Toys For Rabbit

By: Sarah Giers


Just like a dog, a cat, or a child, rabbits love to play. They need mental, physical, and social stimulation just like any other pet does. A rabbit cooped up in a cage all the time with nothing to do is a bored rabbit. Some breeds in particular are apt to get bored. These include Tans, Checkered Giants, and Britannia Petites, among others.

Toys keep your rabbit from being bored, and they also keep its mind sharp. Toys that make your rabbit think are the best. Some parrot toys are exellent becausethey are designed to keep a parrot thinking, which keeps it from being bored.
Toys keep a rabbit active, which in turn keeps it in good physical condition. This promotes health and vigor which can lead to a longer lifespan foryour bunny.

If you use toys to play with your bunny, your bunny will associate fun with you. This will cause it to bond more closely with you. Try rolling a ball toward it and watch how it will curiously approach the ball.

When choosing a toy, make sure that there are no chemically treated pieces that could harm your bunny. Avoid painted toys as they may be toxic. Dye is okay so long as it is natural dye such a food colouring. Anything safe for parrots is usually safe for rabbits. Rabbits love to chew, so blocks of wood are great. String a bell to the top of the cage, and your bunny may soon be reaching up to ring it with its nose. Experiment and see what your rabbit likes. Every rabbit, like every human, has its own preferences.

Rabbits also love to play games without toys. I have had rabbits who learned how to play tag. I would get down on my hands and knees and crawl after them. They would run, and when I tagged them, they knew they were "it." They would then come chasing after me until they tagged me. Rabbits are also good at hide-and-seek. They love to hide and be found. Just make sure to keep track of where your rabbit is so that it does not hide too well and get lost!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Breeder and exhibitor of show rabbits for 11 years, member of the American Rabbit Breeders Association, and fan of all animals.

The Field Guide to Rabbits

"The Field Guide to Rabbits" is by no means a comprehensive book on rabbits - what it does do well is profiling the various breeds with full-color pictures that are representative of each breed. The book is divided into chapters that deal with "Bunny Basics", i.e. fur varieties, shapes and sizes, a chapter that focuses on coloring, bunny behavior which is deficient in my opinion as it is not comprehensive, and tips for professionally showing bunnies, as well as a comprehensive chapter on breed profiles. If you're a beginner rabbit owner who is looking for tips on how to handle and care for your bunny, you are better off looking up resources on the internet or other guides. But, if you'd like to see all the different breeds of bunnies then this is quite a nice guide with color pictures of various breeds, displayed in all their furry cuteness!--z hayes

Stories Rabbits Tell: A Natural and Cultural History of a Misunderstood Creature

The rabbit has been domesticated for roughly 1,500 years, but until fairly recently they were not kept as house pets; the traditional pet rabbit was caged in a hutch outdoors. The rise of "house rabbits" that live uncaged indoors and the dearth of books written about rabbit behavior led Davis and DeMello to create a book that explores the roots and nuances of rabbit behavior to increase our understanding and appreciation of the species. Whether exploring our schizophrenic approach to rabbits (Are they pets, pests, or a profitable farm animal?), portraying the complex lives of wild rabbits and the corresponding behaviors of their tame brethren, discussing the roles rabbits have played in folklore and religion, or describing the commercial uses for rabbits, the authors reveal a fascinating depth of information. Enlivened by a broad range of quotations from such sources as poets, scientists, and animal-rights activists; illustrated with period and modern photographs; and heavily footnoted, this is currently the best book to offer readers who want to know more about their pet rabbits. Nancy Bent Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

The Rabbit Handbook

Advice on care of rabbits covers caging, correct feeding, spaying and neutering, litter training, health care, which includes warm-weather concerns, and much more. Barron's popular and highly detailed series of Pet Handbooks are written for dedicated pet owners seeking comprehensive information on the care of their chosen pets. Titles in the series cover a wide range of animals and breeds. These books present advice on finding a reliable breeder or seller, information on the animal's origins and traits, and detailed recommendations regarding dietary needs, housing, and health care, as well as all other major aspects related to keeping a healthy and thriving pet. Barron's Pet Handbooks are filled with color photos, and many titles include line art and at-a-glance sidebar information. See more