My 1 year old lionhead rabbit lives in her hutch which also has a run. In there she has hanging toys with carrots on it etc for her to pick at, she has her own food and veggies, she also has a wooden bridge, carrot toy and wooden toy.
She also gets out alot in the back garden which is enclosed, so she is able to run free.
We have found lately that she is ripping the newspapers underneath the straw in her hutch! like she is making a total mess! She did this before she was neutered because she was making a bed, because she thought she was pregnant so this isn't the cause this time. Could she be bored? We recently bought a new hutch BUT it is the same size as the old including the run part. Please help what do you think?
( I also give her a lot of attention, she also lives with guinea pig who she likes so is not lonely)
I know I could just remove the newspapers but I need them underneath to soak up the pee, I mean what else can I use they are so handy!
2006-06-18 05:24:43 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
What is the point in answering a question with ?
Go do something useful!
2006-06-18 05:31:03 · update #1
This seems like normal rabbit behavior to me. They love shredding stuff and making a mess.
Try cat litter to absorb pee, or a litter called "Feline Pine" or "Good news". They come in small pellets.
2006-06-18 05:29:59 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She isn't bored, it's just part of their instinct to rip up flat sheets that are underneath them . Don't put the newspapers in. You should invest in getting a wire cage with a wire floor that has a pan that slides in underneath the cage that you can pull out and clean. For one thing, it's a lot easier to clean than cleaning out all of the straw and newspaper and it's a lot easier to keep the rabbit clean (the pee and poop falls below the cage so the rabbit doesn't have to sit in it and get stained). It would be well worth the money.
Here are a few websites you can check out for cages:
www.bassequipment.com
www.damars.com
www.kwcages.com
www.klubertanz.com
The cages with pans under them may be listed under stackable cages.
Have been raising rabbits for 24 years.
2006-06-19 06:49:30 · answer #2 · answered by devilishblueyes 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Our rabbit runs the house and is forever tearing up something. She loves newspapers and paper bags. She also likes to play with plastic bags. I'm not sure if it is instinct, play, a nesting thing, or what, but it is normal. Several rabbits I have had do that~particularly the females. They do get bored, but it sounds like you provide her with things to play with. Maybe try some type of toy on the ground that she can throw around and makes noise, like a wadded up paper sack. Just make sure (of course) that if she eats it, it won;t hurt her. That's not to say that will stop her from shredding paper though.
2006-06-18 16:29:30 · answer #3 · answered by pennymaelane 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes rabbits do get bored like most other mammals but this sounds like an instinct thing for rabbits. Even being neutered doesn't help much-they just plain want to make a nest!
2006-06-18 05:30:25 · answer #4 · answered by tkron31 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits LOVE to decorate their "den" This is her space and it is not unusual at all for them to tear/shred/move things all the time. Neutered or not...they are ENDLESSLY redoing their turf. They do this in the wild as well. Pet stores even sell paper that is "cleaned" so they can shred it for their "den" and as long as the paper is not filled with toxins or they are not ingesting too much, it is fine. Mine even get on my sofa and fluff my pillows, push them off to suit themselves and move other items around the house. They are a hoot!
2006-06-19 04:46:15 · answer #5 · answered by lapin 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Whatever you do, DO NOT USE CLUMPING CAT LITTER WHERE A RABBIT COULD EAT IT! If they eat it it can clump in their stomach and kill them. It is normal for rabbits to shred things, if fact those are the favored toys of my rabbits! Try giving her toilet paper rolls to chew and shred, and then maybe she won't shred your newspaper.
2006-06-18 19:30:04 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
She could be trying to get your attention, or she could be trying to make her territory cosier, or she could be bored. Have a good browse of this site, and then you'll be able to better understand what your bunny is doing -
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html
Also, have a read of these great detailed rabbit sites -
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/rabbits/a/?once=true&
http://www.tagyerit.com/hopline/cold.htm
http://www.rabbit.org/
http://www.muridae.com/rabbits/rabbittalk.html
http://www.houserabbit.co.uk/
http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyhouserabbits.html - http://au.geocities.com/leaswebsite/bunnyfood.html - my own site - please have a browse. I hope you find a lot of good info browsing all these sites - enjoy!
2006-06-18 17:00:27 · answer #7 · answered by Lea 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have up to 20 rabbits in one BIG cage and I also leave newspapers so the pee u no..... but it's not she's bored it's that she makes a bed just to be comfortable for her trust me this is normal and if you have any other questions please e-mail me at brizlpz@yahoo.com. just don't worry and please e-mail me if you have problems just do that.
2006-06-18 05:34:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had the same problems with my guinea pigs. Just use wood shavings as her bedding.
2006-06-18 05:29:40 · answer #9 · answered by Lala 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
great for rabbit owners
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2006-06-21 16:41:23 · answer #10 · answered by umdanddvd 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋