Enrichment for Bunnies
Rabbits are intelligent, curious animals that need daily mental and physical stimulation to stay healthy and happy. Without proper enrichment, bunnies can become bored, stressed, or develop destructive behaviors. Enrichment encourages natural instincts like chewing, digging, foraging, and exploring.
Chewing Enrichment
Chewing is a natural and necessary behavior for rabbits, as their teeth grow continuously. Providing safe chewing options helps prevent dental issues and protects household items.
Great chewing options include:
Untreated apple, willow, or pear wood sticks
Cardboard boxes and paper towel rolls
Woven grass mats and hay-based toys
Compressed hay or wooden chew blocks made for rabbits
Foraging & Food-Based Enrichment
In the wild, rabbits spend much of their time searching for food. Foraging activities stimulate their minds and slow down eating.
Ideas for foraging enrichment:
Scatter small portions of pellets or herbs through hay
Use treat balls or puzzle feeders
Hide leafy greens in cardboard boxes or paper bags
Create hay-stuffed toys with herbs mixed in
Physical & Exploratory Enrichment
Rabbits need space to move, explore, and play. Encouraging activity supports strong muscles and healthy digestion.
Ways to promote movement:
Tunnels, pop-up tents, or cardboard mazes
Low platforms or boxes to hop on and off
Rearranging toys occasionally to keep the space interesting
Safe, supervised time in new rooms
Digging & Comfort Enrichment
Digging is a natural rabbit behavior that helps release energy and reduce stress.
Dig-friendly options include:
Dig boxes filled with shredded paper, hay, or soil-free bedding
Old towels or fleece blankets for nesting
Cardboard boxes with entry holes for burrowing
Social & Mental Enrichment
Rabbits are social animals and benefit from interaction, whether with humans or bonded companions.
Helpful social enrichment:
Daily calm interaction, petting, and talking
Training sessions using positive reinforcement
Providing stuffed companions for solo rabbits (temporary support only)
Enrichment isn’t about expensive toys—it’s about variety, creativity, and consistency. Rotating toys, encouraging natural behaviors, and engaging with your bunny daily can greatly improve their quality of life.
A well-enriched rabbit is confident, curious, and content.
