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Toys
Bunnies need toys and playtime distractions
A toy destroyed is a toy well-deployed
This is Trapper, with the remains of a Once Great Society of Feathers. For his amusement, I hung the rest of it in a doorway so he could bat it around and play his own version of "tetherball" (or "tetherduster" or "featherball" or... never mind). I don't recommend this as a toy, since the feathers can cause stomach problems if ingested, but by the time I found this, it was clear to me that Trapper was having no difficulty in handling its destruction.
For toys to be safe for your bunny, they must be untreated (ie, not painted or otherwise finished, no colored inks except soy-based, etc) and you must also watch to see which ones they play with and which ones they chew - you don't want them swallowing plastics.
Toys are essential to rabbits for a number of reasons - they provide mental stimulation, exercise, and they give the rabbit something to chew on so they don't chew on your furniture or other household items. Rabbits need to chew to keep their front teeth from overgrowing, and besides hey, the proper chewtoys are one of the best ways to give your rabbit something to chew.
Some things rabbits may find amusing to play with: (make sure these are all untreated)
- Cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper
- Old telephone books
- Cardboard boxes (especially those large enough to hide within)
- Ball with a bell inside
- Empty hamster balls (balls with hamsters in them are okay as long as the hamster agrees, but be watchful as to where the ball may be pushed so your hamster doesn't get stuck)
- An apple twig
- Small pieces of untreated wood
- Willow baskets
- Stainless steel measuring cups or spoons
- Tin cans (no sharp edges)
- Oatmeal containers
- Hand towels (be careful of loose strands)
- Golf balls
- Apple branches
- Paper bags
- Parrot toys
- Dried out pine cones
- Downey balls
- Newspaper (soy ink and preferably no color)
- Baby rattles
- Wooden blocks
- Metal bowls
- Key-ring with keys
- Lids from jars
- A metal or plastic slinky
This is Cocoa taking a break from her "urbun renewal" project and completely gutting the interior of the hiding box. One day I will pick up the box during normal cleaning activities, or perhaps just a gentle breeze will waft through - either way, that box will eventually disintegrate.
A toy destroyed is a toy well-deployed.
Recommended Reading:
The House Rabbit Society's FAQ on the importance of providing toys to your rabbit
The House Rabbit Society's article on why playthings matter
Finding the Best Toy for Your Rabbit
The San Diego House Rabbit Society's article on selecting toys for your rabbit
The Rabbit Charity's article on selecting toys for your rabbit
Zooh Corner's article on the importance of toys for your rabbit
The San Diego House Rabbit Society's article on the importance of playtime for rabbits
More Tips on Building Box Toys
The House Rabbit Society's article on building play houses for your rabbit
3 Bunnies Rabbit Resources
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A Buck for the Bunnies
Last update: Sun Jun 28 21:49:23 EDT 2020