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.
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