Are you looking for the best hideout toy to give your rabbit somewhere to shelter and to stop them getting bored?
We have reviewed the most popular types of Grassy Wood or Plastic Hideouts, Pop up Tents and Tunnels as well as Cardboard Castles and tell you their good and bad points.
We tested them with our rabbits to share their reactions as well as rating them for Value for money, Mess and Noise nuisance.
We explain how these toys can help control unwanted behaviour like hiding under your bed or couch and how the shelter they provide will help keep your rabbit healthy and happy.
Don’t waste money on a toy that may end up being ignored, take a look at our shortlist of the hideouts we think your rabbit will love so you can choose the right one.
1 Collapsible tunnel
Fun: Very exciting
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: No mess!
From 12.00
Buy it on Amazon
Good for encouraging your bunny to play with rather than under you bed or couch by giving your bunny something suitable to explore. They can also be neatly packed away when not needed.
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2 Tent and tunnel system
Fun: Irrisistable!
Cost: Affordable
Mess: No mess!
From 24.00
Buy it on Amazon
A brilliant toy to stretch you and your bunnies imagination. You can set it out differently again and again and it can be easily packed away when not needed.
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3 Wooden hideaway house
Fun: Enjoyable
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: A bit untidy
From 24.00
Buy it on Amazon
These toys are a great way to let your bunny explore places of shelter safely. A must have for bunnies that are always hiding under furniture.
Find out more
1Collapsible tunnel
From 12.00
Buy it on Amazon
Cloth tunnels are a nice big toy that can be easily brought out to make an area more fun for your bunny and can always be folded away when not needed. They also make a lot less mess then cardboard or wicker tubes that tend to spread mess about. They can also be helpful to offer an alternative to going under your furniture where you may not want your bunny to play. Always check to see they are an Collapsible tunnel made for bunnies as there are cat tubes available which may not be suitable.
Our bunnies verdict
This is a very simple toy that offers a lot of fun. We were worried out bunny would chew it and expose the metal wire inside be he didn't seem to be interested in this. We did however replace this in the end with a tunnel warren system with three interconnecting tubes as this helped stopped it rolling around when out bunny crashed through it.
Overall
Good for encouraging your bunny to play with rather than under you bed or couch by giving your bunny something suitable to explore. They can also be neatly packed away when not needed.
Key features
- It packs away very tidily when not in use
- I can be wiped down if any mess gets on it
- It will encourage your bunny to explorer in a room more
Fun: Very exciting
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: No mess!
2Tent and tunnel system
From 24.00
Buy it on Amazon
If you want to get your bunny something really special then a Tent and tunnel system could be for you. With these tunnel and tent system you can build your bunny a complete warred of interconnecting junctions and tents at the end. They will take up quite a lot of room however they are made from lightweight materials that can be folded up and packed away when not needed. These will really appeal to a curios bunny that likes to explore.
Our bunnies verdict
This toy was great to keep out bunny amused. Every time we set it out differently out bunny would find exploring it irritable. It does take up quite a bit or room, but the novelty made it a lot more fun they a regular activity tunnel.
Overall
A brilliant toy to stretch you and your bunnies imagination. You can set it out differently again and again and it can be easily packed away when not needed.
Key features
- You can have fun building your bunny its own warren
- You can set it out however you want, and it can be easily packed away when not needed
Fun: Irrisistable!
Cost: Affordable
Mess: No mess!
3Wooden hideaway house
From 24.00
Buy it on Amazon
Bunnies naturally look for places of shelter to explore and rest in and hideaways are ideal for providing a suitable space for them to play without you having to chase them out from under your bed or couch. If you are looking for something that will act as a permanent shelter for your bunny then a sturdy Wooden hideaway house is the best choice as they are strong enough for your rabbits to jump on top and they will also enjoy eating the soft wood.
Our bunnies verdict
We have tried a few of these and the best for us was the more natural wooded kind as our bunny enjoys nibbling on it. We have a solid floor so we also prefer the kind without a base so we can mop underneath with the rest of the room, however if you have carpet you may want the kind with a base to help prevent stains. We tried the sort with a grassy covering however it didn't prove any more exciting to our rabbits and caused quite a bit of mess, so we got rid of it in the end.
Overall
These toys are a great way to let your bunny explore places of shelter safely. A must have for bunnies that are always hiding under furniture.
Key features
- A safe way to let your bunny explore places of shelter
- Your bunny will love exploring inside and sitting in the entrance
Fun: Enjoyable
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: A bit untidy
4Willow bridge
From 12.00
Buy it on Amazon
This wooden adventure chew toy is made from a series of thick wooden sticks joined together and can be bent into a variety of shape to make hideaways and bridges. They have a soft wooden bark that can be chewed and your bunny will enjoy picking this out between the logs. Underneath the bark there is some tough wood that makes this toy resilient enough to be left out as a permanent shelter. They come in a variety of sizes, but you will probably need a larger one if you want to turn it into a hideaway. We recommend the natural looking Willow bridge with a bark as opposed to the some of the more colourful stained ones.
Our bunnies verdict
We have a few of these as we have found a number of uses for them as a toy and to help bunny proof our home. We found a good way of setting them out is to bend them into a semi-circle and leave them on their side as our bunny likes tucking his but inside it for a snooze. We also use them to protect things from being chewed by leaning them up against baseboards and wrapping them around furniture legs or the corners of furniture to protect them.
Overall
Great to use for lots of bunny proofing jobs like wrapping around furniture. We would not be without these toys as they are an essential part of the bunny proofing we have.
Key features
- Ideal for using to protect baseboards and the corners of furniture
- Can be made into a great hideaway
- This toy is tough and will last a long time
Fun: Enjoyable
Cost: Great value
Mess: No mess!
5Cardboard chew tube
From 6.00
Buy it on Amazon
Most bunnies homes have had a Cardboard chew tube at one point or another as they are relatively inexpensive and come in attractive colors and designs. You can leave them out for your bunny to play in and they will soon discover they can strip the layers of paper off and customizing it to their own needs. They come in a variety of sizes so make sure you choose one that's big enough for your bun to hop through comfortably if they are a larger bread. These toys can take up quite a lot of space so may not be suitably in a small environment where they may restrict your bunnies movement.
Our bunnies verdict
We got one of these when we brought home a baby bunny and it became a part of his routine hopping through it and he really like it, however when he got older he mostly discarded it as a tunnel and used it as a giant chew . We did try out alternatives such as Alfalfa coated tubes, but they don't seem to prove any more attractive than the basic cardboard ones and created an awful lot more mess.
Overall
Great for bunnies that like to run around, shred paper and play in hideaways. Young bunnies will especially like this.
Key features
- A great toy that you bunny will enjoy stripping they layers of paper off and using as a hideaway
- We would avoid ones covered in grass as they don't seem any more interesting and make quire a mess
Fun: Enjoyable
Cost: Great value
Mess: Easy to clean
6Snuggle tunnel
From 10.00
Buy it on Amazon
As the name suggests Snuggle tunnel are a combination of a pet bed and a small tunnel. They have soft padded sides and base which would keep your rabbit insulated from a cold floor. The base is more stable then a thinner cloth tunnel so more comfortable for your bunny to nest in. These toys are often quite small so may be better for smaller breads. They are also machine washable which is great as areas where bunnies nest in can get a bit messy over time.
Our bunnies verdict
We have hard floors in our home so we got one these to provide a bit of comfort. Out bunny did like to sit in it from time to time when he was resting but more half off then half on it.
Overall
The perfect toy for playing in and nesting. A great way to offer a bit of comfort in an area with a hard floor.
Key features
- They have soft padded sides and base which would keep your bunny insulated from a cold floor
- They would provide a bit of comfort in an area with hard floors.
Fun: Enjoyable
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: Compleat destuction
7Twig tunnel
From 14.00
Buy it on Amazon
These attractive hideaways are not only great fun for your bunny to play in, the soft twigs are also good for chewing so this toy is guaranteed to be a favorite. They come in a variety or materials such as wicker and willow and you can get a full tube or a half tube shape which is better as it will not roll around as much. Make sure you buy a Twig tunnel for bunnies, not a home decoration which often come treated with varnish or flame resistant chemicals.
Our bunnies verdict
This toy was a bit of a special treat as it's quite expensive. Our bunny really loved it, so much so we had to put it away and bring it out when we could supervise him around it as he would have tried to eat in in one go. It did make quite a bit of mess when it finally fell apart so was a bit of a waste at the end.
Overall
A fun toy for your bunny to play in and chew. They can be expensive and if you bunny really like chewing it, don't expect it to last very long.
Key features
- If you bunny really like it they can demolish one of these in no time
- They can get messy when they start to fall apart
Fun: Very exciting
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: A bit untidy
8Foldable plastic tunnel
From 10.00
Buy it on Amazon
These Foldable plastic tunnel can be stretched out and bent into lots of interesting shapes and when you have finished with them they can be collapsed down neatly and easily packed away. They make a good additional toy to bring out into an area or can be left out pertinently without worry as they can be washed clean and are unlikely to be chewed as much as some other cloth tunnel toys. That also make great outside toys as the plastic material will be whether proof.
Our bunnies verdict
We used one of these when we had a younger bunny as it was easy to clean when he was learning to use his litter tray. It did roll around a bit and way quite noisy.
Overall
A hard wearing toy for inside and outside use. These tough plastic tubes will last a long time.
Key features
- These tough plastic tubes will last a long time
- They can be used inside and out and can be wiped clean
Fun: Enjoyable
Cost: Great value
Mess: No mess!
9Grassy house
From 21.00
Buy it on Amazon
Grass hideaways are perfect for popping in and out of and your bunny will enjoy chewing the soft grassy material. They tend to be on the small side so make sure you get one that's suitable for your bunnies breed as you may need a Grassy house that will give your bunny room to sit and turn around in them.
Our bunnies verdict
We found our bunny was not that interested in going inside this but loved it as a giant chew toy. We ended up getting him a cardboard box as a hide away as well which he preferred. It also made quite a lot of mess when it start to break down.
Overall
A great chew toy and hideaway while it lasts.
Key features
- These make a great chew toy but do make quite a lot of mess when they start to collapse.
- They tend to be on the small side so make sure you get one that's suitable for your bunnies breed.
Fun: Very exciting
Cost: A bit pricy
Mess: A bit untidy
About this review
We understand how important it is to provide your rabbit with lots of hideout toys they can explore and rest in. Rabbits are always on the lookout for places to shelter, and prefer spending time in places that feel protected and out of harm's sight. Providing your rabbit with a few hideout toys can help make them more relaxed and importantly can also act as a great alternative to less suitable places they may go such as under your bed or couch which can be unsafe.
We created this review because we know choosing the best hideaway toy for your rabbit can be difficult as there is a whole range of toys to choose from. They come in a variety of materials, shapes and sizes which all have their merits.
Wooden shelters are safe to jump on and act as a bit of a chew toy. Small tents can be popped up then packed away when not needed to save space. You even get systems of tunnels and tents you can join together to make a warren!
In this guide we review the most popular types of hideaway toys and discuss their good and bad points as well as the benefits they bring to help you choose the best toy for your rabbit.
We focus on the toys benefits to your bunnies health and happy
Our reviews put the benefits to your bunnies wellbeing first. We understand how providing toys to satisfy your bunnies natural instincts to shelter is important to encourage them to relax and feel safe. In our reviews we take a close look at the pros and cons of each type of toy to help you choose the best one for your situation.
We consider the many benefits they have as well as any negative aspects you should be aware of. We advise on how safe these toys will be for instance when your rabbit crashes in and out of them or jumps on them or chooses to eat them. We would not review toys that are glued together or constructed from materials we consider harmful.
We show you the bunny proofing benefits of how these toys help stop destructive behaviour
In this guide we also help you understand how each type of shelter can be used to help bunny proof your home, this is after all what we are about.
It’s natural for rabbits to seek out shelter to explore and rest in however, many of these narrow places such as under or behind your couch, under wooden furniture or your bed can unfortunately have rough unfinished or exposed materials that may be dangerous to an unsuspecting bunny. Staples and nails that poke out can cause harm, plastic covers can contain long strands of synthetic material that can cause harm if eaten. Damage can also build up in these areas which can often go unnoticed till expensive repairs are needed.
In this guide we match the bunny proofing problem with the toy so you can make sure you are providing a safe and acceptable alternative that will satisfy your rabbits instinctive needs. Our hope is to help you avoid expensive repairs to your home and to keep your rabbit out of the vets.
How we tested them
We have been house rabbits enthusiasts for over 20 years and have tried out all of these toys with our own rabbits here at Bunnyproof HQ. We share their reactions in our guides and tell you how these toys performed over their complete life not just on the day.
We know every rabbit is different so to help give a complete review we have taken lots of advice from our bunny proofing facebook group which has over 50K members at the time of this article. This has helped us to find out what toys seem to be a go to favourite and what toys have caused unexpected issues.
How we rated them for Value for money, Fun Mess and Noise
To help you compare each toy we have given them a rating on three criteria, Value for money, fun and mess.
Value for money - How expensive they are compared to how long they will last
Fun - How much time your rabbit will spend with the toy compared to its other toys
Mess - How much mess may spread about and how hard it is to clean up
Noise - How much of a nuisance this toy may become especially if left out during the night
We are independent and are not running a business
We created this guide to help other like minded house rabbit owners with help and advice. We are not affiliated with any other groups or companies. We would not review a product for any reason other than we consider it to be a good choice for you and your rabbit based on our own experience and the experience of the members of our bunny proofing community on facebook.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do rabbits need shelters and hideout toys?
Yes it is important for your bunnies health and happiness to have places of shelter to rest in and relax. A well placed shelter may even encourage them to spend more time with you and away from unsuitable areas such as under your couch and bed.
What's the best type of rabbit hideout toy?
Bunnies don't like being cornered or trapped so the best type of hideout will give your rabbit space to turn around in and have more than one way to exit. Remember your rabbit may also enjoy jumping on top of their hideout so make sure its a sturdy construction.
Where is the best place to put my rabbit's hideout toy?
Bunnies prefer places of shelter where they feel safe but can also keep an eye on what's going on in the room and its entrances. Avoid places that can get very hot or cold like a conservatory or where there is a draft. They also have sensitive hearing so it's best to find somewhere quiet away from speakers and domestic appliances.
What is the best type of cardboard box to use as a rabbit's hideout toy?
Choose a box that has been stored in a dry clean place that has not been used to store hazardous materials, boxes used for food storage are ideal. Avoid boxes with heavy inc markings and remove any tape or staples first. Make sure you fold over the top securely in case your rabbit jumps on top and falls through.
Do I need a hideout in my rabbit's cage?
Bunnies like to have a place of shelter to rest in. If you have enough room in your bunnies enclosure for a shelter as well as plenty of space for them to hop about, a hideout will act as an inner sanctum where they can feel safe and relax.
What can I use for a rabbit hideout?
There are lots of types of rabbit hideouts. Cardboard boxes make great shelters and your rabbit will enjoy customizing them. Wooden shelters and castles are sturdy and will become a favorite place to relax. Willow and grassy shelters are great for encouraging your rabbit to eat more fiber.
How big should a rabbit hideout be?
This does of course depend on the size of your rabbit however, they should at least be able to turn comfortably around inside and have an entrance big enough for them to easily pass through if they get spooked. Larger shelters are also better as they are more sturdy to jump on and off of.
Can I use a cardboard box as a rabbit hideout toy?
Cardboard shelters are ideal as your rabbit will enjoy customising it and knocking through additional exits as they prefer an entrance and exit route. Avoid boxes with heavy inc markings and remove any tape or staples first.
Do rabbits like to hide in boxes?
Yes bunnies love exploring and resting in a cardboard box hideout. They will enjoy shredding the material and customising it. Avoid boxes with heavy inc markings and remove any tape or staples first. Make sure you fold over the top securely in case your rabbit jumps on top and falls through.
How to make a DIY rabbit hideout toy for free?
The best way to make a rabbit hideaway is to use a cardboard box. You can get this started by adding an entrance and exit however you rabbit will soon get the hang of customising it themselves.Use a clean box without heavy inc markings and remove any tape or staples first.
Where is the best place for my rabbit to sleep?
Rabbits like to rest in places of shelter where they can stay out of sight and harms way. They prefer a place where they can keep an eye on what's going on, away from busy corridors and noise. Avoid places that can get very hot or cold like a conservatory or where there is a draft.
