How do I save a carpet from bunny teeth?

[Nat]

     This is about my number one question. When I move to an apartment and create a bunny room, do I have carpet? I can’t imagine the landlord being very happy about shredded carpets. Or do I have hardwood floors in the room? Since I’ve done some researching and fallen in love with the rex (who have very sensitive feet), wouldn’t that be a problem as far as sore hocks go?

   So, how do you save your carpet from bunnies? Would hardwood hurt a rexes feet?

[Elrohwen]

I like having hardwood floors because I can choose to put down rugs that are cheap and can be chewed up. You can always cover carpet in the cage area though, so it won’t get chewed. There are plenty of easy ways to cover existing carpet.

I do think having some carpet for exercising is important – I like having hardwood in my bunny area, but my carpeted living room is necessary for them to get traction to do binkies and run around. Otto would prefer if our next house had wall to wall carpet.

[kralspace]

I pick up 3×5 and 5×8 carpet rugs when I see them on sale to put over the good carpet. You can’t throw them in the washer but they’re fairly cheap to replace when they get too stained and dirty. If you don’t have p/p wars going on between bunnies they would last even longer.

[Beka27]

Carpeting can be just as detrimental to rex feet. You have to be diligent and provide a variety of flooring materials. And your biggest defense against sore hocks will be frequent nails trims and keeping your bunny’s weight well-controlled.

It’s in their nature to want to dig and chew. And carpeting will oftentimes take a beating. I would make sure your deposit covers replacing carpeting when you move out, and if it’s that bad, you just might not get it back. It’s not really a big deal in my opinion. That’s why you pay it.

[Nat]

Hmm…I quess in a bunny room I would have hardwood floor, a fairly large carpet rug, and some tile. Then free range of the apartment would be carpet or hardwood. Thanks for the sore hock prevention info, Beka27!

[TH004]

You know, my bunny always liked to dig in one area, so I got her a dig mat made out of hay so that she wasn’t being destructive. She loved it! We’re on our third one 🙂

[bunny_psychotic]

to Elrohwen:  you are so right about them needing the traction from carpets to do binkies.  I have had Vie since Jan ’10 and there has been NO binkies at all!  Then finally, over the wknd he did 3 in a row, all on the area rug. (I have hardwoods). And you’re also right. My last place had wall to wall carpet. My bun was in Paradise!

[Monkeybun]

My bunnies have never chewed on the carpet.. maybe I’m just lucky

[Elrohwen]

Bunny_psychotic, Otto couldn’t live without his carpet! He haaates the hardwood and some days he refuses to cross it from his cage to the living room. Hannah’s ok with it, but definitely only binkies on carpet.

My local rescue actually requires you to have some carpet, in their application, because it’s so important for bunny exercise.

[RabbitPam]

Posted By Monkeybun on 06/10/2010 02:21 PM
My bunnies have never chewed on the carpet.. maybe I’m just lucky

You are definitely lucky.

I have an apartment with low pile (better) wall to wall carpet. She started to chew on the edges, because that’s where they can pull it up. I got the smooth, flat seagrass mattes and cut them into pieces about 2″ wide, but long, and set them down on the edges of the carpet she chewed. Also a bit of vinegar and water as a smell deterrant. She didn’t do it any more. Plus, give some chew toys that are yummy, like willow sticks, so you can distract her with a positive alternative.

[Elrohwen]

My two have never chewed on the area rug in the living room – could be because I’m usually around when they’re in the living room and they know better.

But when they’ve been upstairs, they were all over digging at the carpet in the corners! So I’ve been lucky, but if I had wall to wall carpet, I’m pretty sure they would be tearing it up.

[Rippy]

You could try and give them a few old towels so they can “dig” in them. My bunnies really enjoy it and it keeps there focus away from the carpet .

[Nat]

WOW Monkeybun…hopefully I can be so lucky.

Rippy- great idea!

Okay. New and almost positively sure plan is still hardwood floors, but my own huge mat of carpet where ever needed so technically it’s not the landlords or nothin and it can be replaced easier… Thanks, guys! Everyone!

[Author]

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