Rabbit Proofing Your Home

This article was from PetEducation.com

Rabbit Proofing Your Home

Veterinary & Aquatic Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith

Rabbits are chewers. Rabbits enjoy small, dark spaces. Rabbits are curious. These are three good reasons why you will need to "rabbit proof" your house prior to allowing your rabbit access to your home. Rabbit proofing your home will protect your rabbit and your belongings. Get down on the floor, and imagine for a minute, that you are a rabbit. Look at all of the wonderful places you have to explore and the many chewable items available for your enjoyment. Now, think of yourself as your rabbit's guardian, and what you need to do to protect him. Rabbit proofing your home will be absolutely necessary if your rabbit will be in your house outside of his cage. Some people prefer to set up an indoor fenced exercise area for their rabbit, so the rabbit proofing does not need to be quite so intense.

Rabbits can be trained not to chew on certain objects or enter certain rooms, but training should not be the only protective measure. There can always be lapses in training. Likewise, protective measures and deterrents alone may not be sufficient. Combining the training with removing access to the problem area is the best formula for success. Also, start out with a small room area. Monitor what materials and items your rabbit is more prone to chew on or get into. Find a successful strategy and use training to prevent the unwanted behavior. Then, start allowing the rabbit access to larger areas.
Allowing your rabbit access to the house so he can have exercise is a good thing, but it is not enough. The rabbit is also a social animal and needs interaction and mental stimulation. Nothing takes the place of spending time with your rabbit. Providing your rabbit with a variety of toys is also helpful. Change which toys you put out every several days so your rabbit does not get bored. Good toys include:

• Cardboard boxes
• Empty oatmeal containers
• Hard plastic toys for babies, e.g., rattles, keys
• Bird toys
• Plastic slinkies
• Cardboard paper toweling rolls
• Things to shred (soy ink only)
• Other hard plastic toys such as balls

You can also play games of hide and seek. Hide small pieces of food around the room and allow the rabbit to "forage" on her own. Build ramps and burrows of cardboard, wood, and large diameter PVC (make sure the diameter is bigger than your rabbit.) Remember to have litter boxes readily available.
Potential Problems and Solutions
Potential Problem: Electrical and other cords
Electrical cords are a very serious threat to a rabbit. Chewing through a cord could cause severe burns, or even electrocution. There are other cords that can be chewed, including phone, computer, stereo, cable TV, and appliance cords.
Solution: Simply raising the cords above floor level may NOT work. Remember that when sitting up on their hind legs, rabbits can reach a foot or more in the air. Placing cords behind furniture may NOT prevent your rabbit from reaching them. Rabbits can fit into some pretty tight spaces. Bitter sprays often do NOT work, since rabbits tend to like bitter tastes. Three possibilities that may be effective include:

• Spiral cable wrap. This is a flexible plastic sheath that can be wound around the cords. CAUTION: Some rabbits may still try to chew through this. Monitor your rabbit closely, and if he chews on this, try one of the other two alternatives.
• Cord concealers. These are hard plastic, come in various colors and sizes, and are usually applied to the area above the baseboards.
• PVC pipe or polyethylene hard tubing. A slit can be cut through the pipe or tubing, and the cords slipped inside. Tubing that is already split is also available.

Potential Problem: Wooden furniture and baseboards
Rabbits especially love to chew wood. Again, a bitter spray will probably NOT be effective since rabbits tend to like bitter tastes.
Solution: By not allowing him to chew wood, we are going against the rabbit's basic instinct, and necessity, to chew. Training the rabbit not to chew these items may help, but "Just saying 'no'" will NOT be enough.

• PVC pipe or hard tubing can be placed around the legs of furniture.
• Place boards that you will allow your rabbit to chew in front of the baseboards.
• Provide a variety of chew toys as alternatives to chewing furnishings.

Potential Problem: Upholstered furniture
Rabbits may not only chew the upholstery that you can see, they may get underneath the furniture and chew the underside. Some rabbits will climb into the hole they have made. Use caution with recliners, since rabbits may get underneath them and into the mechanism.
Solution:

• Always know where your rabbit is before you lower or raise a recliner.
• Place a wooden frame, or one made with PVC tubing under the furniture, blocking the rabbit's access. The frame can be stained, and made slightly smaller than the base of the furniture to make it blend in.
• Purchase clear plastic carpet runners with the small spikes on the bottom. To discourage your rabbit from hopping over to the upholstery, place the runners, upside down, near the furniture. If your rabbit chews on the runner, you may need to find another alternative.

Potential Problem: Carpet and drapes
Some carpets appear to be almost irresistible to some rabbits. Often they will start to pull up or chew on carpets in the corner of the room.
Solution:

• Use drapes and curtains that are not full length.
• Protect the carpet in those areas most likely to be chewed by covering them with wood or carpet runners (unless the rabbit also chews on the runner).
• Be sure drapery cords do not hang down to the level where your rabbit can reach them.

Potential Problem: Books, newspapers, and magazines
You may not care if your rabbit chews last week's newspaper, but there are many paper items you do not want your rabbit to chew.
Solution:

• Use glass-fronted book cases.
• Place books and newspapers you are still using in chewproof bins, either hard plastic or metal. There are copper and brass wood bins for fireplaces that are very serviceable and aesthetically pleasing.
• Do not place books on the lower shelves of bookcases.
• If you give your rabbit paper to chew, be sure the ink is soy-based.

Potential Problem: Closets
Open closets can literally provide a feast for your rabbit. Shoes, clothes, belts, boxes - all of these are potential chew toys. In addition, your rabbit could accidentally be locked in a closet without access to food, water, or a litter box.
Solution:

• Keep closet doors closed. Again, a childproof latch would prevent a curious rabbit from opening the door.
• Keep the floor of the closet empty. Use hanging shoe racks and shelves over 2 feet high.

Potential Problem: Kitchen Area
The kitchen can pose special hazards for a curious rabbit. Open cupboards and drawers, open areas on the back of appliances, and toe kicks on lower cupboards are just several of the places that may look inviting to a rabbit. Removing the rabbit from one of these areas may mean moving the heavy appliances, with the possibility of hurting the rabbit in the process, or removing the bottom of the cupboard to free the trapped rabbit underneath.
Solution:

• Close cupboard doors and drawers after use.
• Use childproof latches to keep doors and drawers closed.
• Block off any open areas in the cabinetry.
• Block off areas around appliances to prevent the rabbit from getting behind them. Keep in mind that there must be adequate air circulation around the appliances.

Potential Problem: Food
Food for other pets, grocery bags full of food, waste baskets containing food items, and food set out on low tables will all appear as fair game to a hungry rabbit.
Solution:

• Use covered waste baskets of sufficient size and weight to prevent a rabbit from getting into them or tipping them over.
• Keep foods at least 2 feet off of the ground. Any snacks, candy, or holiday foods should be placed on tables at a height of at least two feet off of the ground. Also, be careful too with hot drinks that could burn an inquisitive rabbit.
• Ashtrays, too, need to be out of reach of a rabbit. Cigarettes and cigars are toxic to rabbits, and should never be placed where a rabbit would have access to them.

Potential Problem: Cleaning supplies
Chemicals, detergents, rags, sponges, rubber gloves, and other cleaning supplies can be very dangerous to rabbits.
Solution: Even if the chemical is in a closed container, the container should be out of reach of the rabbit. Rabbits can chew containers, knock them over causing spills (if the cap is not tight), or there may be chemical drips on the outside of the container.

• Keep cleaning items in high cupboards.
• Use childproof latches to secure the doors of lower cupboards that may contain dangerous supplies.
• Remove your rabbit from the area when you are using cleaning supplies.

Potential Problem: Plants
Some common houseplants can be poisonous to rabbits. Even if they are not poisonous, a rabbit can make a disaster from a potted plant, chewing the leaves and digging into the soil.
Solution: Plastic plants are not a good alternative, since the plastic could cause gastrointestinal irritation or blockage.

• Plant selection: Select plants that are not poisonous/toxic for rabbits. See Plants That Are Poisonous to Small Pets.
• Plant location: Hanging plants from the ceiling or placing them on tables several feet high will prevent the rabbit from reaching them. However, leaves may still drop to the floor, so select safe plants, even if you are going to place them out of the rabbit's reach.

Potential Problem: Fireplaces, space heaters, and candles
Any type of fire is always dangerous. Your rabbit can become seriously burned, or tip over a hot object and start a fire. Take special care to protect your rabbit and your home.
Solution:

• Never leave a rabbit unattended in a room with an open flame or space heater.
• Use screens or glass doors on the fireplace to prevent sparks from coming into contact with your rabbit.
• Barriers should be placed around hot wood stoves.

Potential Problem: Fans and air ducts
As they are for children, fans can be hazardous to rabbits. An ear or inquisitive nose could be seriously injured. A fan could also be potentially tipped over by a rabbit.
Solution:

• Never place a fan within reach of a rabbit.
• Cover all air ducts to prevent a rabbit from exploring and becoming lost in the maze. (I speak from experience. When I was a child, our cat got into the ductwork when new carpet was being laid. It took several anxious hours of calling before he finally popped his dusty head out of the opening. Believe me, this is one "dust bunny" you do not want to have.)

Potential Problem: Open exterior doors and windows
Open doors and windows provide an easy escape for a curious rabbit.
Solution:

• Keep screens on all windows and doors.
• If doors need to be propped open, first place the rabbit safely in her cage.

Potential Problem: Child - rabbit interactions
A rabbit could be hurt, or hurt a child if he is improperly handled. For a child, a rabbit litter box may have the appearance of being a fun place to play.
Solution:

• Take into account the age of children, their maturity, and experience with handling rabbits and other pets when deciding if they may be left alone with a rabbit.
• Establish household rules regarding the handling of the rabbit.
• Show children the correct way to pet and play with a rabbit and praise them when they do it properly.
• Always have a safe area where your rabbit can retreat.
• Use childproof gates to separate younger children from the rabbit, and his litter box.

Potential Problem: Interactions with other pets
Care should be taken when introducing your rabbit to other pets, including other rabbits. Fights between rabbits can be very serious and cause severe injuries. It is natural instinct for wild canines and felines to prey on rabbits. Sometimes the reverse is true, and the rabbit can actually be more aggressive.
Solution:

• Take your time in introducing a rabbit to another pet. One of the most common mistakes is to put them together before they are ready.
• Never leave a loose rabbit unattended in a room with another pet if there is even a remote possibility that aggression or rough playing could occur. It is always better to be safe than sorry.