Fun and Games with Your Rabbit
(First published in Rabbits USA 2004-2005 Annual)
Arlington, Va., 5:00 a.m.: Kismet jumps on Sherman, pulls out a tuft of hair, and runs
away. After a few warm-up laps, she flies out of the starting gate with Sherman in hot
pursuit. They dash through a tunnel, up a stairway of rabbit carriers, across the king-sized
bed, down the other side, through a maze of tunnels and boxes, under the bed, and back
to the stairway to repeat the obstacle course again.
Pamela Hurley laughs as she describes the antics of her two-year-old Dutch “pixie” rabbit
and Sherman, Kismet’s six-year-old “floppy” male companion. “Since Kismet and
Sherman set up bunny headquarters in my bedroom, I have been relegated to sleeping in
the storage room upstairs.”
Ms. Hurley is among thousands of Americans who recognize that rabbits are intelligent,
playful and social animals that thrive on physical and mental stimulation. Because toys
and games play an important role in keeping companion rabbits happy and healthy, her
home is full of carefully chosen, safe toys for her four rabbit companions.
Rabbit rescuers have long known that toys encourage physical activity, keep rabbits
occupied when we are away, and help protect our homes and belongings from being
destroyed by a rabbit’s natural desires to chew and dig. Games help us get to know our
rabbits and encourage us to spend quality time with them. “A solitary rabbit sitting in an
empty cage is one of the saddest sights in life,” says Laura Warner, head of South Jersey
Rabbit Rescue in Woodbury, NJ.
Like children with well-stocked
playrooms, each rabbit has a favorite
toy. “Celeste enjoys her cardboard
box that she can jump on and chew.
Addie loves to race through her
tunnels. Meanwhile Frosty and
Honey love their plastic toss toys,
which they think belong in their food
bowl,” says Suzanne Trayhan,
president of the House Rabbit
Network, a rabbit rescue group based
in Eastern Massachusetts.
Before shopping for rabbit toys, it is
wise to spend time really getting to
know your rabbits. Watch them
carefully to see what objects and
activities they find intriguing —
especially those that are strictly forbidden. Then use your imagination to identify games
and toys that satisfy those needs. Keep in mind that presentation of the toy is often as
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
important as the object itself. Many rabbits ignore toys you give them but enjoy stealing
anything you thought was safely out of reach.
Getting to Know Your Rabbit
Schedule some time to get to know your rabbit. Wear clothes that you don’t mind your
rabbit tugging on or chewing, and prepare to spend time on the floor in your rabbit’s play
area. If your rabbit is caged, set up an exercise pen or partition a large room with a baby
gate. Make sure the play area is rabbit-proofed. Remove plants, protect electric and
telephone cords, and move out of reach anything you don’t want your rabbit to play with.
Sit on the floor or lie beside your rabbit with a few toys from the following list and get
ready for entertainment:
•
Empty toilet paper rolls make inexpensive toys for rabbits to roll, nudge, or
chew. Stuff one with hay and a raisin or dried cranberry to make it more enticing.
•
Untreated willow or grapevine baskets are fun for your rabbits to chew or fling
around. Fill them with hay or small toys for your rabbit to scatter and play with.
•
Sturdy plastic cups, detergent bottle caps, measuring cups, Mason jar lids,
and wooden spoons are easy for rabbits to
pick up and toss. Wooden spoons are also
safe for chewing. Caution: When giving
your rabbit caps, cups or lids, make sure
they can’t get stuck on heads or noses and
check carefully for sharp edges.
•
A plastic Slinky is a versatile toy that can
be tossed, carried, rearranged, suspended
from a cage top, or pulled through the bars
of a cage, pen, or gate. While the standard
3-inch size is safe for most rabbits, very
small rabbits can get tangled in these. Use
the smaller (1½ inch) size for dwarf breeds
and other small rabbits.
•
Balls are fun to roll or nudge, especially if they have bells inside. Different balls
appeal to different kinds of
play: wire cat-toy balls can be
tossed or flung; larger plastic
balls with big holes can be
filled with hay to interest your
rabbit; infant-safe stuffed balls
can be rolled, carried in the
mouth, or groomed. For rabbits
primarily motivated by food,
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
you can purchase treat-dispensing balls or grass balls filled with gourmet hay.
Overweight rabbits on a diet of limited pellets may get exercise if you put their
pellets in a treat-dispensing ball.
•
Cotton towels can keep rabbits busy for hours. They may bunch, scrunch, push,
pull, dig in, or rearrange a towel using their paws and teeth. Some rabbits prefer
old clothes that still have your scent on them. Drape a towel or shirt over the
exercise pen or gate, hang it on the back of a chair, or place it just outside the cage
or pen, so that the rabbit’s paws can tug at it.
•
Telephone directories are ideal for pulling, digging, tearing, chewing, and
shredding. For rabbits that like to pull carpet, anchor the directory under a piece
of furniture to create more resistance.
•
Large, sturdy cardboard boxes make great multi-purpose toys. Cut large
openings on two sides of a copier paper box and set it in your rabbit’s play area.
Put a handful of hay or special treat inside to tempt your rabbit to enter, and watch
for a nose to pop out through one of the holes. Some rabbits prefer to hop on top
of boxes for a bird’s-eye view of their playground. Others comment on your
artistic skills, chewing the holes into a more pleasing shape. Caution: Remove
packing tape and staples from boxes you give as toys, since both are dangerous if
ingested.
Your rabbit’s pet carrier can be used instead of a box. Carriers provide both a
hiding place and a sturdy perch to hop onto. Henrietta’s carrier sits over the spot
in the carpet that she tore up, and
now she digs in the carrier instead.
Using a carrier as part of a
playground encourages your rabbit to
view it as a safe haven rather than a
prison, making trips to the vet less
stressful.
•
Paper grocery bags can be used for
hiding, shredding, or tearing. Add a
handful of hay to encourage your
rabbit to venture inside. Be sure to
remove handles from the bags to
protect your rabbit from trapping its
head.
A rabbit that is normally caged will usually spend the first several minutes of freedom
exploring its new surroundings. Many rabbits run laps at full-speed around their play
area. If you’re lucky, you will also see “happy hops,” mid-air twists of pure joy, with all
four of the rabbit’s feet off the ground. Once your rabbit settles down a bit, observe
which toys attract its attention and what your rabbit chooses to do with them.
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
Encouraging Play
If your rabbit ignores the toys discussed above, review your daily interactions and
consider the following possibilities:
•
Does your rabbit race around its playroom but ignore toys? You may need to
design a playground. A box,
carrier, or piece of furniture
in the center of a play area
creates a great running track.
For variety, add tunnels made
from concrete forms,
cardboard boxes, or
unvarnished wicker; or create
an obstacle course with more
furniture. Stuff the end of a
tunnel with hay or wadded up
newspaper to give your rabbit
a digging/burrowing project.
•
Does your rabbit dig in the litter-box? Offer a large shallow plastic box filled with
shredded paper just for digging.
•
Does your rabbit attack the
broom or vacuum hose when
you clean? If so, allow some
extra time when cleaning and
consider this playtime for you
and your rabbit.
•
Does your rabbit like to play
with the toilet brush? Many do.
Put the one you use safely out
of reach and replace it with a
new one for your rabbit to play
with.
•
Has your rabbit untied your shoestrings? Many rabbits enjoy playing with
sneakers and other laced shoes left on the floor. Some untie them while others dig
in them, push them away, or pick them up by the shoestring and fling them
around.
•
Is your rabbit an escape artist? Many rabbits like to squeeze through small spaces.
Create these by placing furniture, wooden crates, or carriers near (but not against)
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
a wall or side of an exercise pen. Lean an unused gate against the wall, and most
rabbits will squeeze between the wall and the gate.
Safely Out of Reach or Unintended Toy?
Your furniture arrangement can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Vineeta
Anand, founder of Friends of Rabbits, a rescue organization based in Alexandria, Va.,
learned the hard way.
“Raisa leaps onto the
chair, hops up on the
printer stand, and sails
over to the computer
desk. One chomp and she
sits triumphantly, another
dead mouse dangling
from her mouth,” she
sighs. Raisa killed four
gray mice, the ones that
say Microsoft, before Ms.
Anand switched to the
wireless kind, without
tails.
Raisa is not the only adventurous rabbit that insists on pushing the envelope — or, in
Henrietta’s case, pulling it. My tax file was firmly lodged behind the filing cabinet, but
that didn’t stop a resourceful five-pound lop from prying it out and scalloping receipts.
Because rabbits are often mischievous, it is wise not to ignore unidentified sounds
coming from your rabbit’s room. Thumper, a mellow French Lop, pulled all the toiletries
from the bottom shelf of a vanity closet and
climbed onto the upper shelf.
In most cases it is more about the journey
than the destination. Chip, a feisty 8-yearold lop, really didn’t plan to tear my favorite
sweatshirt. But it was carelessly draped over
a chair just outside her pen, one sleeve
dangling irresistibly within reach. What
rabbit could resist trying to pull it into her
pen? Then again, she found working the lid
off the popcorn tin was really worth the
effort. The hay inside it was apparently
tastier than the hay in her litter-box.
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
Games Rabbits Play
Rabbits that enjoy attacking a broom while you clean may enjoy chasing a towel or
feather duster. Try tickling their nose to get their attention, then, pull the towel or feather
duster away from them, encouraging them to chase it (and you) around the room.
Another fun game for you and your rabbit is “where’s the bunny?” Drop a lightweight
towel over a rabbit, and watch it find its way out. Note: Pay special attention to your
rabbit’s reaction to this game; pick the towel up immediately at the first sign of fear or
panic.
If your rabbit nudges you, then runs away, it may want you to follow. Most rabbits do not
like being chased, especially by children. But some enjoy games of “Catch me if you
can” with a human, especially if the room has enough obstacles to ensure the rabbit will
win. When he was young, Murray made me
chase him around the table when it was time
for his medicine. It was months before I
understood it was less about avoiding his
medicine and more about outsmarting me.
A popular game with most rabbits is “hide and
seek” with a favorite treat. Of course, they
prefer to be handed the treat, but you can
encourage exercise and exploration by making
this a regular part of playtime with your
rabbit. Make treats easy to find initially, then,
gradually make the game more challenging.
Buying Toys
Many people enjoy shopping for their rabbits. Rescue groups, online retailers, and pet
supply stores offer a wide variety of rabbit-safe toys:
•
Grass mats are favorites for chewing and pulling. If your rabbit is pulling or
tearing a spot in the carpet, anchor a grass mat over that spot with a heavy piece
of furniture.
•
Colorful hard acrylic toys with bells
come in a variety of sizes and shapes
including barbells, doughnuts, flowers,
and wheels. Rabbits can roll them or
pick them up and toss them. These toys
are noisy, especially when tossed on
linoleum or hardwood floors and are
favored by rabbits that like to dispel the
myth that they are quiet pets. But be
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
warned — such toys may be a poor choice if your rabbit lives in or near your
bedroom. Stormy loved playing with his noisiest toys at 3:30 a.m.
•
Hanging toys made of rope, wooden objects, sisal, and bells are great for rabbits
that like to hit, bat at, or box anything that enters their space. Lauren showed her
interest in such toys by growling and boxing while being hand-fed salad.
•
Wooden shapes strung on a large metal ring or rope, with or without bells, are fun
for rabbits to toss or chew. They come in a variety of sizes and seasonal themes
such as leaves and pumpkins for autumn, trees and stars for Christmas, and rabbit
themes for Easter.
•
Willow or grape vine baskets, wreaths, balls, tunnels,
and tents are favorites for both chewing and tossing.
•
Rabbit-safe twigs, untreated wood items from a craft
store, or wooden storage crates are fun for rabbits that
like to chew. Most rabbits prefer softer woods such as
pine. If your rabbit prefers your furniture or
woodwork, Ms. Anand suggests soaking soft wooden
toys in unsweetened organic apple juice and allowing them to dry.
•
Multi-story cardboard cottages and castles, cat condos, or cat trees are perfect for
rabbits that like to jump on your furniture. Keep these perches away from the
boundaries of your rabbit’s play area, or you may find your rabbit using them to
mount a daring escape. If your rabbit is caged, consider replacing the cage with a
multi-story condo. These can be purchased online or built inexpensively from
modular storage cubes available at office supply and discount stores.
Consider Adopting a Playmate
Keep in mind that toys alone cannot take the place of
someone to play with. Remember that rabbits are social
animals. If you have a busy household, your rabbit is alone a
lot, or your family has trouble finding time to play with your
rabbit, consider adopting a companion. An active playmate
can help even older rabbits rediscover the joys of play, thus
encouraging the exercise that is so important to overall
health. Same species companionship can also help prevent
depression. Most rescue groups and shelters encourage you
to bring your rabbit along to pick out a companion and offer
advice and support during the bonding process. Ms.
Trayhan says, “I laughed watching Hazy and Hershey take
turns with their Slinky.” What better way to relax at the end
of a long day?
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
Toy Safety
Choosing safe toys is as important for rabbits as for infants. The same basic rules apply.
Toys must be:
•
•
•
Durable, to withstand throwing and chewing
Without sharp edges or small parts that could become a choking hazard
Non-toxic, because they will end up in the mouth
Unbreakable baby toys such as plastic keys, rattles, balls, and infant-safe stuffed animals
are wonderful toys for rabbits and can be found cheaply at garage sales or thrift stores.
Wooden toys should be
unpainted and unfinished, or
colored with non-toxic dyes.
Safe wooden toys are
available from rescue
organizations and online
retailers specializing in
rabbit toys and supplies.
Colorful wooden bird toys
also are safe for rabbits and
terrific to hang in cages.
The following items are hazardous and should always be kept out of reach:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Live electric and telephone cords
Objects made of glass, china, porcelain, or anything that can shatter
Balloons or rubber bands, which can cause fatal gastrointestinal problems if
ingested
Plastic bags
Objects with strings, ropes, or handles, including paper bags, that can ensnare a
rabbit’s head
Tree branches or twigs that may have been treated with pesticides or herbicides
Cherry, peach, apricot, plum, or redwood twigs or toys
Even safe toys can become dangerous over time. Periodically make sure plastic toys have
not broken. Discard fragments of baskets and other chewable toys when they become
small enough to pose a choking hazard. Check cardboard boxes, cottages, and castles for
damage from chewing, and replace them if they have become unstable. Replace stuffed
toys when the stuffing starts coming out. Discard towels and cloth toys if your rabbit has
chewed holes that could trap a paw or head, or if you suspect your rabbit is eating the
fabric.
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO
Play Time
Rabbits are creatures of habit. One of the best ways to make the most of playtime with
your rabbit is to establish a routine. Rabbits are, by nature, most active in the early
morning and evening, preferring quiet time during the day. Some rabbits also are active at
night. Their schedule is perfect for playtime after work or school.
Rabbits will let you know when they’re in the mood to play. Fred and Henrietta run
toward me and circle my feet when I walk into their room. Stormy always tugged at my
pants, following up with a gentle nip if I didn’t respond quickly. Murray bumps me with
his nose and runs away.
Most rabbits do not want to be interrupted when they are:
•
•
•
•
Eating
Grooming
In the litter-box
Sleeping
However, you can enter your rabbits’
area or open the cage while they are
doing these things, letting them
know it is playtime when they are
ready.
Rabbits are intelligent creatures, very capable of learning. Most rabbits recognize words
and sounds associated with a treat or favorite activity. Henrietta dashes to the gate of her
room when she hears any baby gate being removed. Many people teach rabbits to return
to their cage or pen at night by saying “bedtime” and
having a favorite treat waiting there. Smokey and I
shared banana at bedtime, and he always followed me
to the kitchen when I said “Nana, Mokey” in a certain
tone.
From across the house “King Murray” hears the
refrigerator door open. He races into the kitchen,
stops in front of the dishwasher, stands up on his hind
feet, and stares at the refrigerator. I know I’ve got to
stop whatever I’m doing, open the refrigerator, and
give Murray some of his favorite cranberries. There is
no question who is trained in my family!
Thanks to Friends of Rabbits, House Rabbit Connection, House Rabbit Network, South Jersey
Rabbit Rescue, and Southeast Pennsylvania/Delaware HRS for sharing their pictures of rabbits
at play.
Copyright © 2003 by Kathy Smith, Kansas City, MO