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Bunny Proofing You 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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