Fun Things You Can Do with Your Pet Rabbit Indoors
- A supervised roam around the house.
- Make some cheap and easy chew toys.
- Make a tunnel for your rabbit.
- Help your rabbit practice their foraging skills.
- Give them a chance to do some digging.
- Have playtime with your rabbit’s favourite toys.
What does rabbits love to play with?
Objects to play with or throw – such as untreated straw, wicker, sea-grass mats and baskets, balls and plastic flower pots. Solid plastic baby toys such as ‘key rings’, rattles, stacking cups and some robust cat and parrot toys can make good rabbit toys.
What do rabbits do when they are bored?
Signs that your rabbit might be bored
Rabbits might start chewing things that they shouldn’t, destroying their pen, or trying to dig out. They might also start to over-groom themselves to give them something to do.
What activities do bunnies do?
Rabbits love to chew! They also love to explore. So if you set out a brown cardboard box with small access holes to get them started, you’ve given them the best of both worlds: a secret fort to explore and a chew toy to boot.
How can I make my rabbit happy?
Food-based toys are the most effective [2]. Toys don’t have to be expensive – food wrapped in paper, tunnels made from cardboard boxes, plastic flower pots hiding food, cat litter trays filled with soil for digging, and sturdy bird toys which rattle all make great, inexpensive enrichment options for rabbits.
Tips for spending time with your rabbit
- Morning and evening are best.
- Let your rabbit come to you.
- Sit on the floor (get on your rabbit’s level).
- Keep it quiet and calm.
- Reward your rabbit with treats.
- Pet your rabbit.
- Play simple games with your rabbit.
- Train your rabbit.
How do rabbits not get bored?
Rabbits love exploring and will happily play with all sorts of pet-safe toys, which is a great way to make sure they get enough exercise. Let them find their food. Rabbits like to hop around, play and forage. Scatter food around their secure run and let them search it out.
You will know if your rabbit is happy because they will:
- Lie down with a relaxed body.
- Lie down with a stretched body, still relaxed.
- Lie down with a fully extended body, still relaxed.
- Jumping into the air all 4 paws off the ground.
- Have a healthy appetite.
- Calm and quiet.
- Inquisitive.
How do I keep my rabbit happy and entertained?
Unwanted Cardboard boxes and newspaper always make fun toys. Cut rabbit sized holes in two sides of a large cardboard box, then at the bottom fill with scrunched up newspaper, hay or anything rummage-worthy. Your rabbit can burrow through, searching for perhaps a few treats amongst it all.
How to cheer up a bunny
- Find a friend for your rabbit.
- Get a larger enclosure.
- Interact with your rabbit regularly.
- Give your rabbit mental enrichment activities.
- Give your rabbit a healthy diet with some yummy treats.
- Make sure your rabbit isn’t sick.
- Keep your rabbit on a regular schedule.
How do you get your bunny to love you?
The best way to gain your rabbits’ trust is by simply spending lots of time being near them, while allowing your bunnies to approach you in their own time. By sitting quietly with them in a safe enclosure, you’ll show your rabbits that you aren’t to be feared and that you can be trusted.
Here’s how you can tell that your rabbit likes you:
- Circling your feet.
- Chinning.
- Grooming you.
- Flopping down close to you.
- Binkies.
- Sitting on your lap.
- Coming over for pets.
- Purring when you pet them.
How do you know if your rabbit is unhappy?
If your rabbits look tucked up and quiet with their chins tucked in and noses not twitching this can be a sure sign of them feeling unhappy or stressed, as this is not a normal position for a rabbit. Moving or running away. Your rabbits may turn and move away from you (or each other) if they’re unhappy.
How do you tell if a rabbit is enjoying being pet?
They put their head on the ground and close their eyes in contentment. They also love getting a good back scratch around the shoulders. That said, they tend not to like being touched on the ears, neck, feet, stomach or tail. Usually, my bunnies are most receptive to petting when they’re relaxing after a meal.
How do I make sure my rabbit is happy?
Please ensure your rabbits have access to shade and fresh water when outdoors. Positive interactions with humans, such as training, playing games and grooming, are excellent forms of environmental enrichment. Spend quality time with your rabbits several times a day [3].
How do you know if your rabbit doesn’t like you?
If they are sitting upright and their front paws are ‘boxing’ at you, they are likely very unhappy. Vocalising. Rabbits don’t tend to make much noise and when they do it’s a sign they’re feeling very threatened. You may hear them grunting or growling and in extreme cases, they can scream.
How do you tell if your rabbit is upset with you?
It is common for rabbits to be offended and hold grudges against people. The most common sign that a rabbit is upset is when they give you the cold shoulder, ignoring you and refusing to take any treats. Rabbits holding a grudge will also flick their feet and people and urinate in places they normally wouldn’t.
Where rabbits don’t like to be pet
- Butt: A rabbit’s bottom, right around their tail, tend to be a sensitive spot where they don’t like to be touched.
- Belly and chest: A rabbit will guard their underside very closely.
- Chin: Unlike cats and dogs, rabbits tend to shy away from any hand trying to touch their chin.
How do you know if your rabbit is happy with you?
Purring – Just like a cat, a rabbit makes a purring noise when it’s happy and contented. Sighing – Another happy and contented sound, usually made when a rabbit is sitting comfortably and happily.
Can a bunny be mad at you?
They can get mad or frustrated, and they’re not afraid to show it! Rabbits can get aggressive if they want to, swiping at you with their claws, or even trying to bite. They might even growl or grunt at you, to vocalize how upset they are. But rabbits can be more subtle and standoffish to show how mad they are too.
What does a stressed rabbit look like?
Signs of stress may include: appearing nervous (freezing, hunched up with ears flat against the body) being excessively jumpy and watchful (bulging eyes) being aggressive to people or other rabbits, particularly if the behaviour is unusual.
What does a angry bunny look like?
Rabbits will try to make themselves look larger and more threatening by sitting up on their back legs and raising their front paws in a ‘boxing’ motion. Other signs of an angry rabbit include ears that are pointed upwards and facing outwards, bared teeth and making threatening noises such as growling.