7 (more) Fun DIY Toys for Your Rabbit

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Looking for new ways to keep your pet rabbit engaged and entertained? Homemade cardboard toys allow you to spark their natural curiosity on a budget! In this article, we’ll walk through 7 imaginative DIY projects that transform simple boxes into tunnels, castles, hurdles, and more for your bunny. With just basic craft supplies like cardboard, scissors, glue and paint, you can build an endless array of toys that appeal to your rabbit’s burrowing, foraging, and jumping instincts. Follow our creative instructions to make playtime more exciting for your rabbit. These fun crafts will get your rabbit hopping with joy while strengthening your bond. Let’s get started on some DIY cardboard fun!

Woven cardboard mat

Items you need

  • Cardboard (cereal boxes or shipping boxes work well)
  • Scissors
  • A pen or pencil
  • Glue (hot glue gun or craft glue)

Instructions

Making a woven cardboard mat for your rabbit is an easy DIY project that provides hours of entertainment. Follow these steps:

  1. Gather your cardboard and cut it into long strips that are 1-2 inches wide. The length can vary.

  2. Take two strips and make a loop with one. Thread the other strip halfway through the loop.

  3. Pull the strip through and tighten to secure it. Make sure the strips are tightly woven so they don't come apart easily.

  4. Continue looping strips through each other, alternating the side you start the loop on to get a woven pattern.

  5. Once your mat reaches the desired size, use glue to secure the final loops in place.

  6. Use your pencil or pen to decorate the mat with fun designs if desired.

  7. Place the mat in your rabbit's play area and watch them hop around on it! The texture gives them something interesting to explore.

This mat is great for protecting your floors from bunny toys and providing traction for binkies. Change up the shape for variety – try making a circle, square, or other fun forms. Let your creativity run wild!

Rabbit pop up tunnel

Items you need:

  • Empty cardboard tubes (from paper towels, gift wrap, etc)
  • Cardboard cereal or food boxes
  • Scissors
  • Craft glue or hot glue gun
  • Decorations (construction paper, wrapping paper, ribbons, etc)

Instructions:

Rabbit tunnels provide hours of burrowing fun for bunnies. Follow these steps to make a pop up tunnel your rabbit will love:

  1. Gather empty cardboard tubes and cut them to various heights between 6-12 inches. The variety will make the tunnel more interesting.

  2. Cut holes in your cardboard boxes just large enough for the tubes to fit through. Space the holes a few inches apart.

  3. Decorate the tubes and boxes with construction paper, wrapping paper or other materials using glue. Get creative!

  4. Insert the tubes through the holes in the boxes. You can glue them in place but don't have to.

  5. Arrange the "tunnel" pieces as desired, connecting them with the tubes. Prop up the boxes with tubes to create height and levels.

  6. Encourage your bunny to hop through the tunnel. Watch them pop in and out of holes for a cute photo op!

  7. Reassemble the tunnel pieces into new shapes periodically to keep it exciting. Add ribbons, paper chains or other dangly items to incorporate new textures.

This tunnel is a fun way to spark your rabbit's natural burrowing instinct. Supervise playtime to ensure they don't chew and ingest any cardboard pieces.

The rabbit barbell

Items you need:

  • Empty toilet paper rolls
  • Pen or marker
  • Scissors
  • Hay or dried herbs

Instructions:

Bunny barbells are a creative way to enrich your rabbit with a fun DIY toy. Follow these easy steps:

  1. Take two empty toilet paper rolls and draw lines dividing them into thirds lengthwise with your pen or marker.

  2. Cut along the drawn lines to divide the rolls into thirds. You should have six pieces.

  3. Take two pieces and slide one inside the other to create a hollow tube. Repeat with two more pieces to make a second tube.

  4. Fill the hollow tubes with hay or dried herbs, then cap the ends off with the remaining roll pieces.

  5. Let your rabbit nibble and toss the barbells around! The hay inside provides tastiness to encourage play.

  6. Monitor your bunny to ensure they don't try to consume the cardboard rolls. Remove pieces if they start shredding.

These barbells engage your pet's natural foraging instincts. The hay-filled tubes are light enough for them to pick up and toss for a fun workout. Rotate new herbs and hays to keep the novelty factor high. Get creative with decorating the rolls too!

Treat bridge

Items you need:

  • Two paper or cardboard food boxes (with lids)
  • Scissors
  • Rabbit-safe treats (hay, dried fruit, veggies)

Instructions:

  1. Take your empty cardboard food boxes and use scissors to cut an arch shape in two of the sides, cutting about 2 inches down from the top.

  2. Flip the boxes over so the arches are on the bottom. Place them side by side a few inches apart.

  3. Sprinkle or place treats inside one of the boxes. Your rabbit will have to stand up inside the first box to access the treats.

  4. As they move forward to reach the treats, the second box will catch them and prevent falling.

  5. Let your bunny nibble their treat as a reward! Readjust the boxes periodically to realign the arches.

  6. For added fun, wrap treats in paper or hide them under cups to incorporate foraging. Switch up treat types for variety.

This treat bridge puts your pet's natural treat-seeking instincts to work. The unstable cardboard boxes require balance and coordination to master. Supervise use until your rabbit gets the hang of it.

Cardboard flowers

Items you need:

  • Cardboard (cereal boxes or food packaging)
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Acrylic paint & paintbrushes (optional)

Instructions:

Decorate your rabbit's space with homemade cardboard flowers. Here's how:

  1. Cut circles out of cardboard in varying sizes – these will be the flower "petals." You can trace around jars or bowls for uniform shapes.

  2. Cut cardboard strips to use as the flower "stems." Paint the stems green for an authentic touch.

  3. Stack and glue 3-5 petals together, rotating each layer slightly to offset the edges. Repeat for each flower.

  4. Glue or tape the stems onto the petal circles. Let dry completely if using glue.

  5. Paint the flower petals different colors if desired. Let dry. Apply dots for centers or glue small pom poms on instead.

  6. Arrange into a bouquet and place in your rabbit's area. Monitor so they don't eat the faux flowers.

These cheerful flowers encourage natural foraging behaviors. Scatter loose petals for your bunny to pick up and toss around. Spice it up by hiding small snacks within the flower layers for discovery. Have fun crafting!

A rabbit jumping hurdle

Items you need:

  • Small cardboard box
  • Scissors
  • Non-toxic paint or markers (optional)

Instructions:

Rabbits love leaping over obstacles in their way. Set up a homemade jumping hurdle with these steps:

  1. Take a small cardboard box and flatten it out. Measure and cut a rectangle about 6 inches wide and 4 inches tall.

  2. Cut an arch shape out of the rectangle, making it about 2-3 inches wide. This will be the hurdle space.

  3. Decorate the hurdle with paint, markers or stickers if desired. Let dry completely.

  4. Set the hurdle arch up on its side on the floor of your rabbit's pen.

  5. Encourage your bunny to hop back and forth over the hurdle. Reward with a treat for motivation.

  6. Start with a low height and increase it gradually as they master the jump. Add a second hurdle for more challenge.

  7. Monitor use – remove if your rabbit tries chewing or tearing it. Place hay or toys on the other side to entice hopping.

Jumping obstacles provide healthy physical and mental exercise for rabbits. Get creative by cutting hurdles out of cardboard in different shapes for variety.

Rabbit castle

Items you need:

  • Large cardboard box
  • Scissors or box cutter
  • Tape or glue
  • Decorations (construction paper, stickers, ribbon, etc)

Instructions:

Unleash your inner architect and build a cardboard castle for your bunny! Follow these steps:

  1. Take a large cardboard box and use scissors or a box cutter to cut doors, windows, ramps, and other features. Cut turrets and crenellations along the top for a castle silhouette.

  2. Use tape or glue to attach and secure the cutout shapes. For stability, make sure there is at least 2 inches of overlap where pieces connect.

  3. Decorate the castle with construction paper cut into shapes and designs. Add stickers, ribbon, or other embellishments.

  4. Place the castle in your rabbit's space and let them explore! They can tunnel through the windows or doors and perch atop the ramps.

  5. To expand the castle, connect additional boxes with cutout archways. Just make sure it doesn't collapse.

  6. Monitor your bunny while playing on their new castle. Remove immediately if chewing starts.

Let your rabbit's imagination run wild with this cardboard castle! Switch up the theme over time – try making a cottage, house, or spaceship. The possibilities are endless for creative fun.

Conclusion

Homemade cardboard toys are a budget-friendly way to enrich your rabbit's environment. Choose non-toxic paints and supervise playtime to ensure your bunny doesn't ingest any pieces. Rotate new DIY toys regularly to stimulate natural behaviors. Most importantly, have fun crafting as you bond with your pet! With a little creativity, ordinary cardboard boxes become engaging toys that provide hours of enjoyment.

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