Just like a dog, a cat, or a child, rabbits
love to play. They need mental, physical, and
social stimulation just like any other pet does. A
rabbit cooped up in a cage all the time with
nothing to do is a bored rabbit.
Some breeds in particular are apt to get bored.
These include Tans, Checkered
Giants, and Britannia
Petites, among others. Toys keep your rabbit
from being bored, and they also keep its mind
sharp. Toys that make your rabbit think are the
best. Some parrot toys are
excellent because they are designed to keep a
parrot thinking, which keeps it from being bored.
Toys keep a rabbit active, which in turn keeps
it in good physical condition. This promotes
health and vigor which can lead to a longer
lifespan for your bunny.
If you use toys to play with your bunny, your
bunny will associate fun with you. This will cause
it to bond more closely with you. Try rolling a
ball toward it and watch how it will curiously
approach the ball.
When choosing a toy, make
sure that there are no chemically treated pieces
that could harm your bunny. Avoid painted toys as
they may be toxic. Dye is okay so long as it is
natural dye such a food coloring. Anything safe
for parrots is usually safe for rabbits. Rabbits
love to chew, so blocks of wood are great. String
a bell to the top of the cage, and your bunny may
soon be reaching up to ring it with its nose.
Experiment and see what your rabbit likes. Every
rabbit, like every human, has its own preferences.
Rabbits also love to play games without toys. I
have had rabbits who learned how to play tag. I
would get down on my hands and knees and crawl
after them. They would run, and when I tagged
them, they knew they were "it." They
would then come chasing after me until they tagged
me. Rabbits are also good at hide-and-seek. They
love to hide and be found. Just make sure to keep
track of where your rabbit is so that it does not
hide too well and get lost!
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