Most bunny owners discover that a simple cardboard box is one of the best toys you can give your bunny. Not only is it free, but it will also keep a bored bunny entertained endlessly as they customize it into their own special den.
It's also good in many other ways including giving your bunny something to chew on other than your baseboards and carpet, it will also help wear down your bunnies teeth which grow constantly through their lives and give them some extra dietary fiber which is essential to their health.
In this guide we show you how to prepare a box and what other bunny owners do with them to make them even more fun.
How to make a cardboard box safe for your bunny
- Remove any staples or tape before you give it to your bunny
- Avoid boxes that have glossy surfaces or heavy print
- Avoid boxes that have stored toxic materials
Cardboard rabbit house
How to prepare the box
The first thing to do is choose the right box. It needs to be big enough for your rabbit to fit in comfortably so they can turn around. If it is a large box then make sure it is sturdy and can be folded up tightly, so it does not collapse on your bunny.
Make sure it's made from plain cardboard without heavy ink printed on it or coloring and avoid boxes with plastic or shiny finishes, the more natural looking the better.
Also think about where the box may have been stored and what's been stored in it as this may have left chemical residues that could be harmful. The best sort of boxes come from supermarkets that once contained food as you know this will be the safest.
Next you need to prepare the box. It is important to remove any staples and tape as this can be dangerous if your rabbit eats it. Boxes that are glued together are also unsuitable. What you want is to be left with just the cardboard.
It is best to fold the flaps of the box over themselves, so it holds together tightly. Place the box with the folded side on the floor. This can help stop your bunny falling through it if they jump on top of it.
It is best to cut a couple of holes in either side of the box to let your bunny pop in and out rather than leaving a side open as this will make the box stronger and last longer.
If you want to make this even more fun, you can try making a few boxes and setting them up as a mini warren or cutting a hole in the side and stuffing a tunnel into it.