Chews cardboard like a fiend

[Kabob is Feisty]

Hello, I have a male rabbit neutered and potty trained. He lives in my garage since my parents don’t want him inside, due to dust from hay and newspapers.

 My main issue is that my rabbit chews out the cardboard boxes I put in his cage, to bits and literally it becomes a skeletal box, all flimsy and moth eaten look. He also chews up the newspaper on the floor. I don’t know if it is due to boredom since I am away at school and he is stuck in his cage or if he as behavioral issues I need to fix when I go home.

 If it is boredom, I haven’t been able to take him outside due to rain, but otherwise I take him out every few days or so depending on the availability on my family who can move him outside, since I am away to school.

His cage is big, a x-large dog cage that is 3 feet tall. enough to move around and stretch out with room to spare.

Please help!

[Bam]

I’d say he’s bored. Could you give him sth else to chew as well as cardboard boxes? Like twigs or branches from willow, apple or some other bunny-safe trees?
Does he eat the newspaper + cardboard or is he just shredding it? They can eat some cardboard without danger to their health, but they shouldn’t eat lots and lots of it.

If he’s just shredding the stuff, I’d say let him. A bunny need sth to do. Destroying stuff is one of their favourite pastimes =) But some twigs and/or branches would still be good,

[justwildbeat]

Mine has toys and twigs galore but just loves to shred up cardboard. He only does it to “build” alternate doors or pathways. Also sometimes rabbits destroy stuff in order to get attention too.

Does anyone spend time with your rabbit everyday? Even though I may be in the same room as my bun for several hours, I’m not really paying attention to him. So I always try to set aside some time to personally interact with him. Teaching tricks, playing with toys, taking pictures lol.

[Deleted User]

Hi! Your bunny is lonely and bored. I am a new bunny owner too and when we bought him home and did our research, the very first thing we came across and always see, is that bunny’s adore/thrive on companionship. Don’t get me wrong, my bunny hates being picked up and only likes to be patted when ‘he’ is in the mood – but gee, he follows us from room to room. Meaning, if we are in the kitchen, he’s around somewhere. If we all relocate to the lounge, within minutes, he may be under a chair, but he’s in the same room as us.
I don’t think the huge cage (which is wonderful – good on you) makes up for living alone, sorry. I feel so bad telling you this, you are a good owner to be concerned and come on this site to ask the question in relation to his chewing. How wonderful are you! But your bunny needs company and attention. The chewing of cardboard boxes…. some chewing etc. I think is all ok – I have packing boxes under my bed. When I go to move, I bet I’ll have none, ha hah. Try and chat with your parents to see if he can be introduced into the house, who knows, they may fall in love with him too?
All the best. Cheers.

[Author]

Messages