Why Does My Bunny Chew My Carpet

Chewing and eating your carpet can be a common problem with house rabbits and there are many reasons why they do this.

If you understand your bunnies natural behaviour then you will begin to see how chewing your carpet fulfils many of their basic instinctive urges.

In this guide we go into details about the reasons behind carpet chewing. We offer suggestions on how to change your bunnies behaviour to avoid the destruction.

We also offer ideas for the best types of enrichment and show you the best toys to keep your bunnies occupied and away from chewing the carpet for any reason.

Why do bunnies chew carpet and how to stop them

There are a number of reasons why bunnies chew carpet.

Take a look below ans see if you can recognise any of the behaviour that could be behind your rabbits carpet chewing.

Chew toy can help stop your bunny chewing your carpets

Bunnies are always on the lookout for something to eat and if they don’t find it then your carpet could be on the menu.

They need a diet that is high in fibre to wear down their continuously growing teeth and keep their intestines functioning properly.

If you don’t give your bunny a constant supply of stuff to chew then it’s likely they will chew the carpet instead.

Firstly and most importantly hay needs to be the majority of a rabbit’s diet! and your bunny should always have access to fresh hay everyday. You can encourage them to eat more hay by placing it over their litter box.

Make sure your bunny also has lots of chew toys such as willow balls and grassy mats to munch on. Old toilet roll tubes stuffed with hay can are a great toy that you can make yourself.

Remember to replace these frequently so they don't lose their novelty and appeal.

Bunnies chew carpet to customise their environment

Bunnies like to explore and test the boundaries of their environment. They naturally shape their habitat by chewing and digging.

Unfortunately this can lead to them deciding they are going to burrow and chew your carpet,

Often starting in the corner of your room or behind your couch, once this habit starts it can be hard to keep your bunny away from an area as they make it their mission to destroy it.

No matter how many times you say No! It's unlikely you will be able to stop your bunny from doing this and you may need to cover the carpet or fence of the area with a few sections of pet pen.

Hideaway toys can be a great help in curbing this unwanted behaviour. They can be used to directly protect your carpet and will stop your bunny reaching the area to continue their destruction.nThey will also give your bunny something to direct this behaviour to that is acceptable.

Wooden hideaways, Cardboard castles all work as a great distraction and will hopefully occupy your bunny who will enjoy making improvements to there hideaway toy rather than your carpet.n

Boredom could be the reason your bunnies is chewing your carpet

Bunnies are intelligent creatures and if they run out of stuff to do then chewing your carpet can easily become their next activity.

The best way to stop a bored bunny from this destruction is to keep them entertained by providing them with the right environment.

Always make sure they have lots of room to move about and explore. Make sure they spend time in a large space where they can free roam with lots of Tubes and Hideouts they can relax in.

Make sure you spend time with your bunny playing with them. Give them gentle discouragement when they go to chew the carpet and focus them on the stuff they can play with.

Remember that your bunny is relying on you for companionship. They need your love and support, even when they frustrate you by chewing the carpet. nAlways give your bunny a constant supply of new and interesting chew toys.

Puzzle toys can keep some rabbit occupied especially if there are treats hiding in them.

You don't need to spend any money either as some of the best toys are free. Cardboard boxes and toilet roll tubes are regular toys in most bunny households. Make sure you remove any staples, tape and avoid heavy print which may get eaten.n

Foraging instinct

Rabbits are natural foragers and spend a lot of their time roaming about looking for new scores of food to try. They will try and eat everything at least once, including carpet and if you don’t try and satisfy this behaviour they can continue to do a lot of damage.

This is where puzzle toys and foraging toys can help enrich your bunnies' environment and keep them entertained and away from your carpet.

There a lots of puzzle mats or treat tumbler toys you can buy and they all have their merits. Some make a great toy you can use to play with your bunny other can have treats hidden in them your bunny can seek out when they are looking for food.

One of the tried and tested ways to let your bunny play digging and foraging without the destruction to your carpet this is to build a digging box.

All you need is a cardboard box filled with paper that can be shredded and anything else you think your bunny might like such as willow toys or toilet roll tubes.

Place the box directly over the spot where your bunny has been digging and reward them with some words or treats. Teach them it's chew and dig in the box but not the carpet.

Getting your bunny a companion

Bunnies are often less destructive when they are paired. Paired rabbits will spend a lot of time sitting and doing stuff together and are less concerned with chewing the carpet. You are best to start off with paired bunnies however you can introduce a new companion to your bunny with a bit of time and effort.n

Spay or Neuter Your Rabbit

Getting your bunnies fixed can help erase their unwanted destructive behavior. Your bunnies will be a lot more relaxed and you will avoid a lot of the triggers for carpet chewing that come from their biological urges. We recommend you have your bunnies spayed or neutered.

How your bunnies nesting instincts can cause carpet chewing

Is your bunny building a nest? Some bunnies especially Does like to pull up soft materials like carpet strands as a part of their instinctive nesting behavior when they are pregnant or even when having a phantom pregnancy.

its perfectly natural behaviour and best to simply provide your bunny with some alternatives

If you don't mind some mess, try giving them a stack of hay to play with. They will enjoy arranging this into a nest and this will help keep them busy and out of trouble.

If you don't want a lot of mess a towel can be a great nesting toy your bunny will enjoy arranging into a nest. Make sure it's a natural material like cotton in case it too gets munched.