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Suggestions for
Toys for Rabbits
How NOT to
Hold a Rabbit:
Never pick up by
the ears or legs. The scruff of the neck is okay, but only momentarily
Never hold them
away from you snuggle the rabbit close to you
Never drop a
rabbit to the ground their backs are fragile and can break very easily
Always hold a
rabbit securely even if they struggle and kick.
Be aware they can go from
a mellow rabbit to a kicking dynamo instantly!
Communication Translation
Rabbits
are highly social creatures and the original "party animals." Normally,
rabbits do not make any noise when they are hungry, thirsty, hurt or scared.
They instead become quiet and still. Once you live closely with a rabbit,
you will see how much they communicate.
Head Flat on
Floor pet me now! Or it can mean fearful if the entire body is
lowered to the floor.
Kicking
upset or disgusted with you. They will flip out their back legs when they
hop away from you, too.
Growling
grunt/bark upset and aggressive.
Licking grooming you
affection and bonding with you.
Soft Teeth Grinding
this is the rabbit equivalent of purring very happy! If
the grinding is very loud, the rabbit can be in pain or have a dental issue.
Buzzing
or humming sound - visitors told me about this, but I heard when I
adopted Bumble. He buzzes when he is feeling romantic toward
my female rabbit even though he has been neutered. She runs when she
hears him do this since he will display mounting behavior.
Thump with
back feet alarmed or angry
Chinning
objects
marking territory like cats do. If you move the
furniture, they will do it all over again.
Back turned to
you ignoring you
Ears forward
alert or alarmed
Ears back
stressed
Scream
hurt or dying
Whistle
- some rabbits can whistle and it is a sound of distress.
Jumps for Joy
known as a binky a rabbit will hop up and turn sideways with its
body and continue running.
Rabbits have poor
vision up close. When they
cock their heads to the side
they are
trying to get a better look at you.
Rabbits will also
stand up on their hind legs to get a better look at whats going
on around them.
They are as
curious as cats and will get into everything.
They also do this when they are begging for treats. If
rabbits have free range of the house, they will run to the refrigerator
every time you open the door once they associate the sound with a treat.
Two
Websites on
Communication:
Language
of Lagomorphs
and
Rabbit Language
Two Good Books on the subject:
Why Does My Rabbit ....?
and Stories Rabbits Tell
Toys for Rabbits
 All
rabbits are "players." All you have to do is sit and watch a
cottontail rabbit in your backyard for a few minutes to see what I mean.
They jump, run, chase and toss things. Toys are great stimulation for
rabbits so they don't get bored! Toys can be purchased or simple homemade
toys work, too.
Most toys reflect a natural behaviors such as digging, tossing,
tunneling and chewing.
Please be aware preferences for
toys are as individual as the rabbit. One may enjoy digging and
another bunny may like chewing through a paper bag. It really depends
upon the rabbit. You can experiment since most toys are not expensive.
Give your
rabbit time to explore the toy before you decide it isn't "fun."
Rabbits need time to check things out first since they should have the last
word on what is fun time.
A few suggestions:
Cardboard boxes
or purchased cardboard castles made for rabbits with openings and ramps
Large cardboard tubes
made for rabbits or find form tubes (used for concrete) at a building supply
just make
sure they arent treated with any chemicals before purchase.
Wood Bird toys
mobiles are okay especially the wood type and check at all materials
in the construction of it.
Large rubber or plastic
balls for
pushing. Stay away from foam or styrofoam materials that can cause
choking or blockages.
Baby rattles for throwing
be sure the plastic
is strong enough to resist bunny teeth.
Big Plastic Slinky
I like them, too . . .
what is it about a slinky, anyway?
 Small
stuffed animals
with no removable chewable parts or hard eyes more for snuggling than
playing. If you have a single rabbit, they might enjoy a snuggle toy.
Baked and cleaned
pinecones for
tossing - several online rabbit stores carry them in bulk bags. Don't go
for exotic "pinecones" that aren't your basic evergreen pinecone.
Small cotton rag rug
for arranging and
tunneling inside. Make sure bunny won't eat it.
Old phonebooks,
although, these are becoming outdated rabbits love digging in them and
chewing.
Core cardboard rolls
from paper towels or toilet paper rolls get the ones with the least
amount of glue on the cardboard!
Untreated willow baskets
without paint or
varnish or other chemicals.
Big plain paper bags
from the grocery
store for chewing and exploring
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