Busy working people can sometimes feel that they don’t get to spend enough time with their animals, and pet rabbits can suffer from boredom, just like any other animal. Rabbits are social creatures and benefit from lots of interaction, but for those times when owners are at work or are simply too busy, other options for rabbit enrichment can include rabbit toys and other rabbits for company.
Housing Rabbits Together
Rabbits are social and enjoy human company immensely as long as rabbits are handled correctly. Rabbits also enjoy the company of other rabbits. When thinking of housing rabbits together it is important to consider the sex of the rabbits.
- Two male rabbits will often fight
- Two females may get along until one of them comes into season, in which case she may then exert her dominance over the other rabbit
- A male and female rabbit can be housed together as long as one or both of them are neutered/spayed to prevent unwanted litters.
Rabbit Toys
Rabbit toys should be provided and these can be twigs or branches for chewing, untreated wicker baskets or tunnels for hiding and playing in, cat toys such as rubber balls, and hanging bird toys. It is important to inspect these toys for small parts that could come off or be chewed off, such as bells, because ingestion of these things could cause obstructions. Ensure the rabbit doesn’t chew on the plastic or rubber toys. If he does, the toy should be removed and replaced with one he shows no interest in eating.
Other Enrichment for Rabbits
Pet rabbits should also be allowed to have ‘free-range’ time where they can run and play on the grass in the backyard. Ideally, they should have time out of their rabbit hutch to stretch and play on a daily basis. This should be under supervision so that the rabbit cannot escape through a gap in the fence or by digging, and so that other family pets (cats, dogs) cannot attack them. it should also be at times when mosquitoes aren't active.
Pet rabbits with long coats should be brushed daily to prevent hairballs, however this time can be a part of the enrichment for rabbits so brush short-coated rabbits too. Basically owners should try spending as much time as possible with their pet rabbit. Because rabbits are often outside living in hutches, their presence is not as obvious as a dog or cats so they can often be forgotten.
For more information on basic rabbit health, read Rabbits as Pets, which discusses rabbit hutches and feeding your rabbit, Fatal Rabbit Diseases and Common Rabbit Illnesses.
Roberta Goli - Roberta has a Bachelor of Science Degree (Zoology), has worked with animals for over 10 years and enjoys writing short stories and flash ...
