Guides

What Are the Best Toys for a Bunny?

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Safe toys for a bunny made from natural willow
22
Dec

Choosing the right toys for a bunny is about more than just entertainment. Rabbits are smart, social animals that need entertainment and stimulation to keep them from getting bored. Bored bunnies may chew on their own skin and hair or destroy furniture or other inappropriate objects, such as baseboards, walls and carpet.

If you share your home with an indoor rabbit, providing safe, engaging toys is essential for their physical and mental wellbeing. But with so many options available, how do you know which rabbit toys are actually safe? This guide covers everything Australian bunny owners need to know.

Why Do Rabbits Need Toys?

Rabbits’ teeth grow continuously throughout their lives, so they must chew on hay every day to help keep their teeth from overgrowing. Rabbits also have an innate need to chew. Without appropriate outlets for this instinct, your bunny will find their own chewing projects, and your furniture, cables, and skirting boards will pay the price.

Enrichment activities like toys and puzzles are essential for preventing boredom in pet rabbits, which can lead to destructive behaviour.

Signs your bunny needs more enrichment:

  • Chewing on cage bars or furniture
  • Excessive digging at carpets or corners
  • Overgrooming or pulling out fur
  • Lethargy and lack of interest in surroundings
  • Rattling enclosure bars or thumping for attention

A bored bunny is a destructive bunny. The good news is that preventing boredom is simple with the right toys and enrichment activities.

How Do I Choose Safe Toys for a Bunny?

Not all toys marketed for rabbits are actually safe. Before adding any toy to your bunny’s environment, check the materials carefully.

Safe materials for rabbit toys:

The best toys for rabbits are made from hardwood, cardboard or paper. These materials are okay for rabbits to gnaw on and are digestible if ingested in small amounts.

Dried apple, mulberry, and willow sticks are really popular items. Items made out of dried grasses such as bamboo, seagrass, sisal, jute, hemp, wicker, and straw are also good choices.

Materials to avoid:

Fabric, carpet, soft rubber, metal or plastic toys, especially those that have small pieces that break off easily, are not recommended for bunnies. Small pieces that break off can be ingested and potentially lead to GI tract obstruction.

Never give your rabbit wood or toys from trees that produce fruit with a pit, such as peaches, plums, cherries, apricots, and avocados. All parts of these trees are toxic to animals.

Also avoid cedar, pine (unless kiln-dried), and any painted, stained, or treated wood products.

What Are the Best Types of Toys for a Bunny?

Here are seven safe and enriching toys for a bunny that Australian rabbit owners recommend.

1. Chew Toys

Chewing is essential for dental health. Chewing is how rabbits keep their teeth from overgrowing. Look for toys made from apple wood sticks, willow balls, or compressed hay.

Chewing on willow helps wear down rabbits’ continuously growing teeth, preventing dental issues such as molar spurs.

Browse our Rabbit Toys collection for natural chew options that are safe and satisfying for your bunny.

2. Hay Mats and Grass Mats

Grass hay cubes, mats, and toys such as balls, huts, twists, and rings give your rabbit fun and enriching experiences. Hay mats serve double duty as both a toy and a source of fibre. Your bunny can chew, dig, and rest on them.

Seagrass mats are particularly popular with indoor rabbits as they are easy to clean and suitable for Australian homes. They protect your floors while giving your bunny an appropriate surface to scratch and nibble.

3. Tunnels and Hideaways

Tunnels can be bought as plastic and fabric tunnels or created from cardboard boxes or tubes. RSPCA Rabbits love running through tunnels at speed, which provides excellent exercise and mental stimulation.

For indoor rabbits, fabric tunnels are easy to fold away when not in use and simple to clean. Pair tunnels with a cosy hideaway from our Rabbit Hideaways & Beds collection for the perfect play and rest setup.

4. Foraging Toys

Foraging encourages rabbits to exhibit their natural instincts and helps prevent destructive behaviours that can arise from boredom.

You can create simple foraging activities by stuffing toilet paper rolls with hay and hiding treats inside. Commercial foraging toys filled with herbs and hay also keep bunnies occupied for hours.

5. Toss and Roll Toys

Things like hard plastic baby keys, small untreated wooden blocks, or lightweight willow rings are excellent choices. They are easy to manage and make a satisfying clatter when they land, which adds to the fun.

Many rabbits love picking up toys and flinging them across the room. Willow balls and wooden rings are perfect for this behaviour and completely safe if chewed.

6. Digging Boxes

Safe places for rabbits to dig include large plant pots or litter trays filled with earth, cardboard boxes filled with shredded paper or sandpits filled with child-friendly sand. RSPCA

For indoor rabbits, a box filled with shredded paper or hay is a clean, mess-free alternative that satisfies their natural digging instinct without destroying your carpet.

7. Cardboard Boxes and Paper

Cardboard boxes are loved by rabbits. Try cutting two holes in either side of a cardboard box for your bunny to run through, or fill a tissue box with hay or small bits of scrunched-up cardboard for them to pull out. PDSA

Cardboard is one of the most affordable and versatile toys for a bunny. Just ensure there is no tape, staples, or excessive ink on the cardboard before offering it to your rabbit.

What Mistakes Should I Avoid When Choosing Bunny Toys?

Even well-meaning owners sometimes make mistakes with rabbit toys. Here are common pitfalls to avoid.

Mistake 1: Buying toys with unsafe materials

Painted or stained objects as well as those that contain large amounts of glue or other adhesives should not be offered to rabbits. The chemicals within these materials may be harmful if consumed.

Mistake 2: Using outdoor sticks and branches

Outdoor sticks can carry mould, pesticides, or parasites. Stick with dried, pet-safe branches sold through rabbit supply channels.

Mistake 3: Leaving the same toys out indefinitely

Keep them on their paws by giving a few toys to your rabbits and storing some of them away. Swap the toys over after a week or two to stop them from getting bored of the same old toys. PDSA

Mistake 4: Not supervising with new toys

Always monitor your bunny when introducing a new toy. Excess ingestion of toy materials, even if they are safe for rabbits, can cause gastrointestinal irritation and stasis, a common and potentially life-threatening condition in rabbits.

How Often Should I Rotate My Bunny’s Toys?

A good rule of thumb is to have 3-5 different types of toys available for your rabbit at any one time. Rotate toys weekly to keep things fresh and exciting. Even familiar toys feel new after a break.

This approach also gives you the opportunity to clean toys between uses, which is especially important for indoor rabbits in Australian homes where hygiene matters.

Keep Your Indoor Bunny Happy and Healthy

Providing the right toys for a bunny is one of the best ways to ensure your indoor rabbit lives a happy, healthy life. Focus on safe, natural materials that satisfy their instincts to chew, dig, forage, and explore.

At WeLoveMochi, we stock a carefully curated range of bunny-safe enrichment options. Explore our collections:

Give your bunny the enrichment they deserve. Shop safe, natural rabbit toys at WeLoveMochi today.