Rabbit-Proofing Your Home for a Happy House Rabbit

Adopting a house rabbit is an incredibly rewarding experience, but creating a safe environment is crucial for your bunny’s well-being. Rabbit-proofing your home isn’t just about keeping your belongings safe—it’s about ensuring your pet has a stress-free, enjoyable life indoors. In this guide, we’ll cover key rabbit-proofing tips to protect your furniture, cables, and your pet, all while offering your rabbit a cozy, secure space to thrive.

1. Tackle the Wires

Rabbits love to chew. And if left unchecked, they may decide to nibble on your electrical cords, which can be both dangerous and expensive to repair. A rabbit chewing on an electrical cord could potentially cause a shock, so it’s essential to take action before this happens.

How to Fix It:

• Cover cables: Use plastic tubing or cord protectors to wrap around cables. You can find these at most hardware stores.
• Get creative: If your cords are exposed and hard to protect, consider using furniture to block access to them or elevate cords off the ground.
• Bitter sprays: There are safe, non-toxic sprays available that make cords taste bad to your bunny. This can be a helpful deterrent.

2. Secure Your Furniture

While bunnies can be adorable and innocent, they are also known for their curiosity. They love to explore every nook and cranny of their environment, including behind your furniture, under your couches, and between the cushions.

How to Fix It:

• Block off inaccessible areas: Use baby gates or create bunny-safe zones by closing off certain rooms or areas.
• Move things out of reach: If possible, move furniture away from walls or tuck away any fragile or dangerous objects that could be knocked over.
• Protect your furniture: Consider using slipcovers or other protective covers on your furniture, especially if your rabbit likes to chew on fabric.

3. Offer Chew Toys and Grazing Opportunities

Rabbits need to chew to wear down their continuously growing teeth. If they don’t have appropriate things to chew on, they might turn to your furniture or cables.

How to Fix It:

• Provide safe chewing options: Invest in plenty of rabbit-safe chew toys like wooden blocks, willow branches, and cardboard. Make sure there are enough options in various areas of the home so your bunny can always find something satisfying to gnaw on.
• Offer fresh hay: Hay is not only essential for your rabbit’s diet, but it also gives them something to chew and nibble on throughout the day.
  

For more on rabbit diets and the importance of hay, visit our post on What kind of hay to feed Your House Rabbit

4. Create Safe Spaces

Rabbits are prey animals, and as such, they can be skittish or easily frightened. Having a designated, quiet, and safe space for them to retreat to when they feel overwhelmed can help them feel secure in their environment.

How to Fix It:

• Provide hideouts: Set up a cozy bunny den using a small box or a hideaway in the corner of the room where they can retreat. You can also provide soft bedding in the form of towels or blankets.
• Designated play areas: If you’re allowing your rabbit to roam freely, ensure they have access to a safe area where they can play without being stressed by loud noises or excessive foot traffic.

5. Bunny-Proof Your Plants

Many common household plants are toxic to rabbits. It’s essential to carefully select which plants you allow in your home and make sure they are out of reach.

How to Fix It:

• Research toxic plants: Some common houseplants, such as lilies, ivy, and chrysanthemums, are poisonous to rabbits. Make a list of safe, rabbit-friendly plants (like parsley, basil, and mint), and keep toxic plants out of their reach.
• Use plant hangers: To avoid temptation, hang plants from the ceiling or place them on high shelves that your rabbit can’t access.

6. Protect the Floors

Rabbits are natural diggers, and you may find them scratching or digging at carpets, floors, or furniture. This is natural behavior, but it can lead to damage.

How to Fix It:

• Use area rugs or mats: Place soft, washable rugs in areas where your rabbit tends to dig or scratch.
• Floor guards: Consider using floor protectors under furniture or using tiles to protect your hardwood floors.
• Create a digging box: Give your rabbit a designated digging area by creating a digging box filled with safe materials like sand or shredded paper. This will allow them to fulfill their natural digging instincts without causing damage to your floors. You can also mix in some hay or our forage treats to keep the box interesting for them!

7. Provide Plenty of Litter Boxes

A clean environment is key to your rabbit’s happiness and health. Make sure to provide them with a litter box in an easily accessible area. Rabbits are very clean animals and will appreciate the opportunity to relieve themselves in a designated space. If you have multiple rabbits, make sure there is 1 litter box available per rabbit (so if you have 2 rabbits, you will need 2 litter boxes).

How to Fix It:

• Litter training: Rabbits naturally gravitate to the same area to do their business. Place a litter box in the area where they frequent, and they’ll likely catch on quickly.
• Use rabbit-safe litter: Do not use clumping cat litter, as it is harmful if ingested. Instead, choose paper-based or wood-based litters that are safe for rabbits!

8. You got this!

Rabbit-proofing your home is all about creating a safe, enriching, and secure environment where your rabbit can roam freely without getting into trouble. By making simple adjustments and paying attention to your rabbit's behavior, you can ensure they live a happy, healthy, and stress-free life indoors.

While it may seem like a lot of work, rabbit-proofing your space is a great investment in your rabbit’s well-being—and the peace of mind of your human family members too. Happy rabbit-proofing!