| Bunny Toys |
| Bunny Toys ( from the September 2005 Lop Digest) Toys are not just for rabbits that are household pets. On the contrary, show rabbits that are caged 24 hours a day, 7 days a week can become very bored and listless. Do them a favor and toss in a toy once in a while. Although I have friends saving up toilet paper and paper towel rolls me, there are many other options, some of which are sitting in your recycle bin right now. Herre are some ideas: Empty soda cans are lightweight, easy to pick up and toss. Remove the pop-top ring first. You can put in a few small rocks for a noise effect and tape it closed. Beware of giving them noisy toys at night, or you may not get much sleep. Empty oatmeal boxes make great tunnels for young litters and are also harmless if chewed and eaten. Remove both ends, especially the plastic ring on the lid. Empty orange juice cans and lids are fun to toss. Likewise large sturdy plastic or metal bottle caps and jar lids are good toys too. A large plastic PVC pipe makes a great tunnel, but does take up some room in a cage. Put a cap on one end and your bunny can use it to stand on, too. Especially good for does with litters after the litter box has been removed. Ferret and parrot toys are sturdy and well-built. Consider hanging some from the top of the cage. Metal measuring cups and spoons are good things to toss around and indestructible, to boot! Baby teething rings and keys are fun, too. Cardboard boxes and paper sacks provide hours of hide-and-seek fun, but result in the destruction of both. If you're willing to clean up the mess, this is great entertaining fun for bunny. Along the same lines, cardboard egg cartons, paper towels, napkins, and paper plates are also fun to tear up. A twig or block of wood (NOT redwood or cedar) makes a good toy as well as helps to keep teeth worn down. Metal wire cat balls without the bell can easily be picked up and tossed. Littermates have been known to play a good game of tug-of-war with these. Or how about a ping-pong ball? These keep owners amused just as much as the bunny. Pet stores have flavored chew sticks or wooden dumb bells (used for training dogs) that bunnies enjoy. Since bunnies like to dig, hay, straw, and newspapers can be lots of fun. A small cardboard box stuffed with shredded paper works well, as does a tightly rolled up newspaper. I have a friend who collects old phone books and gives the bunnies a whole book now and then. I haven't tried that yet as I'm afraid my bunnies would demand a cell phone too. Use your imagination but always be sure to avoid painted objects or fabric items that may cause poisoning or bowel obstruction. Avoid anything with strings or ropes. Strings on toys or in bedding can get wrapped around legs and cut off the circulation. A bunny with toys of his own will be a happier, spunkier animal. |
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