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Bunny Proofing
Your Home
Rabbits
need to chew, so instead of getting frustrated with
your new bunny for what is normal behavior, plan
ahead and bunny proof your home. There are a few
steps to bunny proof. It takes some work, but once
it is done both you and bunny can rest at ease that
she and your belongings will be safe. Here are some
things to think about. If there are visible cords
(telephone, electrical, blinds), bunny will chew
on them. If there are books on lower shelves, bunny
will most likely find them irresistable and need
to take a chomp out of them. (The easiest solution
to this is to move books off the lowest level.)
Lastly, if you have something that can be used as
a hopping board such as a chair, ottoman or step
stool, your rabbit may decide to hop up onto a higher
level. There are a couple different ways to make
your home safe.
Removal
The best solution for bunny proofing your home is
to remove the potential problems. Using an overhead
light instead of a lamp is one example. If you absolutely
can not have your bunny chewing on your heirloom
antique chair, it is best not to give him access
to it. This is the only fail safe way of bunny proofing.
Repellents
Bunnies' noses are very sensitive. By spraying an
area with perfume, shaving lotion or another fragrant
you may be able to convince bunny that that area
is too smelly. Experiment with different smells;
each bunny is an individual and has different preferences.
Be aware that repellents will need to be reapplied
and may discolor furniture or carpet.
Cover-Ups
If the sofa sits right in front of the
light cord you are in luck. Otherwise you may have
to use something else to cover-up dangerous objects
or areas. Here are some ideas. Plexiglass can be
used to cover up linoleum or hardwood floors or
to cover a lower area of your wall. A strip of untreated
lumber can be tacked to the baseboard and will give
bunny an acceptable thing to chew. Polyethylene
tubing can be split lengthwise and then used to
put electrical cords inside. Seagrass mats are a
great protector for more expensive rugs and are
relatively inexpensive. Blankets and towels can
be used to throw over upholstery or beds to protect
them from teeth and nails.
Encourage
your rabbits hopping, chewing, digging and exploring.
That is what makes a rabbit... a rabbit!
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