Rabbit Enrichment: Fun Ways To Keep Your Bunny Happy and Healthy

Rabbit enrichment is anything in your rabbit’s environment or routine that gives them an outlet for natural behaviors, including: 

• Chewing 
• Digging 
• Foraging 
• Exploring 
• Hiding 
• Playing and exercise 
• Positive social interaction 

Rabbits are social animals, so time with you or a bonded rabbit companion is an important part of enrichment, too.  

And because rabbits are prey animals, enrichment isn’t only about activity.  

A secure place to retreat to is just as important for helping your rabbit feel safe. 

Enrichment benefits your rabbit’s body and brain. Regular activity helps them maintain a healthy weight, while exploring and foraging help prevent boredom and build confidence. 

Chewing matters, too. Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously, so they need unlimited grass hay  to help wear them down.  

Safe chew toys add extra gnawing opportunities, but they shouldn’t replace hay. 

Giving your rabbit appropriate things to chew, dig in, and investigate may also redirect unwanted behaviors, like chewing furniture or digging at carpet. 

Rabbits’ toys don’t need to be fancy, and no single toy is best for every rabbit.  

Some love shredding cardboard, while others would rather play with a ball, zip through a tunnel, or search for food.  

Offering variety helps you discover what your bunny enjoys most. 

Safe gnawing toys give your bunny something to chew instead of furniture, carpet, or electrical cords. Options include: 

• Untreated wooden rabbit toys  

• Rabbit-safe branches, such as apple or willow 

• Untreated willow balls or baskets 

• Woven grass or hay toys 

• Cardboard 

Inspect chew toys regularly and remove anything with sharp edges, loose pieces, or other damage. 

Wild rabbits spend much of their day grazing and searching for food, so turning mealtime into an activity is great enrichment.  

Try hiding hay, greens, or part of your rabbit’s daily pellets in: 

• Cardboard tubes or boxes 
• Plain paper bags 
• Rabbit-safe treat puzzles or snuffle mats 
• Hay balls 

Treats should be only a small part of your rabbit’s diet, so whenever possible, use food they’d already be eating that day. 

Some rabbits take digging very seriously.  

A digging box, such as a large cardboard box or sturdy container filled with shredded plain paper or hay, gives your bunny an appropriate place to scratch and burrow.  

Watch closely when introducing a new material, especially if your rabbit tends to eat non-food items. 

Tunnels encourage rabbits to run, explore, and investigate. Both cardboard and rabbit-safe commercial tunnels work well. 

Hideouts are just as important. A cardboard box with two openings makes an inexpensive retreat, and many rabbits will happily remodel it by chewing new windows and doors. 

The best way to play with your rabbit is to let your bunny take the lead. Sit or lie on the floor and let your rabbit approach you, rather than picking them up. Set up boxes, tunnels, and low obstacles, then let your rabbit decide how to explore. 

Many rabbits also enjoy positive-reinforcement training. With a clicker or other consistent cue, rabbits can learn behaviors such as: 

• Coming when called 
• Following a target  

• Spinning in a circle 
• Hopping into their carrier or enclosure 

Keep sessions short and use small pieces of your rabbit’s regular food or veterinarian-approved treats as rewards. 

Avoid chasing games. Being pursued or grabbed can frighten a prey animal. If your rabbit starts zooming or playing with you, let them set the pace and move away whenever they choose. 

Some of the best DIY bunny toys are made from things you already have at home: 

• Cardboard tubes: Stuff them with hay for your rabbit to find and pull out. 
• Cardboard boxes: Cut rabbit-sized openings to create hideouts, tunnels, or cardboard castles. 
• Plain paper bags: Add hay for another foraging activity. 
• Egg cartons: Hide a few pellets or greens inside. 
• Hay-filled boxes: Add plain paper or cardboard pieces to encourage searching and digging. 
• Untreated wicker baskets: These are great for climbing into, tossing, or chewing. 

There’s no set schedule, but changing or rearranging enrichment every few days or once a week can keep things interesting.  

You don’t have to replace everything at once. Add one or two new items, move a tunnel, or bring back a favorite that’s been put away for a while. 

Pay attention to what your rabbit uses and replace anything that’s heavily chewed or damaged. 

Before giving your rabbit a new toy or activity: 

• Choose untreated, rabbit-safe materials and avoid chemically treated wood. 
• Avoid paints, finishes, and glues.  
• Remove tape, staples, plastic, string, labels, and small pieces that could be swallowed. 
• Check toys regularly for sharp edges or damage. 
• Rabbit-proof play areas by covering electrical cords and removing toxic plants. 
• Supervise your rabbit when introducing anything new. 

If you’re unsure whether a material, plant, or branch is safe, ask your veterinarian. 

The best rabbit enrichment offers a variety of safe ways to hide, explore, forage, chew, dig, and exercise. Every rabbit is different, so watch which activities your bunny likes the most. 

Rabbits need daily enrichment, but they don’t need a new toy every day. Plenty of space, unlimited hay, hiding spots, safe chews, and chances to explore all count. 

Untreated wood, rabbit-safe branches, untreated wicker, plain cardboard, and woven grass or hay toys are all good options. However, grass hay should always come first. The chewing it requires supports your pet’s dental and digestive health. 

Yes. Plain cardboard is one of the best and cheapest enrichment options. Remove tape, staples, and plastic first, and replace the cardboard once it’s soiled or heavily chewed. 

No single behavior proves boredom, but destructive or repetitive behaviors and inactivity are reasons to take a closer look at your rabbit’s environment. 

If your rabbit suddenly becomes less active, stops eating, or produces fewer droppings, don’t assume boredom. These can be signs of illness and require prompt veterinary