Well-Being
Rabbits at Play
By Chandra Moira Beal
If you are new to rabbits, you may be surprised to find that rabbits don't "just sit there", as so many people believe. People who live with house rabbits know how playful, curious and silly they can be when let out of their cages to socialize. Rabbits confined to a cage or lonely outdoor hutch get bored without the stimulation of play and interaction with other animals and humans.
Toys are very important for rabbits for a number of reasons. They provide mental stimulation by giving them something to do when they are home alone. Rabbits are routine-oriented animals that like to have a job to do. Toys keep rabbits interacting with their environment, challenging them and stimulating their minds. Toys also provide an opportunity for physical exercise and keeps rabbits fit and healthy. Without the chance to exercise, rabbits can become overweight, bored and depressed. Bored rabbits tend to create their own stimulation by chewing, digging, and shredding your carpet, furniture, and wiring. Toys are a great diversion and can save your house, your sanity, and even your rabbit's life. If your rabbit is occupied with toys, they will be less inclined to be destructive.
Some rabbits completely ignore manufactured toys, but this doesn't mean they don't need and enjoy other types of play. They may like to climb the sofa, race in circles on the bed, shred cardboard, and leap about in the garden. They might enjoy playing games such as hide and seek. My rabbit likes to enter the closet and hide, then I'm supposed to go looking for her. Never mind the fact that she always hides in the same place.
Rabbit toys are generally cheap and readily available. Be creative! Some ideas:
Paper bags and cardboard boxes are great places to crawl inside. Rabbits especially like to relax underneath things (boxes, furniture, etc.). Whenever packages arrive at your house, let your rabbit play in the box. Build your own rabbit condo by cutting at least two entry holes in a large cardboard box. Voila! Instant rabbit toy. They especially like to "remodel" these boxes.
Cardboard rolls from the inside of kitchen towels or toilet paper are simple, cheap, and readily available. These are great for chewing.
Untreated wicker baskets or boxes full of shredded paper, junk mail, magazines, or hay for digging can supply your bun with hours of fun.
Your local telephone directory is great for shredding. Many rabbits will shred clear through from A-Z.
Cat toys such as rolling plastic balls are good. Remove any loose parts such as bells. Rabbits like toys they can easily grip with their teeth and toss around.
Bird toys that can be tossed, or hung from the top of the cage and chewed or knocked about are also popular.
Baby toys like rattles and keys made from hard plastic (not teething toys!) are another option.
Kitty condos with ramps and windows to climb in and chew on provide hours of diversion.
Anything that can be nudged and rolled like a large rubber ball, an empty cylindrical box, or a small tin can probably be found around the house (the noisier the better).
Old towels are good for bunching and scooting, tearing and shredding, and arranging just so.
Dried out pinecones are a toothsome treat.
Untreated wood, twigs, and logs that have been aged for at least three months are acceptable. Apple tree branches can be eaten fresh off the tree, but avoid cherry, peach, apricot, plum and redwood, which are all poisonous.
Untreated sea grass or maize mats come strung together in squares as inexpensive flooring and can be cut to fit your needs. Some rabbits like stacks of these to shred through; others like a single layer. Try fixing the mat in one place with a heavy object so they can tug at them with their teeth. These mats are completely edible.
Whatever type of toy you choose for your rabbit, make sure that they are not ingesting plastic or mass amounts of cardboard, as this can be harmful.
Rabbit toys can be as simple as a cardboard box or as fancy as an elaborate jungle gym. Playtime is essential. Encourage your rabbits to play by getting down on the floor and interacting with them. Praise them when they play with their toys instead of eating your house. You'll find that rabbits have a delightful sense of humor and thoroughly enjoy playtime. If you're committed, you may be honored with the "silly dance" or "binky"‹a mid-air dance of flailing forepaws and flips that expresses pure joy. Watch and be amazed.
© Copyright by Chandra Moira Beal. All rights reserved.
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