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It's a myth that rabbits are docile and dumb. Just like any other pet, bunnies are individuals with their own personalities, forms of expression, and emotional intelligence. And just like any other pet, rabbits need outlets for exercise and mental stimulation in order to keep them happy and healthy. Activities like chewing, hiding, and climbing are important to a rabbit's health and well-being.
We consulted four experts to come up with the 10 best bunny toys for keeping boredom at bay in pet rabbits. The types of toys on our list tap into a bunny's natural instincts to chew, dig, forage, toss, hide, and jump. Although not every rabbit enjoys engaging in all six activities, there's something here for every-bunny.
The woven Oxbow Enriched Life Play Wall is hung with a variety of textures, shapes, and flavors for satisfying chewing.
Rabbits are driven to chew partly because it's essential to keeping their ever-growing teeth healthy and partly because it's a fun way to pass the time. While the back teeth are primarily maintained by providing a bunny with the proper nutrition, chewable toys made from branches, cardboard, untreated wood, and other natural materials help keep the front teeth in check. Individual rabbits are likely to have their own texture and taste preferences.
The Oxbow Enriched Life Play Wall is a chewable smorgasbord that combines a wide variety of rabbit-safe materials anchored to a woven seagrass mat. A mix of untreated pine, untreated guger tree wood, sisal, rattan, bulrush, corn leaf, loofa, and raffia paper line the toy's two hanging strands. Rabbits can nibble on the seagrass mat too. Wedge its wooden pegs between the bars of a kennel or exercise pen to keep the play wall securely pinned and easily accessible.
Best rabbit balls
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The seagrass, water hyacinth, and rattan Niteangel Trio of Fun Balls are a blast to roll and chew, especially when packed with hay.
Lightweight balls made from natural materials like willow or seagrass can satisfy both a rabbit's desire to play and their instinct to chew. Playful bunnies will nudge and roll balls for entertainment and some even grasp the concept of fetch, said Chris Ratches, Bunny House team lead at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. Balls with a loose weave can be stuffed with grass or hay to encourage healthy chewing and even the balls themselves make for good nibbling.
Each of Niteangel's Trio of Fun Balls are made from a different natural material — seagrass, water hyacinth, and rattan — each with its own density, texture, and scent. At less than an ounce each, they're lightweight enough for rolling and tossing. Because the balls do not contain glue, plastic, or metal materials that can make a rabbit sick or cause intestinal blockages, they are also safe to chew and easy to digest. The seagrass ball, which has the widest weave of the three, can be stuffed with tasty treats or hay for additional enrichment.
While puzzle boards made from plastic or wood are a great tool for supervised mental stimulation, a foraging mat made from natural materials can provide a bunny with similar enrichment without the risk that aggressive chewing will lead to intestinal blockages. An ideal foraging mat doesn't just conceal food pellets or treats within its fibers, those fibers should be edible, too.
Made from tufts of timothy hay knotted to a flat woven mat of the same material, the Oxbow Hide and Seek Mat is 18.5 by 11.5 inches of foraging fun. Together, the dozens of tightly packed bunches form a sea of 3-inch-high hay, and you can slip tasty snacks, like bits of fresh vegetables and freeze-dried fruits, between them. Even without added treats, this foraging mat provides satisfying chewing and a rabbit can dig at its woven base for additional stimulation. With the Hide and Seek Mat there are no chemicals, wire, string, or glue to get in the way of a good time.
An activity table is a chew toy, climbing toy, and hideaway in one enriching package. This toy should be tall enough to allow a bunny to crouch underneath but low enough for them to easily jump on top for a bird's-eye view of their territory. It should also be made from sturdy bunny-safe wood and hung with materials for chewing.
To provide an outlet for all of these natural behaviors, Marcy Berman, founder of the rabbit rescue organization SaveABunny in Mill Valley, California, likes the Happy Rabbit Toys Activity Zone. At just under a foot tall, this 12-by-16-inch table is hung with two long strands of sisal rope beaded with untreated blocks made from a combination of safe kiln-dried pine, maple, birch, beech, and bark-free oak. Additional sisal strands on either end of the table dangle at just the right height for easy chomping. Rabbits up to 8 pounds will fit comfortably under and on top of the table. For larger bunnies up to 20 pounds, try the XL Activity Zone.
Wild rabbits dig extensive underground burrows, and some domesticated bunnies are keen on the behavior as well, said Hilary Stern, DVM, a veterinarian at Animal Hospital of Soquel in Santa Cruz, California. Diggers will paddle their front paws and claws on surfaces like woven grass mats to satisfy the instinct, but filling a box with shredded paper and hay can be even more satisfying. We recommend materials like newspaper and toilet paper rolls. Never use sand in a digging box because it can cause intestinal blockages in rabbits.
The 15-by-13-inch All Kind Step-In Scratcher is large enough to hold both a scratching, digging rabbit and plenty of shredded material like Oxbow Timothy and Orchard Hay. With 4.5-inch sides, the scratcher is tall enough to prevent too much of the material from escaping during play while cutouts on two of the sides allow a rabbit to easily hop inside with minimal effort. Best of all, even when this DIY digging box is empty, its layered cardboard interior will still satisfy a bunny's drive to dig and chew.
For a good tossing toy, our experts recommend everything from Wiffle balls and canning lid rings to parrot toys. But all agreed that some of the best options come from an unlikely source: babies. "Hard plastic baby toys and rattles are a favorite," said Ratches
One of Berman's favorite options is The First Years First Keys. Weighing less than a quarter of a pound, this heavy-duty set features five keys strung on a plastic ring that is easy for a bunny to toss. Each key is a different color and shape and can be easily removed from the ring. And while the hard, durable plastic isn't completely impenetrable, it's sturdy enough to prevent even the most zealous chewers from breaking off bits they could then swallow. Even so, supervision is always advisable when bunnies play with nondigestible toys.
Best bunny hideaway
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The chewable Willow Tent is a safe place for bunnies to snuggle up for a nap or have a private chew session.
As a prey animal that is genetically driven to hide from predators, rabbits should be provided with one or more private hideaways all their own. "Having somewhere that they feel safe and can actually hide visually from other people and other pets, where they can just relax and sleep, is super important for their psychological well-being," said Stern. But because bunnies also may be inclined to chew while hiding, indigestible polyester, plastic, and other synthetic materials can do more harm than good by dangerously blocking a rabbit's intestinal tract if swallowed.
A simple upside-down cardboard box is a good solution to a bunny hideaway because they pose no danger if the rabbit chews and swallows the material, Stern said. But for a hideaway they'll really love, Berman recommends a Willow Tent. Woven from natural, untreated willow tree branches, the tent combines a bunny chewing favorite with the cozy privacy of a burrow. The V-shaped tent is approximately 14 inches tall, 15 inches wide, and 17.5 inches long. It can be hung inside and outside with additional chew toys for extra stimulation.
Best rabbit climbing toy
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The three-level cardboard Cottontail Cottage has multiple ways to hop inside and ramps for climbing from one floor to the next.
Some bunnies like to hop up onto objects to get a look around. But while young, healthy rabbits have no trouble jumping onto household furniture like beds and couches, older bunnies may prefer to use a ramp to get from floor level to a higher elevation. A good rabbit climbing toy is one that has options for both ability levels.
A cardboard box on steroids, the Cottontail Cottage is ideal for bunnies of all abilities. The 2-foot-tall bunny-sized manor decorated with quaint graphics has three levels, cutout entrances on the lower levels, and a roof deck on top. The two upper floors are made from double-walled cardboard for extra stability. Ramps connect the first floor to the second and the second floor to the roof. Perforated foldout doors and windows can be removed for agile bunnies that prefer to launch themselves straight to the second floor. At 20 inches wide by 20 inches long, this toy is recommended for rabbits up to 9 pounds and supervision is advised.
Foraging puzzles engage a rabbit's brain through their stomach. To access food in hidden compartments, a bunny must put their genetically wired problem-solving skills to good use. It's not just a way for rabbits to chow down; the work they put in to find their goodies is plenty of fun, too, Berman told Insider Reviews.
Living World's Teach N Treat Toy is made specifically for providing mental stimulation to small animals like rabbits. Small pieces of food fit within eight shallow cups arranged in a square at the center of the 10-by-10-inch puzzle board. To get to them, a bunny has to nudge or lift the covers that keep them hidden. There are three levels of difficulty to excite both beginning and advanced players. This puzzle is made from plastic, a material that rabbits can neither digest nor regurgitate, so it should only be used under strict supervision.
Best rabbit food toy
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The Petsafe Egg-Cersizer engages a rabbit's body and mind while feeding their belly.
While rolling puzzle toys are most commonly used for dog and cat enrichment, bunnies get a kick out of them, too, said Angie Green, founder of Special Bunny, a rabbit rescue organization in Carnation, Washington. When filled with food pellets, these hollow balls take the place of a standard food dish. Instead of just walking up to a trough and munching as they please, the bunny must use a bit of brain power to roll the ball and release their meal one bite at a time.
We've tested a number of rolling puzzle toys made for cats and our favorite, the Petsafe Egg-Cersizer, also fits the bill for bunnies. Made from lightweight but durable plastic, this egg-shaped toy is small enough for a rabbit to roll with ease, and its smooth exterior has no bits or bumps to chew or swallow. The Egg-Cersizer unscrews in two halves for easy filling, and an adjustable dial at the top blocks one or more of the three holes out of which morsels of food tumble for an extra challenge. The whole thing is dishwasher-safe and holds 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food.
Best DIY rabbit toys
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How to create an enriching rabbit environment
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Toys are important to a rabbit's mental and physical health, but they are just one of a handful of essentials a bunny needs for an enriched life. To create an ideal bunny environment, our experts recommend the following:
Bunny-proofing a well-lit, well-ventilated room (or the whole home) to create a rabbit den that the family will use regularly. "The bigger the space, the better for the bunny," said Green. "Since they are caged up for long periods of time, they need room to run around and stretch out." Because rabbits are social animals, they should never be stashed away in a basement or garage where the humans rarely go.
If there are other pets in the home that may antagonize the bunny, they should be kept out of the rabbit room at all times. But even if your bunny gets along with the cats and dogs, a space of their own can help them rest and recharge.
Access to a long hallway or open space for running, jumping, and binkies (jumping twists a bunny does when happy). If your floors are bare, Berman recommends putting down nonslip flooring so your bunny can get traction as they play.
A litter box filled with a paper pellet litter or hay for toileting. A rabbit's litter box should be scooped at least every other day and completely emptied, cleaned with white vinegar, and refilled weekly.
Multiple water bowls.
Boxes, tunnels, tents, baskets, or other places to hide.
Hay or grass to chew. Placing it inside a hay holder can help keep it clean and appetizing.
Rabbit food pellets and fresh or dried greens, veggies, or fruits for an extra treat.
Toys made from natural, untreated material for chewing.
Toys for digging, throwing, and climbing, depending on your bunny's preferences.
A second bunny, when possible. "Rabbits tend to do better in a pair because they have a bonded buddy for companionship and grooming," said Ratches.
Why do rabbits chew?
Rabbits are born chewers whose teeth continue to grow throughout their lives. To keep them in check, it's essential that they have the right outlets for chewing. "If they don't chew on enough fibrous material, their teeth get elongated and it causes pain and can actually lead to them being unable to eat," said Stern.
A bunny's front teeth and back teeth function differently. The front incisors make a snipping motion for chomping off pieces of grass and hay, while the back teeth grind from side to side. It's in those back teeth that Stern most often sees problems.
Chew toys help wear down the front teeth but not the back teeth. And while rabbits do grind their teeth when content, similar to purring in a cat, keeping their back teeth healthy largely depends on providing them with a diet that contains tough hay and grasses like timothy and orchard. As they chew these fibrous materials, they gradually wear down growing back teeth the way a nail file removes excess fingernail growth. Help them keep their back teeth healthy by stuffing rolling balls, hanging toys, activity tables, and any other loosely woven toy with pieces of hay for bunny to extract and snack on.
How to keep your rabbit safe
Rabbits are relatively fragile animals, and even toys and experiences that seem harmless can cause severe health problems or even death. Just because a bunny shows an interest in chewing a corner of the carpet or hopping into the backyard doesn't mean it's good for them. "These guys are so domesticated that they can't tell what's safe and what's not," said Berman.
Domestic rabbits are bred to live indoors, so they are highly sensitive to extreme temperatures. "They do best between 50 to 75 degrees, so they really need to live inside a climate-controlled area," said Ratches. In fact, not only can the outdoors be too hot or too cold for a bunny to be comfortable, they pose other dangers, too.
Highly contagious rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) was discovered in wild rabbits in the Southwest United States for the first time in 2020. In that outbreak, officials reported that approximately 90% of rabbits exposed to the virus died within three to five days of the onset of symptoms. Because RHDV is easily spread and domestic rabbits are equally as susceptible to it as wild ones, bunnies should not be taken outdoors for play or to walk on a leash and harness in places where it is present, said Berman.
In the coastal areas of Oregon, California, and Baja Mexico, bunnies are also vulnerable to myxomatosis, a virus spread by wild rabbits, mosquitos, and fleas that attacks the skin, eyes, lungs, liver, and genitals and often results in death.
Predators, including neighborhood dogs and cats, pose a severe danger to rabbits when outdoors, as well.
Indoors, the biggest threat to a rabbit's health is the possibility that they may chew and swallow something they cannot digest. Because rabbits cannot vomit, if they swallow something indigestible, it can block their intestines, leading to severe pain and death unless surgically removed. Rabbits should never be given toys made from soft plastic, polyester, or cloth and should be prevented from accessing dangerous household items like carpet and electrical cords.
Our sources
Marcy Berman, founder of SaveABunny, a rabbit rescue organization in Mill Valley, California
