Bunny-proofing
Here I am back on one of my favorite subjects - pests. I mean, pets. More specifically rabbits. If you are one of the crazy folks who think rabbits are the perfect pets and you are preparing your home for a bunny baby you should bunny-proof it. I don't think there is any other pet that requires so much home modification as does a rabbit. Why? because they will eat your house. Literally. I could make a list calculating all the things my rabbits eat and chewed up and scratched but it would take me a day of typing. They will chew up almost everything you have and each rabbit has his favorite part of your house to destroy but here are some of the more common target of theirs and some odd stuff my rabbits enjoy.
Scratching the door
My big one does this. He scratches on the room doors he wants to get into but isn't allowed, like my bedroom. As bad as it looks it's actually good for his paws because if the claws get too long (and I do cut them) he can get blisters on his feet. So trimming the nails on your bun or maybe putting a poster on the door could make him stay away but I'm afraid it's not a sure deterrent.
Cords and other electronics
Almost all rabbits I know have a fetish for cords. Chargers, adapters, headphones, computer mice, cords from heaters, the dishwasher or the vacuum cleaner. These are just some of the actual things my rabbits chewed on or through. My husband once had a post on here about how our rabbit killed our mouse. He just killed another one a few days ago. I would recommend buying the nice cord protecting lines like these from Ikea or just taping the cords, poor man style, that you can't keep tucked away safely from the little furry pests.
Fabrics on furniture
My first rabbit literally destroyed two chares in our house. I tough the maybe had a thing for upholstered chairs because my kids would spill food on them but then we bought a new couth like yesterday and he already chewed a bit of the couch so, yeah, he just like the sense of the fabric under his teeth I suppose. I would recommend putting something like soft cushions or a throw-ones on the furniture you see them showing interest in as well as a waterproof sheet over any couch or bed the bunnies have access to.
bunny proofing for poor folks
Crocs and Tupperware
Many bunnies show love for all varieties of material varying from sky leather imitations to concrete walls but mine have this strange infatuation with more expensive plastic and rubber-like crocs (but just the original ones no matter the model) and Tupperware plastic containers. Not the cheap china shoop ones. With these small things you just have to rearrange your house to keep it away from them.
Real leather
Luckily I don't have much real leather stuff but I, well my husband, had a few real leather belts. We keep them in the closet but I left the closet door open a few times and the little rascals chewed just on the real leather belts. Like with shoes, just keep them away from the rabbits.
Cardboard everything If you have cardboard boxes laying around be sure they will eat them in a matter of minutes. I rearranged my stuff to keep such boxes out of reach but I still have one in the kitchen and he attacks it constantly. The little one stays out of the kitchen. I do use the cardboard paper rolls to make toys for them tho.
Books
Documents, paper, paintings, newspapers...they love it. I am playing the stubborn game with my rabbits bookwise because I refuse to keep the books in a high shell. I seem to be winning but we will see how long that will last. If you plan on getting a bunny I advise you to keep paper stuff away from them.
Plants
This part is actually pretty important if you plan on having a bunny. They love eating plants. They are herbivores after all. But a significant number of houseplants can be poisoned for rabbits so I would definitely recommend putting all plants away and providing them with fresh herbs and veggies daily.
Rugs and carpets
This also seems to be a general fascination of theirs. Not just for my bunnies. They love chewing on carpets and, even tho most of them are really tidy animals that use their toilet and are easily toilet trained, they can find a spot for pissing on on the carpet or the couch. They completely destroyed our armchair when they mistake it for a toilet. So we bought a new couth. And what an epic fail we made. The top of the couch is tilted so they have a tunnel on theirs. I'm still figuring out how to get that taken care of. Hashtag Pray for the couch.
Money
Yes, they eat money too. Both literally and figuratively. When you combine quality food, vet expenses, equipment, toys and all the things they destroy they are quite expensive pets.
And a general advice for the end. Rabbits tend to be destructive if they are bored so you can try and keep them occupied with toys, chew toys or playing with them. Also, make sure they are properly fed, that means fresh veggies and herbs, branches for chewing and hey, the most important thing of all, hay that is available to them 24/7. And give them attention and cuddles. Especially if you only have one Bunny. When they are in a pair they tend to be more satisfied and less bored.
My good friend @dumar022 was a bunny parent before and he gave us the advice to smear chilly pepper on the things we don't want them to chew.
Also if they choose to pee or poop somewhere they aren't supposed to I would recommend having an apple vinegar in a spray bottle and washing the said place with it.
To my point on how they are more pests then pets here is a great source on how to stop your bunny on eating pretty much everything. My advice is more based on my own experience but this place has great advice generated from years of bunny parenting and it will make sure you can live with a rabbit stress-free.
If you are looking for a smart pet, that understands No! but won't listen anyway, that enjoys cuddles and is a joy to be around (plus you don't have to take him for walks) adopt a bunny and make sure your home will be safe and comfortable for both you and your Bunny. Many folks buy them expecting hamsters but they are far from that, so they get rid of them soon. So adopt, don't shop.
Do you have a rabbit? If you have other pets do they destroy your house too? In what ways?
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Thank you! Great idea!
I know how to solve "bunny problems"!
Tvoj komentar miriše na njoke.
I have 6 mice, 2 alive, 4 dead ones. They are cuddly too and they do not poop around. One even has led lights inside, a true party animal :)
You have waaaaaaay too many cords around to be a bunny parent. Mice are a good choice.
Another great post from you!
I am so proud of how good you write!
Thank you Tamara! Coming from you it means the world to me.
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