I know, it may sound strange, but rabbits do need toys to keep them amused. Rabbits, like young children, can get bored very easily, and a bored rabbit can get up to a lot of serious mischief. Some rabbits, when they have nothing else to do, will chew their own fur which lead to various health problems. Others will take to finding ways to escape (and they will usually succeed, believe it or not) or chewing their hutch, if it is made of wood. Rabbits with nothing else to do will also tend to eat far more than they need, and become overweight, a serious condition for a pet rabbit to be in. So it is very important that you keep your rabbit amused by giving it interesting activities to do to pass the time. Below are some suggestions of such activities that may help you. While they may not all be strictly "toys", all are ways of keeping your bunny amused.
- Firstly, make sure your rabbit is living in a suitably large enclosure. A small difference in size makes for a huge difference in comfort for the rabbit. Most importantly, check that your rabbit has access to a larger, open area where it can run around and let out some extra energy. This can be a part of the hutch, or it can be a separate exercise pen, or even an enclosed yard provided you or somebody responsible is close by to supervise your bunny.
- Provide a varied diet. Rabbits will soon get sick of eating the same food every day, so give occasional treats, as well as supplementing some of the staple foods that your rabbit eats. Try giving the food twice a day - once in the morning and once in the evening - for added variety.
- Take your rabbit to see new places. Having a large exercise area sometimes just isn't enough for a restless bunny. Putting a leash on and letting it explore a part of the yard works wonders.
- The toy that I would recommend the most is the toilet paper roll. It is by far the most effective, practical, cheap, easy and fun toy available. Rabbits prefer an empty cardboard toilet roll to expensive, fancy looking commercially made "rabbit toys" any day. It is also a great idea to stuff the toilet roll with fresh hay, as this will keep the rabbit amused for longer, as well as helping to keep the rabbit's teeth worn down properly. See below for picture.
- An old towel or rag has proven to be lots of fun to a playful bunny. Rabbits enjoy tossing them around, "digging" in them, chewing them, and lying on top of them.
- Small, empty food cans also work well as rabbit toys. Just make sure that there are no sharp edges, and the contents have been thoroughly cleaned out. Your bunny will enjoy chewing (don't worry, the teeth are not strong enough to puncture the metal) and tossing the can around.
- Old children's soft toys can be sourced from opportunity shops for a very reasonable price, and can be good "companions" for undesexed bucks (adult male rabbits) in particular.
As you experiment with different toys and activities to amuse your rabbit, there are a couple of things you should try to avoid. Below is a brief list of such things:
- Manufactured "rabbit toys". These toys are generally designed by people who do not understand rabbits, and as well as being ineffective as a cure for boredom, they are often toxic and have a detrimental effect on rabbits' delicate digestive system. And they are expensive! Save your money and please your bunny by using a "classic" rabbit toy such as a toilet roll stuffed with hay.
- Anything made of or containing plastic. Rabbits cannot resist the urge to chew things, and plastic products will inevitably cause damage to the rabbit's digestive system.
- Materials that may be toxic to a rabbit. This would include painted wooden "shop" toys and such like. If in doubt, don't risk it.
- Toys containing treated wood. Again, it isn't worth the risk to your rabbit when there are many other toys that are just as easy to get.
