How to Bunny-Proof Your House – Part I

Bunny-proofing a room or the entire house helps keep those curious little rabbits in good health. Plus, it might save you a bit of money in the long run. Replacement cables and new pieces of furniture are expensive!

While chewing and digging are instinctive behaviors that can’t completely be eliminated, rabbits that are spayed/neutered may be less likely to engage in them. If your rabbit isn’t fixed, it’s a good idea to consult a rabbit-savvy vet about your options. Also, always offer chewing/digging alternatives such as sticks (from untreated apple, hazelnut, birch, or pear trees, for example), roots (dandelion or nettle, for example), chew toys, or a digging box.

Bunny-Proof Cables:

Wiremold can be pressed to the wall and keeps cables hidden. It is paintable and designed to blend in with the room’s decor.

CritterCord was especially designed to keep pets from chewing wires. It’s a clear piece of plastic with a smell revolting to pets and it goes around the cords you are trying to protect. We have not used it ourselves, but reviews seem to be mostly positive. It probably depends on the rabbit whether or not a bad smell would deter him.

A similar but less attractive solution would be flexible tubing wire from just about any home improvement store. It comes small enough for a cable or two, but also big enough for several cables put together.

The Cordini is a cord storage device that keeps extra long cables from sprawling out all over the place. You basically get an outlet plate with the option to wrap the cable around it before covering it up. A good idea for devices that stay plugged in most of the time.

Zip-Ties are a cheap and easy option when you need to keep wires out of reach. And if you are worried about them being ugly, they make a version with green leaves sticking out, too!

When you place items with cables in a room, such as a floor lamp, try arranging it in such a way that the cable is hidden. We have a floor lamp right next to a bookcase. The outlet is behind the bookcase. So is the cable. The bunnies have no access to it.

Always charge phones and other devices out of reach. The kitchen counter is a great place. Also, don’t leave vacuum cleaners unsupervised, even for a minute. Bunnies come out of nowhere and chew quickly!

Bunny-Proof Baseboards:

Some rabbits like to chew baseboards which can be costly and make a landlord very unhappy. Luckily, there are a couple of ways to protect them if necessary.

Add a decorative “picket fence” to the baseboards with removable picture hanging strips. You might even be able to hide a cable or two behind the wooden pieces as well. Probably works best in a room that already belongs to the bunnies only. Be sure that they are really attached. You don’t want pulling the pieces off to become your rabbit’s newest pastime.

Alternatively, you could also put up a protective fence all along the walls with other products/materials. Wire cube shelves set up in a row, for example.

If your rabbit is only interested in one particular spot, try a few drops of lemon juice or vinegar. If it works, which depends on the rabbit, it has to be refreshed every few days. Although, you might get lucky, too, and your bun will never attempt it again!

Wire cube shelves all along the baseboards. Found Image. Rabbits United.

A great tip we received recently is to use clear packing tape and stick it on the baseboards. It forms a protective cover and rabbits are less likely to chew it. If the rabbit continues to chew the baseboards, this is not a good solution for you, though. Also, be aware that some paint might chip off when removing the tape. That would be easier to fix, though, than a chewed baseboard.

If your rabbit is a baseboard chewer, you could also try to keep the baseboards hidden as much as possible by placing items in front of them. A side table here, a large bookshelf there… Maybe a straight tunnel or a pet bed. Some rabbits can even be taught not to do things by saying “No” firmly whenever they do something wrong and gently guiding them to a chewing/digging alternative. Then again, the more mischievous bunnies might see that as an encouragement…

Click here for the next part of this series.