If you think rabbits are boring animals who just sit in the corner of a cage, you probably haven’t seen a rabbit at play. Rabbits can be playful, curious, and silly when let out of their enclosures to socialize and interact with their environment. Rabbits need playtime as much as they need food and shelter. It’s the dog days of summer, but don’t let your buns get too lazy. Rabbits are routine-oriented and social animals that like to have a job to do, even if it’s just having fun! Toys and games keep rabbits interacting with their environment, challenging them and stimulating their minds. Play builds confidence for your rabbit and helps strengthen your bond. Toys also provide an opportunity for physical exercise such as climbing and hopping, which keeps rabbits fit and healthy. Most house rabbit behavior is based on natural instincts inherited from their wild cousins, such as chewing and digging. Here are a few simple and inexpensive ways to make your own toys and games, and keep your bunny happy all summer long: • Chewing: Fill untreated willow baskets filled with hay. Inexpensive baskets can be found at craft stores or garage sales. Save any cardboard or paperboard such as the inner rolls of toilet paper or paper towels for your rabbit to chew, or stuff them with hay. • Digging: Fill a cardboard box with hay, newspaper, or towels, or layers of each, and let them dig through it. Throw in an old phone book and see what happens. • Jumping: Provide a simple ramp from the floor to a sturdy box, or connecting pieces of furniture. Many rabbits enjoy kitty condos that have stairs or ramps and windows from which to survey their kingdom. Even the staircase in your house can be a source of play when you interact with your rabbits. • Catch & fetch: Gently toss a lightweight toy to bunny that he can hold with his teeth (ball, plastic baby toys, cardboard tube). Often bunny will toss it back! • Tug of war: Some rabbits playfully tug on knotted towels, blankets, or thick ribbons. Dangle the item in front of bunny to see what he does. • Maze navigation: Create a maze from cardboard and leave treats for bunny to find as he moves through the maze. You can purchase willow tunnels or pick up some cardboard concrete forms at the hardware store. Of course, the best toy a rabbit could ask for is you! Get involved with your bunny by getting down on the floor at their level. You’ll find that rabbits have a delightful sense of humor and thoroughly enjoy playtime.
