Believe it or not, your pet rabbit can do so much more than sit in a cage and eat carrots! Rabbits are incredibly smart, playful animals that need stimulation and exercise. With a little creativity, you can enrich your rabbit’s life in unexpected ways using common household objects. In this article, we reveal 10 clever bunny life hacks that will keep your rabbit active and engaged using things you already have around your home. From letting your rabbit safely chew on masking tape to creating foraging activities with egg cartons, these simple tricks will give your bunny the happy, healthy life they deserve! Read on to learn insider tips to delight and entertain your rabbit using unusual solutions you likely never thought of before!
The special daily treat
Giving your rabbit a special treat every day is a great way to bond with them and make them happy. Here are some ideas for healthy, low-calorie treats you can give your bunny daily:
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A small piece of banana. Bananas are packed with nutrients like potassium and vitamin C. Just a bite-sized piece is a great treat.
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A sprig of parsley or cilantro. Rabbits love fresh herbs! Parsley and cilantro are safe for daily feeding.
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A slice of apple. A thin slice of apple is sweet and delicious. Apples contain fiber and vitamin C.
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One grape or cherry tomato. These juicy fruits make a fun treat! Just give one so the sugars don't overwhelm your bunny's diet.
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A tablespoon of chopped carrots. Carrots are tasty and full of vitamin A. Moderation is key, so a small daily serving is perfect.
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A piece of watermelon rind. The rind is a healthy, low-cal treat. Offer a 1 inch square.
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One plain cheerio. This whole grain oat cereal makes a nice crunchy treat. Avoid sugary cereals.
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A sprig of fresh mint. Mint is bursting with fresh flavor and safe for rabbits to eat.
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A leaf of romaine lettuce. Romaine contains vitamins A and C for a nutritious treat.
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A raspberry or blackberry. These fruits are small, so one makes a great treat. High in antioxidants!
Giving your rabbit a varied diet is important, so mix up the daily treats. Your bunny will eagerly await their special snack!
DIY pet-safe all purpose cleaner
Keeping your rabbit's habitat clean is important for their health. Store-bought cleaners often contain chemicals that are not safe for rabbits when ingested. Making your own all natural, pet-safe cleaner is easy. Here is a simple recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup white vinegar
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- Optional: 5-10 drops of essential oil such as lavender, lemon or tea tree
Method:
- Mix the baking soda and vinegar in a spray bottle. The mixture will fizz and bubble. Once settled, it is ready to use.
- Add several drops of essential oil for a fresh scent if desired. Be cautious with oils, as some can be unsafe for rabbits if consumed.
- Use the mixture to spray down litter boxes, wipe surfaces, clean water bottles or bowls. The vinegar disinfects while the baking soda deodorizes.
- Rinse thoroughly after letting sit for several minutes to avoid residue.
Vinegar and baking soda make an effective cleaner without any harsh chemicals. This DIY cleaner is budget friendly and made from ingredients you likely already have at home. Avoid using near your rabbit until surfaces are dry so they do not ingest any. With this all natural cleaner, you can safely scrub your rabbit's habitat.
Grow rabbit grass
Fresh grass is a healthy, natural treat for pet rabbits. Buying bundles of grass from the store can get expensive. A fun project is growing your own grass for your bunny to munch on. Here is how:
Supplies needed:
- Shallow tray or box, like a brownie pan
- Potting soil
- Grass seeds or wheatgrass/oat seeds
- Water mister bottle
Steps:
- Fill the shallow pan with a layer of potting soil about 1-2 inches deep. Smooth and press down lightly.
- Sprinkle grass seeds evenly across the top. You want the seeds close together but not overcrowded.
- Use the spray bottle to mist the soil until moist. Do not saturate completely.
- Place the pan in a spot that gets lots of sun. Mist the soil daily to keep moist.
In 3-5 days, sprouts will begin emerging. Once the grass reaches 3-4 inches, it’s ready for harvesting!
Use scissors to cut the grass close to the soil level. Rinse and pat dry. Place the grass in your rabbit's habitat for them to munch on. Re-moisten and the grass will continue growing for additional harvests.
Growing rabbit grass saves money and gives your bunny delicious, home-grown greens!
Reuse an egg carton
Don't throw out your cardboard egg cartons! These often discarded items can be repurposed in clever ways for your pet rabbit:
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Use as a feeding dish. The individual cups keep foods from mixing together. They are perfect for giving your rabbit pellets, snacks, or portions of veggies.
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Make a fun toy by stuffing an egg cup with hay. Your rabbit will have a blast pulling the hay out to play.
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Use cups to hold treats and hang inside your rabbit's habitat. Poke holes in the bottom of the cups and thread string through to hang. This creates a fun foraging activity!
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Individual egg cups are great for distributing daily portions of fresh greens like cilantro or parsley.
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Fill cups with homemade or store-bought rabbit treats. The carton becomes a perfect take-along snack pack.
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Stack inverted egg cups inside your rabbit's litter box to make clean up easier. Urine and waste fall beneath the cups instead of sticking to the plastic.
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Scatter egg cartons filled with hay around your rabbit's play area to inspire foraging behaviors.
Don't throw out old egg cartons! With a little creativity, you can reuse them in many ways that are both eco-friendly and enriching for your pet rabbit.
Use masking tape on baseboards
Rabbits love to chew, and that often includes chewing baseboards or furniture. Instead of trying to deter this natural behavior, embrace it! Here’s how:
Cover baseboards with strips of masking tape. The paper tape provides a safer chewing surface compared to wood and paint. The adhesive and paper give your rabbit something satisfying to gnaw on.
Place masking tape vertically along baseboards so your rabbit can easily stand up and chew. You can also apply tape on the legs of furniture, edges of doorways or any other tempting hot spots.
Swap the tape out periodically, when it becomes tattered. Your rabbit gets an approved outlet for their chewing urge and your home stays intact!
An alternative is affixing untreated wood boards over baseboards for a DIY rabbit chewing station. Base molding from hardware stores, attached with adhesive strips, creates a removable cover to velcro over areas you wish to protect.
With a little creative thinking, you can redirect your energetic rabbit’s chewing habits in ways that are safe. Masking tape and removable boards are easy, inexpensive solutions. By giving your pet appropriate outlets, you can curb destruction around your home. Both you and your rabbit will be happier!
Use command hooks to rabbit proof
Pet rabbits are naturally curious and love exploring their environment. This leads them to get into all sorts of mischief! Block off tempting areas using common command hooks.
Look for out of reach spots your rabbit tries accessing – under tables, behind furniture, inside open shelves or dressers. Affix command hooks in these zones to hang curtains of cord or ribbon your rabbit cannot pass through.
You can also use command hooks or strips to securely adhere carpets, cardboard or wood to cover vulnerable surfaces. For example, protect carpet on stairs, conceal electrical cords along baseboards, block underneath doors or cover the backs of sofas.
Using removable command products allows you to easily install temporary barriers and perches to steer your rabbit away from problem zones. When attached to wood, drywall or other solid surfaces, the hooks and clips securely support lightweight barriers.
Some ideas for improvised curtains:
- Ribbon, twine or cord
- Tablecloth or fabric remnants
- Shower curtain liners
- Paper streamers
For protected surfaces:
- Carpet remnants
- Cardboard panels
- Thin acrylic sheets
- Wicker or plastic mats
With a package of versatile command hooks, the possibilities are endless for effectively rabbit proofing on a budget. Keep your rabbit safe and your home intact using these adhesive hooks to creatively block and shield areas.
Use an air purifier to control strong smells
Even a clean rabbit habitat can build up odors from urine, droppings, and litter boxes. This ammonia smell can become overpowering in a small room. Placing an air purifier nearby can help significantly reduce those strong rabbit aromas.
Look for a purifier designed to eliminate pet odors. Many models have settings specifically for removing ammonia and neutralizing urine smells.
Choose an air purifier sized appropriately for the room. Make sure it circulates enough air volume to effectively clean the space at least 2-3 times per hour.
Position the purifier near your rabbit's housing. Place it on the floor or raised on a stand optimized for air flow. Run it continuously to prevent odors from accumulating.
Look for key features like a pre-filter to capture rabbit dander and hair, a HEPA filter to remove allergens, and activated carbon to absorb gases and smells.
Maintain the purifier with regular filter replacements. Over time, hair and debris will render the filters ineffective. Changing them is essential for optimal function.
Investing in an air purifier specially designed for pet odors can make a huge difference in the smell and air quality around your rabbit. They provide constant circulation to trap irritants, dander, and smelly compounds. With a powerful purifier in action, your home stays fresh!
Give your rabbit multiple types of hay
Feeding a variety of grass hays gives your rabbit diverse nutrition and keeps their interest at mealtime. Rotate different hays to provide a flavorful blend of nutrients.
Timothy hay is a staple that provides fiber and supports healthy digestion. Introduce other grass hays like oat, brome, Bermuda, and orchard grass. These offer more protein and calcium than timothy.
Alfalfa hay is higher in calories, protein, and calcium than grass hays. It’s ideal for young, pregnant, or underweight rabbits. Feed alfalfa hay in moderation for adults.
Experiment with hay blends that combine several grass and legume hays like timothy, oat, and alfalfa. The Assorted Hay Blend from Small Pet Select is a great option.
There are also herb hay blends made with additions like dandelion, plantain, and chamomile. These provide extra vitamins and minerals from edible flowers and herbs.
Make a variety of hays available in different areas around your rabbit’s habitat. Place some in litter boxes, hide it in cardboard tubes, and stuff it in toys. This will satisfy your rabbit’s natural foraging instincts.
Rotate hays to keep nutrients balanced and appeal to your rabbit’s selective tastes. With a diverse hay diet, your bunny will get the nutritional variety they crave.
Groom your rabbit with a lint roller
Rabbits are fastidious groomers, but sometimes need a little help keeping their coats tidy. Using a sticky lint roller is an easy way to groom your rabbit and remove loose hair.
Choose a roller with strong, corrugated adhesive. Lightly press and roll it across your rabbit’s body like you would lint on clothing. Apply more pressure for thicker areas around the haunches and hindquarters.
Work slowly and methodically. Make long, gentle strokes following the direction of hair growth. Give your rabbit time to get comfortable and offer treats for cooperation.
Focus on areas your rabbit can't easily reach to groom themselves. Their lower back, hind legs, torso and dewlap are common problem spots.
Regular lint rolling removes dirt, dander and loose fur. It helps prevent matting in fluffy coats and cuts down shedding around your home.
Always supervise this activity and never forcefully restrain your rabbit. Stop immediately if they seem stressed or anxious. Proper conditioning makes this a relaxing experience.
With routine lint roller grooming, you can minimize shedding and give a helping hand to your well-groomed rabbit. It's a bonding activity that removes fuzz and stimulates natural oil production in their skin.
Keep baby gas drops around
Rabbits are susceptible to gastrointestinal gas, which causes uncomfortable bloating. Keeping baby gas relief drops on hand provides fast relief when needed.
These over-the-counter drops contain simethicone, an anti-foaming agent that breaks up gas bubbles in the gut. The active ingredient is completely safe for adult rabbits.
Look for infant gas relief drops without any added ingredients. A popular brand is Mylicon drops which contain only simethicone. Administer 1/4 cc dose.
If your rabbit is repeatedly struggling with gas, keep these drops stocked in your first aid kit. They provide immediate relief while you identify the underlying dietary cause.
Signs of gas include lethargy, teeth grinding, abdomen distension or pressing belly against floor. Gas can also cause stasis, a dangerous slowing of the gut.
Catching the issue early and using gas drops can help alleviate discomfort fast. Eliminate gas-causing foods and see your vet if stasis persists beyond 12 hours.
With a simple infant product already in your medicine cabinet, you can promptly treat gas symptoms and get your bunny bouncing around again comfortably.
Bonus: Use a pet playpen instead of a rabbit cage
A traditional rabbit cage often provides limited space and stimulation. An affordable alternative housing solution is using an adjustable pet playpen.
Pet playpens consist of modular fence panels that connect to create custom sizes and shapes. They are typically made from lightweight metal with see-through mesh walls.
Set up a spacious rectangle to serve as your rabbit’s primary living quarters. Place food, water, litter boxes, toys and hides inside. You control the exact dimensions to fit your available space.
The playpen attaches and detaches easily using simple clamps so you can adjust the layout over time. Expand with add-on panels or move it between rooms.
During supervised playtime, rearrange panels to section off a portion of the room. Your rabbit is safely contained while getting a change of scene.
A playpen floor scattered with timothy hay allows natural foraging, digging and burrowing behaviors. Top with cardboard or fleece for comfort.
At clean-up time, simply lift the panels and sweep away stray hay and waste. The cordless flexibility makes cleaning and rearranging a breeze.
Pet playpens provide spacious, enriching rabbit housing at a fraction of the cost of traditional hutches. Your clever bunny will thrill at the fun of ever-changing scenery and space to explore using this cage-free setup!