How to Stop Your Bunny Chewing Your Wooden Furniture

How to bunny proof your wooden furniture, cover and protect edges to stop your rabbit eating them and what training and enrichment works best to stop the damage

If your bunny likes to nibble at your furniture, it's best to put a stop to this before it becomes noticeable. What starts as a few scratches here and there can soon turn into the soft wooded edges being completely rounded off.

Bunnies will naturally eat tough furious materials to help supplement their diet and wear down their teeth that grow constantly throughout their lives.

Table and chair legs, the soft wooden edges of dressers and sideboards, and even laminated wooden cabinets can all be on the menu.

In this article we take a look at the damage that can happen to these bits of furniture and show you the ways other bunny parents have found to protect them using a variety of bunny proofing measures.

We have some great tips and tricks to how to protect your table and chair legs that are a common target for unwanted chewing behavior.

We also show you how to set out some simple bunny proofing to keep your furniture out of reach.

If you want to add some permanent protection, we show you what you can do using tough plastic corner guards.

It is important to learn to control your bunny's natural urges and in this guide, we cover what discipline techniques can be used to gently dissuade them.

We also show you the best ways to enrich your home with acceptable alternatives that will keep your bunny out of trouble.

If you think using a taste deterrent like a bitter spray could help, we have details on what's best to use and the best way to apply it.

So if your bunny has decided your furniture is on the menu and you need some practical ways to put a stop to it then continue reading this guide and see what bunny proofing would work best for you.

How to stop your bunny chewing your furniture legs

If your bunny is in the habit of chewing the legs of your wooden furniture, then there are lots of inventive ways to stop this that people have found, many of which re-purpose bunny toys or other things found around the home.

A simple but clever trick can be to use some toilet or kitchen roll tubes as protection. Either slip over the legs or cut them along the length and wrap them around.

Another useful item that can be purchased from pet stores is a Willow bridge. They are made from a series of willow sticks held together with wire that can be bent into a variety of shapes or around a table leg to shield it from being chewed.

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Wooden Rabbit Bridge

I wrap cardboard around the legs and zip tie them

Bunnies have a varied diet which includes many things we would normally consider inedible. Unfortunately, many of the materials the furniture in your home is made of is on the menu.

How to protect the edges and sides of wooden furniture from bunny chewing

An easy way to stop chewing is simply to cover the area to add some solid protection. You could try covering a TV cabinet or coffee tables with a cloth cover that reaches down to the floor.

Be careful not to place things on top as bunnies have a habit of tugging at things and could pull a heavy object over themselves.

It can be helpful to rest something up against the sides or a corner. A willow bridge toy is ideal for this as they are heavy enough to not be knocked over and can be bent around the corner to protect it.

Always provide lots of chewing alternatives

We would avoid using cardboard to protect furniture as it does not take long for a bunny to chew through and it may even encourage them to go to this spot when they fancy chewing something.

If you want to be sure your bunny cannot get to a valuable piece of furniture, then it is best to fence off the area with a few sections of pet pen or office storage cubes.

These sections of wire grid can be lashed together with some cable ties or string and made into a fence that can screen off the area.

How to permanently protect your wooden furniture from bunny chewing

Use tough corner guards to add protection

If you are looking for a permanent solution why not install some tough plastic corner guards.

You may have seen these L shaped lengths of tough plastic in public buildings, and you can pick them up yourself in most DIY stores.

They can be easily cut to size with a craft knife and can be attached with some sticky pads or adhesive, so you don't need any DIY Skills to install them.

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Edge guards

How to use a bitter spray to stop your bunny from chewing your wooden furniture

Bitter sprays can help prevent your bunny from eating your wooden furniture. They have a strong bitter taste which will discourage your bunny from chewing on surfaces where it's applied. However, people often find this does not always work as bunnies are prepared to put up with a bad taste so it's best to use this as an aid alongside other bunny-proofing measures to stop the destruction.

You can find taste deterrents in pet stores or online. These products typically come in small bottles with spray nozzles and are often labeled as chew stoppers, anti-chew sprays, or bitter apple sprays.

For optimal results, apply the spray on a cloth and then wipe it on the furniture to avoid overspray. To maintain its effectiveness, reapply the spray at least once a week, as the taste will diminish over time.

Also, be aware that these sprays can have a noticeable odor when first applied, particularly if used in large quantities.

It’s advisable to choose a product specifically designed for small pets and to avoid homemade remedies like perfume, chili oil, or soap, as these can be harmful to your bunny and may irritate its mouth or lead to digestive problems.

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Bitter spray

Why does my bunny eat my wooden furniture?

In the wild rabbits eat a wide range of fibrous materials many of which we would not consider to be edible.

Unfortunately, many of the wooden or cloth materials furniture your home is made of is ideal for helping your bunnies digestion and to wear down their teeth that unlike our teeth grow constantly throughout their lives.

Enrichment ideas to stop your rabbit from chewing your furniture

There can be many reasons why your bunny chews your wooden furniture, making it a common issue among rabbit owners.

By understanding what drives this instinctive behavior you can provide suitable alternatives to satisfy their natural urges and prevent the damage.

In this article, we investigate the various reasons behind your bunny's furniture chewing and offer practical advice on how to avoid the damage it can do.

We suggest the best enrichment ideas to tackle these behaviors, helping you keep your bunny entertained and your furniture in one piece.

If carpet furniture is a problem for you, take a look below to see what familiar behaviors you recognise and discover what steps you can take.

Your bunny could be chewing your wooden furniture as a source of roughage to eat

Bunnies constantly look for fibrous materials to eat, which supports their digestive processes and helps wear down their ever-growing teeth. One reason they might be eating your furniture is simply that they enjoy munching on wood.

To manage this behavior, it's crucial to provide an alternative food source, with hay being the best option. Ensure that your bunny has fresh hay available daily, and make sure it never runs out. If you need to encourage your bunny to eat more hay, try placing it in a feeder over their litter box, where they tend to spend more time.

Additionally, it's important to provide your bunny with plenty of chew toys. Willow balls, grassy mats, and twigs are excellent alternatives that can help keep your bunny away from your furniture. You don’t have to spend money on toys, old toilet roll tubes stuffed with hay make a great homemade alternative. Remember to swap out these toys frequently so your bunny doesn't get bored with them.

Your bunny could be chew your furniture to customize their environment.

In their natural environment, rabbits shape their surroundings by clearing undergrowth and creating pathways, and this instinct does not stop when they come to live with us in our homes. This is why redirecting this behavior toward acceptable alternatives is essential to avoid the damage it can cause to the furniture that lies in their path.

To encourage this redirection, provide large toys for your bunny to chew and modify. Wooden hideaways and cardboard castles can give them an enjoyable outlet for their instinctive behavior, allowing them to modify entrances or round off corners.

Simple cardboard boxes work well too, and when they start to look worn, you can easily replace them. Be sure to remove any staples or tape and avoid boxes with heavy printing, as you don't want your bunny consuming too much of this of this.

Boredom could be the reason your bunnies is chewing your baseboards

A bored bunny often becomes destructive, so it's crucial to provide a variety of engaging toys and activities.

The most important aspect is to spend time with your bunny. Let them be in the same room as you and enjoy petting and playing games together. Puzzle toys and stacking cups are great ways to interact; your bunny will love knocking the cups over or pulling them apart, especially when you hide treats inside.

When your bunny is unsupervised, consider using foraging toys and puzzle toys to keep them entertained. Many types of puzzle mats and treat tumbler toys are available, each offering various benefits and levels of complexity.

One of the best free toys you can create is a digging box. All you need is a cardboard box filled with shredded paper and other items your bunny might enjoy, such as willow toys or toilet roll tubes. Place the box next to the furniture they have been chewing on and encourage them to dig and chew in the box instead.

Bunnies could be chewing on your furniture as they seek out places of shelter to relax in

Bunnies like to find shelter to spend time in and wherever they stop destruction is lily to follow. To help your rabbit feel more secure and to distract them from hiding under your furniture, consider providing a few hideaway toys as an alternative.

Small pop-up tents can be easily set up and packed away when not in use, saving space. You can even find tunnel and tent systems that can be connected to create an entire warren!

Cardboard tubes are inexpensive and can serve as both chew toys and hiding spots. Wooden shelters and castles are safe for your bunny to jump on and chew.

Most bunny parents nearly always have a cardboard box on the go for their bunny somewhere in their home.

How to Train Your Bunny to Stop Chewing Your Furniture

How to gently tell your bunny off for chewing your furniture

It can be very quite frustrating if your bunny has picked up a taste for your wooden furniture. The moment you start to relax with your bunny roaming freely, you can find yourself having to rush over to prevent further damage.

While bunny-proofing your furniture and still allowing access may not always be feasible, training can be an effective solution. This approach lets you communicate to your bunny that chewing on furniture is unacceptable, while guiding them towards more appropriate chew toys. By consistently setting boundaries and offering gentle encouragement, you can help them learn to favor the toys you provide.

It's important to apply the right amount of discipline when training your bunny. If you treat them kindly these social creatures can learn to better coexist with you, however, using harsh methods, such as punishment or shocks, can traumatize them. This could lead to a breakdown in trust and make it even more challenging to change their behavior.

In this guide, we show you the right amount of discipline to use so you can remain best friends and encourage them to chew on toys instead of your furniture.

So, if your bunny has been munching on your furniture, follow this guide to learn how to train them to stop the destruction without causing distress.

Never punish your bunny for chewing your furniture baseboards by hitting, shouting, or clapping

It's important to understand that you should never use physical punishment to stop your bunny from chewing on your furniture. Unlike cats and dogs, bunnies can respond negatively to physical punishment. Even pushing them away forcefully from your furniture can trigger behavior problems.

Avoid using scare tactics, such as shouting, clapping, or chasing, to deter your bunny from chewing on furniture. These methods can traumatize your bunny and lead to stress, which can adversely affect their health.

Additionally, spraying your bunny with water to stop them from chewing your baseboard can also have a negative impact as well. By the time you have got close enough to spray water over them, especially if they see the water bottle you are holding, your bunny will most likely be distracted and will have stopped their bad behavior. They won’t understand why you are being unkind, which could lead to confusion and fear.

How to discipline your bunny for chewing your baseboards

The most effective way to train your bunny not to chew on your furniture is to say their name followed by a firm NO!. Be consistent, this technique relies on using the same voice each time. Bunnies are intelligent animals and can learn to recognize simple words and commands through repetition.

Only scold your bunny when you catch them in the act of chewing on the baseboards. If you wait until after they have stopped, they won’t associate your scolding with their bad behavior and will not understand the reprimand.

Most importantly following the telling off you then need to guide them to an acceptable alternative you provide such as a chew toy or cardboard box that they will hopefully find more enjoyable to chew.

A word of caution, while using treats to lure them away from furniture might be tempting, this can teach them that chewing on baseboards leads to a reward, which is counterproductive.

With gentle encouragement, your bunny will gradually learn to prefer the alternative items you provide rather than chewing on the baseboards.

How to give your bunny a time-out for chewing your furniture

If your bunny continues to chew on furniture despite your training efforts, consider giving them a time-out. Since bunnies are sociable animals, they will learn that their actions lead to missing out on fun activities.

Be cautious, as bunnies scare easily. Avoid chasing or abruptly scooping them up, as this can confuse or frighten them. Instead, approach them calmly and gently carry them to a quiet area of your home where they can be alone for a short period.

Do not use their enclosure or nighttime pen for a time-out, as you don’t want them to associate these safe spaces with punishment.

A brief time-out is sufficient; they will likely become bored quickly and forget why they are there. Repeat this process consistently whenever they chew on your baseboards until they learn the lesson.