Bunnyproofing Basics – Part 2

Tigger chewing up cardboard

We put down a huge piece of carboard over the carpet inside a large dog pen style enclosure. You can see Tigger is really getting into chewing and tearing it up!

Tigger napping on cardboard

Nap Break ... Zzzzzzz

Basic Bunnyproofing Continued …

Cardboard, Acco Binder Clips and Jumbo Paper Clips:  You can protect many things using cardboard and Acco binder clips or jumbo paper clips (big 3-5″ ones).  You can create a wall of cardboard if necessary by simply binding cardboard pieces together with clips.  When our bunnies were little, we protected whole walls of baseboard by making a cardboard wall around the room that they could chew on.   We called it “The Great Wall of Cardboard”.

Cord / Outlet Covers:  Rabbits love to chew on electrical cords.  To give the best protection, we used the split hard plastic cord covers in two sizes and put two levels of protection on each exposed cord.  Wherever possible, we hid cords behind furniture that the rabbits cannot fit behind or under.  For extra protection, we bought outlet protectors at a baby store.  You can run a protected cord right into the outlet cover and then there is no gap at the plug between the cord cover and plug where a rabbit can chew the cord.

Baby / Dog Gates and Exercise Pens:  Baby gates / dog gates or exercise pens can be used to create barriers.  Just be aware that even a small rabbit has amazing hopping ability and consider this when deciding what height you need.  Both our small rabbits could leap over a 27” high baby gate.  Also watch out for gates that have lightweight plastic mesh inserts.  A rabbit can chew through these.

Be aware as you are rabbit proofing and creating barriers to also look for potential problems at the height your rabbit would be standing up on its hind legs.  We had a barrier in a hallway that was flush with the floor and the walls for a foot up and then there was a gap.  Tigger sat up on her hind legs, put her head through that space and then started to sit back down, trapping her neck and head in the space.  Fortunately, we were there and rushed to the rescue before she strangled herself.

Hardware Cloth:  This can be used to protect things or barricade areas.  It can be attached to furniture like the bottom of beds to create a fence between the bed and floor and prevent a rabbit from getting underneath beds or other furniture pieces.  It can also be wrapped around things to make it harder for the rabbit to chew.  Since it is a lightweight metal mesh, it can be flexible in use.  Don’t get the plastic mesh kind; the rabbit will probably be able to chew through that.

Final Thoughts on Basic Bunnyproofing:  If you have an area where your rabbit continues to misbehave, put belled toys in the area that will alert you that the rabbit is there.  Keep lots of toys in the area to redirect the rabbit’s attention to an acceptable item to play with or chew on.

Remember after you have bunny proofed an area; it is not truly bunny proofed until it has been fully rabbit tested!  Supervise your rabbit until you are sure that you have adequately protected both your rabbit and your space.

More articles will follow on coming Wednesdays on better protecting cords and bunnyproofing ideas beyond the basics. 

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