Understanding the Need for Rabbit-Proofing
As you may know, rabbits do not belong in cages like a hamster or guinea pig. Rabbits need room to be able to run around and jump playfully to have a healthy welfare state. However, it is very important to rabbit-proof whichever room(s) your bunny will live in. Rabbits have instincts like chewing and digging that they need to express and will use them on objects in your room. We need to make sure the room is safe so that they do not hurt themselves or damage your items.
I have learned this the hard way, my rabbit Leo loves to chew on cords, carpet, wood, and other items I may leave on the floor. If your rabbit decides to chew on these it can not only be very frustrating to you, but it can also hurt them (especially cords). It is best to just take the extra time to make sure there is nothing your rabbit can get into that you wouldn’t want them to. Once you rabbit-proof your room you will have much more peace of mind because you will know both your rabbit and your belongings are safe.
Assessing Your Space: Pre-Rabbit Proofing Checklist
The first step to rabbit-proofing your room is to assess the state of your room. This means looking around for ANY potential hazards or simply anything you wouldn’t want to be chewed. The easiest way to do this is to get down on your rabbit’s level and look throughout the room, including corners, behind/under furniture, and any little nooks and crannies. Rabbits can fit in surprisingly small spaces so keep that in mind.
You want to be looking out for electrical cords, furniture corners, baseboards, and carpets. These are all things you may need to protect in your room so that your rabbit won’t chew or dig them. Plants are another thing to look out for. Some plants are toxic to rabbits and need to be kept out of reach at all times. Some plants are okay to be left on the floor but your rabbit may eat as a snack! I have learned it is best to keep all pants on shelves or furniture unless they are very large.
Next, you will want to remove any small items like bags, books, shoes, and clothes from the floor. Remember, anything you leave on the floor your rabbit will potentially chew. On the bright side, rabbits also motivate you to keep your room clean and tidy!
Essential Supplies for Rabbit-Proofing a Room
For the most part, you can rabbit-proof your room by removing a lot of items off the floor but there are some supplies you will need such as cord protectors, fencing, and bitter sprays. You can get these online or at just about any appliance store near you!
All these materials can look a little tacky so having a good storage solution helps your room look and feel more organized. I suggest putting any excess materials in storage containers under your bed if you have room or simply in a closet.
Rabbit-Proofing in Action: Step-by-Step Process
Once you have determined what spaces in your room you need to rabbit-proof and what supplies you will need it’s time to start!
- Remove any undesired objects from the floor. The first step is to clean your room and move any of those small objects as mentioned above. This will make the next steps a lot easier.
- Locate all outlets with cords. Once you have found all the outlets in your room that your rabbit could chew it’s time to prevent any damage. If it is an outlet with only one or two cords the easiest option is to put cord protectors over the cords. However, if it is an outlet with a large extension cord with multiple outlets it may be easier to simply fence off the area so your rabbit does not have any access.
- Protect your carpet. Rabbits are drawn to dig at carpets because it resembles digging in the ground and is very stimulating to them. The best way to prevent this is to remove the temptation, this can mean blocking off areas they may dig at such as corners or under furniture with fencing. Another option is to cover these areas with a cat scratching mat or a plastic mat. It is not realistic to cover the entire carpet but rabbits are drawn to corners and hidden areas to dig because it is more private. These areas are easier to cover because they aren’t in the middle of the room.
- Protect any other furniture corners or baseboards. There may still be other areas that you do not want to cover but your rabbit is still digging or chewing on such as baseboards or furniture corners you can use a bitter spray on the area. The taste and smell will be unpleasant to your rabbit and they will not want to dig there.
While all these prevention strategies are very important to ensure your rabbit does not hurt themselves or damage your items, remember, your rabbit is just looking for a way to express their instincts. If you provide your rabbit with healthy ways to entertain themselves such as toys and other enrichment methods your rabbit won’t feel the need to resort to chewing your items.
Maintaining Your Rabbit-Proofed Room
All rabbits are unique and may have different preferences of what materials to chew on so it is important to pay attention to YOUR rabbit and plan accordingly. Once you have rabbit-proofed your room as best you can it is important to remember that you will likely have to make adjustments over time as your rabbit grows and changes over time. Making regular check-ins to your preventative measures is a great way to keep everything updated and keep your rabbit happy and entertained!
If your rabbit is not responding well to your preventative measures it is always possible to train your rabbit using positive reinforcement to chew/dig on toys rather than your items. This will require more time and energy but it is worth it in the long run.
Overall, the most important thing is to keep your rabbit actively mentally and physically challenged so that they are entertained. You can do this by providing them with toys either at home or from a store. Or simply giving them the attention they need every day so they feel loved and do not try to get your attention in negative ways. Remember, your rabbit is just acting on their instincts they are not intentionally trying to destroy your house. Once you learn and understand your rabbit it will make you and your rabbit much happier!
Please feel free to leave any questions or comments below I am more than happy to help!