RABBIT-PROOFING

Rabbit-proofing your home is essential if considering welcoming a rabbit into your family. The rabbit's safety is paramount, however you will likely also want to prevent damage to your home and furniture. The following tips are certainly not exhaustive and if you have any additional suggestions you would like to share with other bunny owners, please email us and let us know!

• Cover all wires. Rabbits have a penchant for all wires. Cover or securely hide ALL electrical cords, coaxial cables, modem/phone cables, a/v wires, etc. There are many softer plastic wire coverings commercially available, however if you have a very determined rabbit you can even use hard PVC tubing. Please email us if you have any questions about where to find appropriate products for this purpose.

• Cover all open vents! If you happen to have any open and accessible air ducts or vents, cover them to prevent injuries.

• Secure unsafe "nooks and crannies". If you have an open crawl space or if you have been doing renovations in your home, secure these areas from your rabbit. Rabbits have been known to get themselves trapped in between walls when their owners are renovating!

• Supervise your rabbit for chewing. If you find your rabbit dining on your coffee table, baseboards or valued furniture, try running an Ivory soap bar (Ivory brand only) along the edge. Most rabbits will cease after their first taste. Also try gentle discipline with a squirt bottle (plain water only) combined with a firm "no" or hand clap.

• Provide appropriate chewing "entertainment" for your rabbit. Give your rabbit a variety of chew toys to avoid destructive behaviour. Some excellent choices are untreated wicker/willow baskets and balls, phone books, empty paper towel/toilet paper rolls, cardboard boxes, pesticide-free fruit sticks, commercially available wood chews, Snak Shaks (not "Snak Shak Treat Stuffers") by 8-in-1 Ecotrition and Small Animal Play Chubes by T-Rex (or Totally Chubular Pet Tubes by Super Pet).

• Examine your home at "rabbit level". Move all items you do not want the rabbit to chew to a safe height, such as books, electronics and decorative items. You can also block off bottom shelves of bookcases, entertainment centres, etc. with Plexiglass, Neat Ideas Cubes (constructed into doors), etc.

• Remove all potentially poisonous plants! As a general rule, all bulb plants are poisonous to most animals, however you can find a more extensive list on the Sacramento House Rabbit Society website.

Other considerations: A lot of rabbit owners don't think of video game controllers as being a "target" for rabbit teeth until it is too late. Many controllers perish this way! They are irresistable to your furry friend. Luckily, most game systems now have cordless versions available.

We have not yet met a rabbit that can resist buttons on remote controls. Always make sure to keep them out of your bunny's reach...that is if you prefer buttons on your remotes!