I’ve never heard that buns shouldn’t use stairs. If you think about it, stairs are like ramps, and buns use ramps all the time. Luna used to go up and down stairs when she lived with her first owner, but she doesn’t like my stairs because they are pretty steep. If she wanted to go up and down my stairs I would let her, but I don’t force her if she doesn’t want to. I would be hesitant about letting Laura use the stairs if there are gaps that she could slip through and fall off.

I don’t have stairs, but I wish I did, for the sake of bunny exercise! Our member Gina.Jenny has told us about her rabbits (she has 6) and how they love running up and down her (carpeted stairs).

Your stairs sound much like ours, and as bam says, all six of our buns love racing up and down them, inc Mini, who is a dainty 1.6 kg

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxdwvD8ELN07b1pHWXRTR1N1azQ/view?usp=sharing

Here you can see Podge and Gina racing down, there are plenty of gaps in the banister rails, but none of our buns have ever done more than poke a curious nose through

Regarding jumping of the bed, our buns have been banned from the bed ever since Pippi decided it was a great place to up tail and piddle, but all of our buns jump up onto the settees, and all have been known to jump down the back way. Pippi, when young actually cleared the settee in a jump from the floor in front to the floor behind it

Posted By LauraPalmer on 5/08/2017 10:09 AM

Aww, that’s about the same size as Laura. What kind of bunny is mini?

Mini, like most of our buns, is a rescue, so I don’t know what breed, though I would say he is part Nethie?

Here is Gina (2 kg bun), poised to jump off the back of the settee…

I would let Laura see if she thinks its Ok! Buns aren’t stupid, she will judge if she feels safe, it may take time… Mini took a while, Pippi at 10 weeks old, made his way to the top of the stairs less than 2 hours after moving in!

Everywhere is pretty bun-proofed, but an eagle eye and a constant ear are required when the buns are out, Gina especially knows to wait til I’m in the kitchen before getting into mischief!

You can buy cord protectors, I’ve spent a small fortune on them…

My Buttercup likes the stairs but she’s not as enthusiastic now that the bathroom upstairs is off limits. She’ll go up and then come down sulking lol. Peanut hasn’t dared venture up yet. He’s a nervous and cautious bun. Buttercup can be a bit too confident sometimes and has slipped once or twice but luckily since then she is more aware of what angle and what speed to use when coming down.

Posted By LauraPalmer on 5/10/2017 6:43 AM

That’s what I’m afraid of. Laura is very confident, and very adventurous! She climbs on things that she shouldn’t (before I realize they are of interest to her, and move them). I moved some games so she could get to a shelf and play on it…she climbed on top of the wobbley boxes instead! I’m afraid she would do something silly, like throw in a dramatic binky, and tumble down to the bottom. Also, when I let her into the hall, to see what she would do, she kept trying to squeeze through the rails!

Edit: as I hit send, I looked over to see that she had climbed on top of some books that were tilted in the bookshelf. ??

What a funny bun  I only let the bun’s have access to the stairs when we’re here to supervise, for the very reason you describe. At least if she stumbles, I can jump up and come to her aid (stairs are very close to sofa) I can’t remember if you mentioned before  (I’ll have to re-read) but are the stairs carpeted? 

Edit: Just saw that they are. You’re right that carpet stairs are less risky than wooden. Altho mine are carpet and Butter Bean still slipped twice but it wasn’t hugely dramatic. It spooked her a little but then she realised that stairs are okay if you don’t go racing down lol.