Harry doesn’t play with anything

[Radhika]

I’m probably being super-paranoid because I’m a new bun-mum, but I’m getting slightly concerned that Harry isn’t playing with anything. And I mean ANYTHING!

You can see from the list I’ve tried a lot of things, but I have staggered them over the course of a week so it’s not like he’s just overwhelmed. I also leave them where I put them rather than constantly swapping toys, so that he can go back to it and explore more. But he doesn’t. Here is the list:

– A box with shredded paper. He used it as a litter tray but didn’t dig the paper or do anything with it.

– A box with carpet in. He doesn’t chew/dig the carpet, or sit on it.

– A box with newspaper. He shredded the paper for about 10 seconds and then never again.

– A large (2 ft long) willow basket stuffed with hay. He does go inside it to munch his hay but he doesn’t burrow/dig or chew the willow itself.

– A punch bowl with compost and grass. He ate the grass but didn’t dig in the compost (I was kind of glad, that would have been messy )

– A cardboard box with holes for him to go inside and look out. He went in there once for a few seconds, never again.

– A dog chew toy. Totally ignored.

– Towels, totally ignored.

– A ball, totally ignored.

– Willow sticks, sniffed and ignored.

– Two rattling cat toys (safe for bunnies to chew), ignored.

– A book to shred, sniffed and ignored.

– A cardbard ‘tunnel’ for him to run through or sit in. Ignored.

The only thing I can get him to ‘play’ with is a plastic cup which I stuff with his veggies, and he throws it around to get them out. But once it’s empty he ignores it and doesn’t want to play any more. 

He seems like a very happy bunny, he binkies several times a day. But I’m worried that he isn’t getting any mental stimulation and also that the only thing he chews on is his food, nothing hard like the willow sticks. He showed a brief interest in chewing my laptop so I thought great! He likes plastic, let me get him plastic toys! But he doesn’t like to chew his cup or the plastic cat toy or his litter box etc… and he doesn’t even try and chew my laptop any more.

I thought he might play more when he was settled, but he’s as relaxed as can be (flops in my arms, flops in all the rooms, binkies every few hours) and he still has no interest in digging/chewing/tunnelling/playing.

What else can I try? Should I just stop worrying?

[Beka27]

Stop worrying. He sounds like he’s perfectly content. I would continue to have the willow items available because he may start chewing on them. My buns sometimes take a week or longer to warm up to a new object. You can give a bun a toy, but you can’t make him play… lol.

[Radhika]

So true! I hope when he’s bonded his wife will entice him to play. It’s probably for my pleasure more than his but I would really like to see him being a playful bunny

[NikkiBun]

I would not worry like Beka27 said it take them awhile to warm up to new toys. When I first Pan he did not play with anything. He had to realize that he could play with things. Now he loves his cat ball and willow sticks!

[Radhika]

Thanks. Will leave the toys dotted around and show him them every so often so he can have a sniff and maybe figure out what to do with them. But if he is binkying without toys then I should just be grateful I have an undemanding bunny

[LittlePuffyTail]

All bunnies are unique and some just don’t enjoy toys as much as others. My buns enjoyed toys when they were younger but now they will only play with toys if there is a tasty payoff.

They like treat bags. I take a paper bag and stuff it with hay, flower petals, apple twigs, a sprinkle of pellets and something tasty like a small piece of carrot or dried papaya chunk. Then I tie it with a piece of hay. Keeps them busy for a while.

[tanlover14]

Wow, sounds like a total Diva! Hahaha, anyways…. if he’s binkying and happy — it really sounds like he’s a content, happy bunny! Seems like us bunny parents worry about everything.. I know the feeling for sure!

[Radhika]

I will try the treat bag. I will have fun making it even if Harry doesn’t have fun getting the treats out.

I think Diva is the right word for him! When he wants me to wake up in the morning he thumps loudly on the floor so I get up and give him breakfast.

[Radhika]

I finally found something he likes – apple wood. I snapped a twig off an apple tree today and presented it to him without much hope. He has stripped the whole thing already, I will get him more tomorrow.

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