where a bunny cannot reach them. Many common house plants are poisonous to rabbits and can cause death. If a plant tends to drop leaves or blooms, move it to a room that your rabbit does not use. Protect books on the bottom of bookshelves to prevent chewing and tearing. Also, be sure to look around for heavy decorative objects such as vases, statuettes, etc., that may be easily knocked over.
Electronical Cords and Plugs
To prevent injury or death to your rabbit, protect all light, power, telephone, and other cords. Not only will you lose the use of that appliance if your rabbit chews it but your rabbit can get a nasty shock. If the voltage is high enough, a rabbit could die or receive life-threatening injuries. Arranging furniture to make cords unreachable to rabbits is an excellent way to protect them, but do not hide live cords under rugs (fire hazard). You may need to protect some cords with covers. Home-improvement, auto-supply, and electronics stores carry many different items to help you tie up, cover, hang, and get cords out of the way. Flexible or corrugated plastic tubing is one of the easiest ways to protect cords. Look for split loom tubing or slice regular tubing lengthwise and run the cables down the middle.
Block Off Hazardous Areas
Prevent your rabbit from getting into electrical cords and other items in your entertainment center, computer room, or garage. Keep doors closed, use baby gates, and block off entertainment centers. Don’t give your rabbit the chance to get into or behind these hazardous areas.
More Bunny Proofing
Use carpet squares, tile squares, washable throw rugs, and other items to cover carpet corners, linoleum, or places where your rabbit likes to dig, chew, or eliminate. Also, add an extra litter box or two while your rabbit is first venturing into new territory. This reinforces litter box training and helps to prevent accidents. If your rabbit exhibits a preference for a particular location, place a litter box in that spot. They’ve chosen their bathroom.
Now that you’ve accounted for just about every mishap your mischievous rabbit might get into, be sure to provide them with some safe and fun alternatives for chewing or digging.
For Digging: Give your rabbit an enclosed cardboard box with a hole cut in each end. Fill the box with hay or shredded paper and let them get inside and chew, dig, and shred to their heart’s content!
For Shredding: Give your rabbit an old, clean phonebook that she can rip, tear, and shred! Take toilet paper or paper towel tubes and fill them with hay or paper for chewing fun.
Chewing: Give your rabbit a variety of pet-safe wicker baskets, chew rings, and hay-filled balls, to keep their busy teeth occupied.
Never Physically Discipline a Rabbit
Never hit or physically discipline a rabbit. They can become defensive and angry if provoked and will not trust you. When you find your rabbit doing something that is not allowed, even biting, try one of these techniques: Clap your hands together to make a loud noise. Thump your hand or foot like a fellow rabbit. Be sure to familiarize yourself with rabbit communication so you know how to interpret signs of possible aggression, like nipping, biting, or boxing.
Bottom line: Keep your rabbit active, happy, and mentally stimulated by spending plenty of time interacting with them. When you can’t be with them, provide a few toys and things to chew on. Also, be sure your rabbit is spayed or neutered to help prevent destructive behaviors. Remember, an active rabbit is a happy rabbit!
