A key part of a bunnies needs is enrichment. Enrichment is another way of saying toys or interactive activities to keep their brains stimulated. It is essential to know that they will need a number of toys throughout their lives which can come at an expense.

Chew toys

Chew toys should be toys made of natural materials that your bunny can gnaw on to keep them stimulated but to also file their teeth down. These are the materials that I would recommend looking out for when buying/ making toys for your rabbit;

Cardboard	Water hyacinth
Seagrass	Palm leaf + banana leaf
Vine	Sweet bamboo
Wicker	Timothy grass

These are all the woods that are safe for rabbits (if untreated);

• Willow
• Apple + pear
• Kiln-dried aspen
• Birch + poplar
• Rose bushes
• Maple
• Kiln-dried pine
• Cotton wood
• Raspberry + blackberry bushes

Chew toys are a necessity for rabbits as they help with stimulation as well as with any urges to chew furniture and walls.

My bunnies favourites are cat scratchers, seagrass mats, wicker tunnels and apple wood sticks.

Interactive feeders

I would recommend getting at least one interactive feeder for your bunnies, this could be anything from a hard, plastic puzzle feeder to a cardboard tube with holes in it. These increase mental stimulation and make eating more of an activity and elongate meal times.

Bad toys for bunnies

Unfortunately, some toys marked for rabbits are really not suitable. The key to knowing what is rabbit safe is looking if the package says 100% natural as any less is unsuitable. If there are any chemical ingredients in your rabbits toys it can be dangerous for them.

Another thing to note is that you should always steer clear of any coloured toys that contain toxins and dyes as these are unnatural and unsafe for your bun.

Personally i have had a bad experience with a toy that was labeled as a bunny toy but actually caused a blockage in my bunnies’ system due to it not being 100% natural. If we had left it with him for longer it could have got to the point where it may have caused serious issues.

Why does my bunny need toys?

Bunnies get bored very easily and their boredom can present itself through unwanted behaviours such as, digging and chewing furniture and wires, as well as this, boredom can result in your bunny becoming depressed.

This is why bunnies need constant stimulation as when they are not sleeping or eating, they need to be chewing or doing something.

Also, most chew toys are great ways to get your bunny to file down their ever growing teeth.

Can i make toys for my bunny?

Yes of course you can! Bunnies don’t know what is homemade and what is shop bought, they just appreciate any stimulation at all.

You can make toys for your bunnies out of things like, toilet paper rolls, cardboard and cardboard boxes.