Rabbits N'Rodents

Do rabbits need toys?

The answer is yes, because rabbits need things to keep them occupied, and to prevent boredom and destructive behaviour. Toys do not have to be expensive, and there are many homemade toys that will work just as well, if not better than petstore toys, besides, a lot of the ones at petstores are more for looks than actually playing with, so chose wisely.  

What type of toys should your rabbit have? 

This table shows all the aspects your rabbits should recieve from their toys: 

 

Type of activity	Why?	Toy Suggestions
Chewing	Stops destructive behaviour and keeps teeth in shape.	Different types of hay ie: Timothy,oat,meadow, orchard grass etc, untreated willow/wicker baskets/balls wooden chews, apple tree branch and toilet roll tubes
Digging	It is only natural for bunnies to dig and keeps them occupied and keeps nails trim	Fill a large cardboard box with shredded paper
Climbing	Some bunnies love to climb and its a good source of exercise	cat trees, ramps, different levels, boxes with a top etc
Throwing	Rabbits love to flip toys or nudge them away.	Untreated, dried pine cones, untreated willow balls, baby rattles, toilet roll tubes
Rearranging	Some buns like to rearrange and it keeps their minds working.	A clean towel (supervise them with this), or placing carboard boxes in corners as they will soon be moved!
Hidding	Rabbits are prey animals and need somewhere to hide, plus they love hiding for fun too!	Cardboard boxes with 'doors' cut out, plastic/wooden hideouts from petstores.

 

What homemade toys can I use? 

It must be remembered that rabbits are chewers, and no soft plastics, fabrics or anything with small pieces should be used. Also, anything with inks or dyes shouldn't be used if there is a chance the rabbit will ingest some of them.

I find these great: 

• Carboard toilet/kitchen roll tubes stuffed with hay
• Carbboard boxes with little doors made for them to enter and leave
• Apple/willow tree branches (no pesticides)
• Towel- Okay I said no fabrics, but supervising your bunny with a towel is okay for those bunnies who like to rearranged everything, just make sure they don't eat it! 
• Football, watch them go headbutting a football, just supervise them with it!

 

What about Petstore toys?

Petstore toys are great...well some of them, and you may be surprised to see some of the things listed below!

• Cat Trees
• Parrot toys
• Baby rattles
• Plastic Hideouts for rabbits/cavies
• Wooden chews
• Large bunny tubes
• and really anything else in the rabbit toy section....just use your knowledge

Avoid:

• Petstore treats-full of sugar, and sometimes even milk, perservatives and colours
• Rabbit/cavy sized 'hamster balls'/wheels- rabbits and cavies cannot curve their spines like hamsters.
• Anything sharp or has glue/string

My top 6 reccomendations

1./Different types of hay-oat, brome, meadow, orachard grass, timothy etc all mixed togther in a large pile on the floor for them to forage through is the BEST 'toy' you can provide your rabbit with. Rated- 10/10

2./Untreated willow baskets and balls stuffed with hays . Rated -9/10

3./Toilet roll tubes with hay at either end and pellets in the middle  Rated- 8/10

4./A large cardboard box with a hole cut out in the side Rated-10/10

5./A football Rated-7/10

6./Natural willow toys, pine cones etc Rated-10/10

 

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