It is a myth that rabbits are docile and mute. Like any other pet, rabbits are individuals with their own personalities, forms of expression, and emotional intelligence. And like all other pets, rabbits need exercise and mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. Activities like chewing, hiding and climbing are important to rabbits’ health and well-being.
We consulted with four experts to compile a list of the 4 best rabbit toys to keep pet rabbits from getting bored. The toys on our list appeal to rabbits’ natural instincts: chewing, digging, fetching, throwing, hiding, and hopping. While not all rabbits like to engage in these six activities, there’s something for everyone.
1. Niteangel Play Ball Trio
Lightweight balls made from natural materials like willow or sea grass can satisfy both rabbits’ desire to play and their chewing instincts. According to Chris Ratches, rabbit house team leader at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, Utah, playful rabbits can push and roll the balls for fun, and some even understand the concept of fetch. We can fill the loosely woven balls with grass or hay to encourage healthy chewing, and we can nibble the balls themselves on.
Each of Niteangel’s three balls is made from a different natural material - sea grass, water hyacinth and rattan - each with its own density, texture and smell. At less than a gram each, they are light enough to roll and throw. Because the balls contain no glue, plastic, or metal that could make a rabbit sick or cause intestinal obstructions, they are also safe to chew and easy to digest. The seagrass ball, with the widest weave of the three, can be filled with tasty treats or hay for extra enrichment.
2. The first keys to the early years
For a good throw toy, our experts recommend everything from Wiffle balls to can lid rings to parrot toys. But all agree that some of the best options come from an unlikely source: babies. “Hard plastic baby toys and rattles are the most popular,” Ratches says.
One of Berman’s favorite options is the First Years First Keys. Weighing less than a quarter of a pound, this sturdy set includes five keys attached to a plastic ring that a bunny can easily throw. Each key is a different color and shape and can be easily removed from the ring. And while the hard, durable plastic isn’t completely impenetrable, it’s strong enough to keep even the most zealous chewers from breaking off pieces they might later swallow. Still, supervision is always advisable when rabbits play with non-digestible toys.
Buy: The first keys to the early years
3. Teach N Treat toy from the living world
Foraging puzzles involve the rabbit’s brain through its stomach. To access the food in hidden compartments, the rabbit must use its genetic problem-solving skills. It’s not just a way for the rabbits to pig out; the work they put in to find their treats is also a lot of fun, Berman told Insider Reviews.
Living World’s Teach N Treat toy is specifically designed to stimulate the minds of small animals like rabbits. We place small pieces of food in eight shallow cups arranged in a square in the center of the 10-by-10-inch puzzle board. To reach them, the rabbit must push or lift the lids that hide them. There are three levels of difficulty to satisfy beginners and advanced players. We made this puzzle of plastic, a material that rabbits cannot digest or regurgitate. We should only use it under strict supervision.
Buy: Teach N Treat toy from the living world
4. The Petsafe Egg-Cersizer
While puzzle toys are most often used for dog and cat enrichment, rabbits also enjoy them, says Angie Green, founder of Special Bunny, a rabbit rescue organization in Carnation, Wash. When filled with food pellets, these hollow balls take the place of a standard food dish. Instead of approaching a trough and munching at will, the rabbit must use a little intelligence to roll the ball and release its meal one bite at a time.
We’ve tested several rolling puzzle toys designed for cats, and our favorite, the Petsafe Egg-Cersizer, is also suitable for rabbits. Made of lightweight but durable plastic, this egg-shaped toy is small enough for a rabbit to roll around easily, and its smooth exterior has no chunks or bumps to chew or swallow. The Egg-Cersizer unscrews into two halves for easy filling, and an adjustable dial at the top blocks one or more of the three holes through which the food pieces fall for an extra challenge. The set is dishwasher safe and holds 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food.
The Best Toys for Rabbits
One benefit of rabbits is that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep them entertained. According to our experts, it’s easy to make fun and rewarding toys from items you already have around the house, like paper bags and boxes. Here are their suggestions:
Brown paper lunch bags filled with hay and greens and tied on top to be chewed on.
Brown paper grocery bags to hide in
Cardboard boxes, with tape or staples removed, that they can chew on, hide in, and climb on.
Slotted clothespins made of untreated wood, without metal, to chew on.
Untreated straw or wicker baskets and placemats for digging and gnawing.
Paper towel and toilet paper rolls filled with hay and greens for gnawing.
Newspaper (black and white only to avoid digestive problems, no colored inserts) for digging and chewing.
Mason jar lid rings for throwing.
Pine cones, fruit tree branches, and willow branches to chew on.
Egg cartons filled with hay or greens to chew.
How to create a nurturing environment for rabbits
Toys are important to a rabbit’s mental and physical health, but they are only one of the many essentials he needs for an enriched life. To create an ideal environment for rabbits, our experts recommend:
Waterproof is a well-lit, well-ventilated room (or the entire house) to create a rabbit den that the family will use regularly. “The bigger the space, the better for the rabbit,” Green said. “Since we coop them up in a cage for long periods of time, they need space to run and stretch.” Because rabbits are social animals, we should never stash them in a basement or garage where humans rarely go.
If there are other pets in the house that might upset the rabbit, we should keep them out of the rabbit room at all times. But even if your rabbit gets along well with cats and dogs, a space of its own can help it rest and recharge.
Access to a long hallway or open space to run, hop and poop (the hops a rabbit makes when happy). If your floor is bare, Berman recommends a non-slip surface for your rabbit to move around on when playing.
A wire exercise pen or large kennel for overnight stays.
A litter box filled with paper pellets or hay for pooping. A rabbit’s litter box should be scooped at least every other day and completely emptied, cleaned with white vinegar, and refilled weekly.
Several bowls of water.
Boxes, tunnels, tents, baskets, or other hiding places.
Hay or chewable grass. Placing it in a hay rack can help keep it clean and appetizing.
Rabbit pellets, and fresh or dried vegetables or fruit for an extra treat.
Chew toys made from natural, untreated materials.
Digging, throwing and climbing toys, depending on your rabbit’s preferences.
A second rabbit, if possible. “Rabbits do better in pairs because they have a companion for companionship and grooming,” says Ivan.
