My bunnies’ favorite (free) toy!

[mimimomo]

I wanted to share my bunnies’ favorite toy with you: a big cardboard box closed up so there is a small entrance, filled with stiff packing paper and paper bags. It sure is ugly but they love it!

Usually Mimi just likes to stand on the outside and chew on the packing paper:

Mochi is more adventurous – he goes inside and romps around, digging and scratching and chewing on paper. I think he loves the rustling sound the paper makes when he runs through it. I tried to get a picture of his head poking out, but he was too fast for me…he always rockets out of the box because he’s so excited:

Their second favorite “toy” is similar – this strange textured packing paper I found inside a shipping box:

I keep buying them expensive toys but of course, they prefer to play with things I got for free

[Luna]

They look like they’re having a great time! By the way if you ever run out of the packing paper, try putting an open phone book face-up in the box, then get ready to watch them happily shred it to pieces .

[Jessica]

Amelia loves shipping boxes too, she’s a lucky bun since I get lots of them! She also loves really crinkly plastic bags, and page protectors with a few pieces of paper or light card stock in them. She loves to shake and toss them

[Ellie F.]

I order way too many things online, so this is a great idea! I’ve done something similar, where I gave my rabbits one of those Build A Bear cardboard homes to mess around with. But the packing paper sounds perfect, since I really have no other use for it, lol.

I should probably remove the tape from the box first though, correct?

[Luna]

Correct .

[jerseygirl]

Love it! And the photos!

I need to do this. I really want to get hold of that shredded paper that is really soft. I might have to do some local searches for packing supplies…

I also had a thought after seeing this thread – what about fleece strips? It would take a lot of work initially but they could dig out a pile of fleece strips without issue, don’t you think? I was trying to think of something re-usable as I KNOW one or two of my rabbits will pee on paper packing material.

[Azerane]

Free toys are often the best ones

Fleece strips is a great idea jersey, I do have some fleece that isn’t really good as a whole piece anymore because Bandit put so many little bullet holes in it  I think the strips would have to be relatively short and wide though to avoid tangling/strangle risks?

[jerseygirl]

Yes, I think they would have to be, to play it safe. They wouldn’t make as fun noise when digging at them. But I do like idea of being able to put in a net bag and wash them when required.

[vanessa]

Lancelot used to looove those boxes with the stuffing. Today I’d be afraid he would pee in the box, since he doesn’t know when his bladder is full. I used to give Avalon and Morgana boxes, but they shred them and I worry that they are eating it, coz I don’t find nearly enough shredded cardboard. Just a severe lack of the original cardboard… I’ve been trying to come up with ideas for cheap toys for destructo-buns that won’t impact their health…

[Wick & Fable]

Taping together shoeboxes and their lids make great little villages your buns and crawl in and hop on!

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.

[vanessa]

I find cardboard villages are too slippery for them to hop on.

[vanessa]

Plus – they chew the sides and weaken the structure…

[vanessa]

Oh I didn’t read carefully – you said shoe boxes. That is a good idea. They are low enough to mitigate the slippery…

[Wick & Fable]

Posted By vanessa on 3/13/2017 12:34 PM

Oh I didn’t read carefully – you said shoe boxes. That is a good idea. They are low enough to mitigate the slippery…

For small/long shoe boxes, I advise placing the “box” part face down and cut an entrance (and possible exit) in it. Then, I put tape on the top of the box and place the lid on the top, inside facing up, since the top is usually a bit glossy. The lid has a lip, so bunny feels nice and secure.

I use these as steps to get on larger shoe boxes.

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.

[vanessa]

I like that 🙂 Thanks for the description.

[Wick & Fable]

Here’s Wick’s favorite. There’s a small box on the left in the configuration I described earlier, and the main one is a shoebox with a lid attached, so I swung it around and taped it so it stays, and took a lid from another box to make a little area on the bottom floor. The top floor is sturdy, so he jumps up there as well!

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.

[vanessa]

That is awesome. I buy new shoes once a year (I wear out the soles and my knees start to hurt), so I’ll definitely save up the boxes 🙂

[LittlePuffyTail]

Cute!!!! Bunnies and boxes. Adorable!

[Author]

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