eating carpet?

[Adalaide]

I was totally prepared for her to pick a place to dig the carpet and to protect it, but she’s eating it. I tell her no and stop her, which results in very 2 year old behaviour. She goes where I can’t see her and starts again, haha. She’s too smart for me. I wouldn’t care as much if it were my house, but it’s my in-laws house. They were very nice in telling us she’s ok, but my mother-in-law looked at me like I had grown about 5 extra heads when I said she wouldn’t be caged. I want her to see what a wonderful bunny Freya is, but she won’t believe a word I say if Freya eats holes in the carpet. Anyone know how to discourage her? Telling her no and making her stop has turned into a game, but I can’t not stop her. I’ll admit the situation is rather funny, and when I’m laying on the floor with her just out of arms reach under the futon it’s hilarious. But eventually she really needs to stop eating the carpet.

[Sarita]

How old is she? Do you not plan on keeping her in a pen when you are gone from the house…that could be dangerous for a baby rabbit to have free roam of the house.

I imagine that your in-laws will not be happy if this continues. You could try squirting her with some water to see if that will make her stop. Or clap loudly and say “no”.

[megrat7]

Maybe when she does, try punishing her by putting her in her cage? I’m not sure this does any real good, but it helps get your frustration out when you can look over and say HA THATS WHT YOU GET

Offer more appealing toys? phonebooks, willow sticks, a box she can dig in….

Try spritzing the spots she goes after most with a little perfume?

Cover as much floor area as possible with something that cant be chewed? ie seagrass mats or an area rug with a tight weave she cant sink her teeth into

Ah if only there was a permanent solution to this…

[riibu]

You can go to Home Depot and get large tiles to put down in her favorite digging/chewing spots.  These are REALLY helpful in the areas that you can’t reach her (under furniture, particularly).  Beyond that, just be vigilant.  If you catch her doing it, you may want to “punish” her by locking her in her cage or carrier for a bit.

[Adalaide]

Thanks guys. She’s starting to understand the word no finally. I have a carrier for her but she doesn’t have a cage, she’s a bathroom bunny til she’s litter trained then she’s free as long as someone’s home with her. I only wish she had a favorite spot, her spot is wherever she thinks I can’t see her or get to her before she gets a piece of carpet. Little miss smarty pants got herself confined for most of the day today and only had to be told no a few times when she came out to play tonight before bed. She’s got one more day before I take the water bottle to her. Hopefully Freya can start at least trying to be a good girl by then. I bought her so many toys before she came home that my husband probably thought I was crazy. I was like, you really REALLY don’t want her bored.

We’re getting better though. I’m being a tough mom and sounding more stern when I say no, and clapping gets her to pick her head up and stare at me at least. Maybe I didn’t sound like I meant it before, it’s so hard to be stern with her.

[amandafaith90]

I have to watch my baby bun Bambi for carpet chewing too. What I ended up doing is clapping my hands and saying, “NO” while a friend squirted him with water. Now he know’s that “NO” means “possible water squirting” and he really pays attention when I say it. If he tries to chew now, I can say “No” in a normal speaking voice and without clapping and he still stops. It also helps that he has other things he can chew, like his hay, his hidey house, and his wooden rattle. 

[megrat7]

Also, try rotating her toys so she doesnt get ‘bored’ with them. If she hasnt seen some ina day or week she may look at them as ‘new’ and be more interested in it than the carpet!

[KitD]

My buns weren’t very interested in toys until I started storing the “rotated out” toys in the giant zip-lock bag that I store their hays in!

 

[Deleted User]

My rabbits will try their teeth on inappropriate things at night, when clapping hands and saying 'no' loudly is not an option. I use dried sawed-off branches from non-toxic trees which I only offer at night so it's more novel to them. Sometimes I offer twigs, or thin pieces, I try to vary shape and size to get my rabbits interested. It has helped prevent carpet chewing tremendously. Cardboard pieces, flat and large ones are attractive to carpet chewers also because they can sit on them at the same time as ripping at them. I leave cardboard out during the day time when the noise won't bother anyone in my house. --You mentioned toys, if your rabbit likes them, good, many rabbits don't care for store-bought toys.

Some safe trees are

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willow, spruce, ash, birch, hawthorn, maple, apple, juniper, poplar, pear, and hazel. Do not give branches from single-seeded fruit trees such as plum, cherry or peach. Wash branches but don't give them fresh; let them dry out for three months.

Tiles are a real carpet saver, indeed, especially if your rabbit has already started a spot in the carpet.

I would still recommend getting some sort of enclosure to use at times since you don't want to risk wearing out Freya's welcome with your mother-in-law

.

Once the bark is gone, they’re finished.

[Adalaide]

She’s doing better sometimes and not so well others. She’s definately not a fan of store bought toys. I even bought her sticks and she doesn’t want those either. I am though a huge fan of giraffes and have a ton of toys, one of which is a raquet ball covered with fabric with arms and legs and a head. She doesn’t chew him, but she loves throwing him around. She also loves boxes. I still have a bunch of empty boxes from moving in and I’ve given her a few which she’ll sit and chew for up to 5 minutes at a time, I think that’s the longest her attention span ever gets. She hangs out in the bathroom when I have to run errands or go to bed, or if she’s in trouble for chewing carpet. I do have a pet carrier, but she doesn’t like being in it and it is very small. But we keep a newspaper on top of it for her to eat since she’s a climber. Funniest thing ever, she jumped up, the newpaper slid and her and it ended up on the floor. I hope she didn’t get her feeling hurt but I laughed my butt off. Undeterred she was back up there in about 30 seconds.

I guess though that I’m probably the luckiest bunny mommy ever. She keeps the same late night schedule I do, assuming she ever sleeps which I doubt. And she has never expressed even a mild interest in any wires, it’s almost as if she knows they’re Freya proof without trying. I’m gonna get her a couple of those mats from the store and see if she likes them, that’s a great suggestion. We also have an apple tree in the yard that didn’t survive the winter, I’m gonna salvage as much as is reasonable for her. Free sticks are far better than buying sticks, I felt really stupid paying for them. Thanks for your suggestions everyone.

[Author]

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