Foam mat flooring

[Mimzy]

I really want to take the carpet out of my room and get something else, especially since carpet does not help in the summer with keeping it cooler.

I thought about those foam puzzle mats that I often see people use (it would cover my whole floor though). Just was wondering if anyone has had trouble with their bunnies scratching and chewing up these mats?

I would love to have laminate flooring but can imagine Mimzy wouldn’t much enjoy slipping everywhere doing binkies and zoomies So there is the option of laminate flooring with a large rug. Otherwise, my other idea was to use some other mats that are made exactly like the foam mats but they are a hard plastic that lays flatter than foam mats and is grippy. We use these in the kitchen for my elderly dog so she does not slip around the tile and fall.

I’d probably take out the carpet completely and just lay the mats on the concrete underneath. Unfortunately, I have only seen the plastic puzzle mats in black D: and I’m sure I’d have to measure and cut the edges where they meet the wall. Any other suggestions? Just need some kind of flooring that will help keep it a little cooler in my room for the summer. Gets up to 80 in my room here O_o

[RabbitPam]

Not all bunnies object to flooring, especially when it’s hot, so I would take her out onto floor like you have under the carpet and see how she behaves first. Some bunnies love cool marble tiles in warm weather. My bunny won’t set foot on flooring, but she’s funny in several ways.

I’ve never used the puzzle pieces because despite what others have said, I am too worried about bunny chewing. What I tried most recently, and it might work for an area in your room, are flat seagrass mattes. They are smooth and low, and I tied them together to make an xpen floor. Sure enough, Sammy started eating them at the edges, but they are completely healthy for her so it’s not bad to ingest.

I have also used very low pile area rugs from Target (Sarita found hers in the past at Walmart) that are about $20. I can lay them down for traction, or roll them up. It’s a 4ft. x 5ft. one, so easy to handle. Perhaps you could get one of those, roll it out for her to play and run, then tuck it under your bed to expose cool floor for yourself. If your bunny gets used to the floor, she may be OK running on both, or just floor eventually.

[RabbitPam]

Also, a sissel rug, like a remnant on sale, might be good to try. Look for area rugs that are for summertime, or cottages, or porches. Not the indoor/outdoor weather-proofed ones (chemicals on them) but the woven cotton, or straw kind that are not as dense as carpeting.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

I put the puzzles under other flooring, to make the floor soft. Right now i have puzzle pieces under our current favorite flooring-rubber backed carpet tiles. About 15 months with this set up and they can’t reach the puzzle floor to chew. But I definitely wouldn’t trust it on it’s own, I think mine would devour the puzzle pieces.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I tried the puzzle mats with Bindi. He didn’t have access to the edges to chew but he pulled up the connector tabs and started to chew them so I had to remove the mats. I think foam is just too tempting for many buns.

[Mimzy]

Definitely think Mimzy would chew up the foam mats then. I will take the carpet out and see how she does on the flooring underneath before I get anything else. Don’t want to deal with the worry of over heating like I had to last summer :/
Thank you!

[Sam and Lady's Human]

My Sam dug at/chewed the foam tiles. They also let pee slip between the cracks, so gross. We only used them for a couple weeks and took them out.
It might be easier to just add a sheet of vinyl on top of the carpet, or a few ceramic tiles as an option to flop on.

[BinkyBuster]

I had used puzzle pieces for many months because Buster couldn’t walk properly on my hardwood floor in my room. It lasted almost the whole school year (8 months) and in the last I’d say 3 weeks he started to eat it. Sooo strange… I put some blankets over them and fastened them with soem binder clips, which did the trick. I’d say they’re okay for a temporary fix as long as you’re monitoring it – it’s really easy to tell if they’ve been nibbling on it.

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