House Rabbit Safety Disaster

[Floppy]

TL/DR: my cage free rabbit chewed my Ethernet cable and I do not know what to do

So some of you may know, I have my rabbit Casper who is free roam in my bedroom. I was not meant to get another rabbit until he was neutered, I put a deposit down on Daisy through a rehome-from-home with nearby adoption centre. I went to view Daisy, found out that she was kept in an 80cm cage and I took her home that day.

So I have a big long cable that goes from a hole in my wall to the router. I think it’s called an Ethernet cable. I bought some conduit to cover the whole thing, but cutting the conduit was too difficult and it hurt my hands, so I have blocked off the sofa and run the cable behind it. I used a pillow to stop her getting behind the back or sofa and I ran the cable under the pillow, the exposed part covered in conduit.

This morning and destroyed that pillow. Pulled all the stuffing out, and took a good few bites out of that Ethernet cable!!!! Ahhh!! Now they’re only little nibbles but I don’t know if it’s safe. I’m assuming I can’t run it under pillow now, I don’t want to start a fire or for her to chew cable and get electrocuted!!

I tried a first bonding session with her and my not-yet-neutered male and it went really well, but they can’t be properly bonded until he’s neutered can they?

I don’t know what to do now!!! I can go out and leave bunny to electrocute herself, can’t conceal the cable incase it causes fire. Daisy does not have a cage other than that stupid thing she can’t stand up in.

Please help.

[Muchelle]

Fix the cable to the wall?

[Luna]

Is there any wiring inside the cable that is now exposed? If you aren’t sure if the cable is safe, I would replace it for both your and the buns’ safety. Instead of using a pillow, maybe you could block it off with some thick pieces of non-toxic wood?

As for the bonding, you are correct that they cannot be properly bonded until he is neutered.

[Wick & Fable]

I can’t get a visual image of the wall/cable/sofa set up, but would corrugated loom around the wire be possible?

See: https://www.amazon.com/Panduit-CLT50F-C20-Corrugated-Tubing-Black/dp/B00AJMV1ZW
— for an example of it. They come in different sizes, and usually come with a cut in the tube, so all you need to do is pry it open a bit and put the wire(s) in.

I had some when Wick first arrived, but didn’t end up using it because Wick does not chew anything, so I cannot attest to how a chew-er would engage with it. I imagine it’d be difficult to chew on it since it’s a larger-diameter circle.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[tobyluv]

Could you get another cage or pen for her? You might be able to find low cost ones on Craig’s List, or even free ones on Freecycle or neighborhood community websites like Nextdoor, if money is an issue. If you are okay with spending money on a new cage or pen, you might have trouble finding a large enough cage in a pet store, but an x-pen or a dog crate would be roomier.

If that cable has been compromised, it should be replaced to eliminate any safety hazards. If you still don’t have a cage or pen for her when you replace the cable, it should be blocked off by something more secure or well wrapped. I had a rabbit that chewed through wire wraps, so you still have to be careful.

I assume that Daisy is spayed, but until Casper is neutered, they shouldn’t be together at all, not even for a few minutes. You are risking injuries. If rabbits fight, besides being injured, it can make them dislike the other rabbit and not want to be with them in the future.

[ThorBunny]

I agree that the cable should be replaced when you can do it, as it will be a hazard if wires are exposed.

In the short term, you can wrap the nibbled wire with electrical tape. This will insulate the wire better, and I would put something other than a pillow over it to block her access. Do you have some non-chewable boxes or other large things to block it with?

[Author]

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