Expert Co-Authored How to Play With Your Rabbit

Rabbits are social animals and love to play with their people. If you're a new rabbit owner, or simply cannot get your current pet to play, there are plenty of tricks you can use to entertain your rabbit. Pay attention to your pet's personality, as that will factor into what games they enjoy, and try and figure out the best methods for play.

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   Get to know your rabbit. A rabbit's personality determines what toys they'll like and dislike. Before you start gathering toys for your rabbit, try to get to know him and figure out his preferences. Knowing what stimuli he responds to can help you plan playtime.

   • At first, allow your rabbit to leave his cage/pen on his own and come to you. Let him explore a rabbit safe area.
   • Pay attention to what he interacts with, and how. Some rabbits are shredders, meaning they like to tear apart paper and tissues in play. Some like to toss toys with their teeth and chase after them. Some enjoy knocking things over. Pay attention to your rabbit's behavior and see what kind of games he likes to indulge in.
   • Rabbits are easily scared, so try to avoid making any sudden movements. Never yell at a rabbit, as this will encourage your rabbit to stay away from you.

   2 Pick toys for when you're home. Choose a variety of toys you can use to play with your rabbit at home. Base your selection off your rabbit's specific personality.

   • For a rabbit who enjoys throwing, you can buy rabbit safe toys at a local pet store or department store. Bird toys also work well for this kind of play, as they're made to be easy to grip. If you're on a budget, you can use cardboard tubes from paper towel or toilet paper to save money.
   • Rabbits who like to chew and dig can funnel this behavior into play. Straw mats and boxes full of shredded or scrap paper can provide hours of entertainment. Plastic baby toys and plastic balls are also great, as they're sturdy and will withstand a lot of play before they need replacing.
   • Logic toys are great for curious rabbits, and can be found at pet stores. These toys generally involve a plastic or cardboard box that contains an enticing item, like a rubber ball or a treat. The rabbit must figure out how to open the box in order to get his reward.
   • As some rabbits love pushing things over, consider investing in children's bowling pins. Rabbits will love knocking them over and then having you reposition them.
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   Pick toys for when you're away. While playing with your rabbit is great fun, you need to make sure your bunny is entertained even when you're not present. This way, rabbits won't develop undue stress while you're out and act out via biting, chewing, or being otherwise destructive.

   • Many rabbit owners recommend building a cardboard castle for their rabbits. That means gathering old cardboard boxes and stacking them together and then cutting out holes for passageways and entrances. Rabbits who are chewers or curious rabbits particularly enjoy the cardboard castle. If you keep your rabbit in a room rather than a cage when you're away, or if you have a pen for your rabbit, this might be a good option. If your rabbit is confined to a cage during the day, this might be difficult.
   • If your rabbit digs, provide plenty of sawdust or straw in his cage while you're away. If he gets bored, he'll be able to burrow.