So what really gets our hoppers hoppin'?

Bunnies just love to kick up their heals for a good fast run, and are very inquisitive creatures. They love to explore new avenues, toys, and offerings. Early on in my rabbit research I read that rabbits do not like change. However, in my own experience this could not be further from the truth. My kids get quite excited when they see me changing around the furniture in their room, and especially if they get to explore a "new-to-them" room of the house.

A quick note; any bunny who has or is suffering from a loss of sight will benefit greatly when the objects in their world remain stationary... so that they can remain familiar with their surroundings.

As far as toys go, the possibilities are limited only to your own imagination... and the personality of your bunny. While some rabbits don't seem to enjoy toys, others' find them an absolute delight! If your rabbit couldn't care less about the latest toy he got then give a few of the ideas below a try, and always keep thinking up new options, as a well stimulated bunny is a happy bunny!!

Here are a few of the things that my bunnies seem to enjoy!!

The paper house! My kids have their own room now, and since I didn't want their cage to become unused, we made it into a fun tunnelling room. I gathered from work a bunch of shredded paper, and simply stuffed a tonne of it in their cage. Add a few papertowel tubes filled with hay, and it's a hit!! Another thing that I added to their cage is a "skirt" around the bottom... it is simply made with dollar store pillow cases which are stapled around the bottom edge of the cage. This just creates a little private den for them below the cage, and this is one of their favourite areas in their room to sleep and snuggle!!

Chewables are always fun fun fun!!

This includes grass mats, cardboard boxes and tubes, papertowel tubes, wooden block toys, wicker baskets and wreaths, etc. You just want to ensure that anything your bunny will be chewing on has not been treated with anything, and is also not coated with anything. Just as nature provided is definitely the way to go for our little ones. Apple branches can also be great chew toys so long as they are given ample time to dry, as the sap is quite toxic for rabbits.

Cat Toys!!!

More great fun can be found with regular cat toys. My two absolute love their cat krinkle bag. They chin it, and zoom thru it, and love to hear it krinkle between their toes. The fabric cat box directly above is another fun place for your buns to entertain themselves. Just make sure that your bunnies are not injesting any fabrics that you provide him/her with. This includes towels... which can be terrific fun, but if your bunny is a fabrics chewer you will want to steer clear of all fabric toys. Injested fabrics can quickly block up the delicate rabbit tummy and cause great harm when swallowed.

Some of the best toys are not the ones that will be found at the store bur rather lovingly fashioned at home by you... their bunny slave! One of my kids all time favourite hang out spots is in their "cardboard castle" which isn't very difficult to engineer, and I greatly encourage everyone to give it a go!

If you are able, and so inclined, you may want to sent your bunnies up with a play area like the one featured below. Your bunnies will love the hidey holes and zoomable places!! This play area was crafted together by my friend Alohi of the Lagomorph Loung. It's simply made with little tykes play cubes which can sometimes be found for a more reasonable price at yard sales. The two cubes are connected with a cardboard cement form tube (which has been secured in place by screws). These cardboard tubes can be found at the Home Depot in varying diameters. The slides and second level flat surfaces have then been covered over with glued on carpeting. It's easy to see that Alohi's bunnies give it two thumbs up for comfort hehe. One day I'd like to do something like this for my kids as well!