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.
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.
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.
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 do I stop my rabbit from chewing my wooden furniture?
Temporarily protect furniture by leaning a ceramic tile or a willow bridge up against them.
Protect table and chair legs from chewing damage by slipping some toilet roll tube over them,
Protect the edges of furniture from being chewed with plastic corner guards available from a DIY stores,
Using taste deterrents to help make your wooden furniture less appealing,
Use some pet pen or office storage grids to fence of furniture,
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.
Willow bridge rabbit activity toy
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I wrap cardboard around the legs and zip tie them
How do I stop by bunny chewing my table and chair legs?
Wrap furniture legs in cardboard or a natural material
Try making a fence around furniture legs with section of wire storage grids or pet pen
Keep bunnies out from under furniture by filling in the space with plastic storage tubs
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.
Wire grids
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Pet pen
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Heavy duty foldable pen
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What are the best bunny proofing hackz to protect my wooden furniture?
Prop up a few heavy ceramic tiles against the side of furniture to add some protection
Cover the furniture with material that falls to the floor
Slip a cardboard tube over your table and chair legs to protect them
Always provide lots of safe and acceptable alternative to keep your bunny out of trouble
How to permanently protect your wooden furniture from bunny chewing
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.
Edge guards
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How can I permanently protect my furniture from bunny chewing damage?
Home stores sell tough plastic L shaped corner guards that can be easily installed
Sometimes it can be easier to fence off an area of a room with lots of furniture with sections of pet pen fencing
Using taste deterrents to stop your bunny chewing wooden furniture
Bitter sprays can help make wooden furniture, chair or table legs a little less appealing to chew on however, most people discover they don't offer a single solution to a chewing problem and need to be used alongside other bunny proofing.
You can apply the spray directly to the affected area or to help stop the spray going everywhere you can also spray some into a cloth then wipe the liquid on.
Miss Nibbles and the Mr Biscuit from the bunnyproofing Facebook group
When your shoes have been safe at this level for months and months and months. And suddenly they are not! Protection deployed !!!!!
Remember to keep reapplying the bitter spray regularly so it does not lose its effectiveness.
Avoid home-made remedies that may be suggested to you such as perfume or chilly oil as these can be harmful to your bunny.
We would also avoid remedies such as double-sided sticky tape that could get stuck in your bunnies fur or cause problems if eaten. Instead choose a product designed for bunnies.
How to tell your bunny off for chewing your wooden furniture
Only tell your bunny of when you catch them chewing your furniture or they won't understand why you are being mean to them.
Even if you bunny is being naughty and chews your furniture, never hit or shove your bunny away as they can be hurt very easily.
Never shout at or scare your bunny to get them to stop chewing something they shouldn't. Causing them stress can make them antisocial towards you.
Always provide lots of hay and chew toys to give them something else to eat other than your 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.
What is the best bitter spray to stop my bunny chewing my furniture?
Apply bitter spray to damaged furniture and any other areas to keep them damage free
Remember to reapply bitter spray regularly so it doesn't lose its effectiveness
Avoid homemade bitter spray remedies like chilly oil, tape, perfume or soap that may be harmful
Willow bridge rabbit activity toy
