February 14 is a day to celebrate all the people you love in your life! While some people send Valentine’s Day cards, others bake pink-frosted desserts.
Our pet bunnies don’t have to be left out of the heart-filled festivities!
Here’s how I’ve celebrated with my white lionhead bun, Baby.
Send bunny themed Valentine’s Day cards
Canva is a great design app you can use to design your own Valentine’s Day cards to print at home or at a store like Staples. They have templates already laid out for you to edit. You can also start your own card design from scratch.
Here are six free cards we designed featuring Baby and Pepper. Feel free to download and use!
Decorate your home with bunny and Valentine’s Day items
By this time of year, many stores have a mix of Valentine’s Day and early Easter products.
You can stock up on both or wait until the seasons are over so you can swipe up all the sales!
My favorite spot is Dollar Tree. I buy a bunch of things for home decorations that I can also use as photo props.
Have a Valentine’s Day photoshoot with your bunny
For most holidays and seasons, I try to do a mini photoshoot with Baby. He has a limited attention span, so I usually set everything up ahead of time.
Head to Pinterest and rabbit Facebook groups for ideas.
I’ll typically set up a cheap backdrop and throw in a few props for pizzazz!
Baby’s Photoshoot
We found some great props at the Dollar Tree this year. IT only took us about 15 minutes to set up and 15 minutes to take all the photos we need. It’s critical that you put your bunny first and make sure they’re comfortable during the experience.
Hanging Toys: These are fun and practical. Baby spends his nights in a playpen so he doesn’t destroy the house while I’m sleeping. Toys like this are perfect for putting at the door so he has something to bite when he sees me in the morning and acts like a prisoner about to be released!
Home Improvement Pieces: I sometimes give Baby’s home base an update. For example, I recently bought a wooden hay rack that fits our “aesthetic” better and seems to create less of a mess for me to vacuum.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.
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You don’t need a green thumb or even summer weather to grow your own vegetables!
Whether you want to go the cheap route or invest in a full fledged grow system, there are plenty of options out there.
Here are some of the ways you can provide some greens for your pet rabbit.
Beginner: Regrowing Lettuce from the nub
This is the easiest thing you can do to grow your own rabbit veggies! All you need is a nub of romaine lettuce and a jar of water you can stick it in.
It won’t necessarily grow back into a full head of lettuce, but it’s something!
Once you’re happy with the bit of growth, you can give the whole thing to your bun.
Intermediate: Growing grass from a kit
There are kits your can buy that allow you to grow grass year-round.
This is a great option if you don’t want your rabbit running around in a potentially RHDV2-infested backyard.
Grass seed is easy to come by at your local garden store. But if you don’t want to invest in a giant bag of seeds, you can opt for Small Pet Select’s Pet Greens Medley. It comes in a 5 oz. bag and gives you a mix of organic oat, rye, and barley blades.
Pro-level: Growing veggies in trays, boxes, or high tech systems
Keep things simple with small starter seed trays. Things like this are generally lightweight and costs less money, so it’s lower risk if you find your in over your head!
Take it up a notch with an indoor herb grow kit in a wooden box you can put on a sofa table or on a wide window sill.
It can be easy to grow your own vegetables, but there are some mistakes I’ve made along my growing journey.
Don’t forget about your plants: This is one I am very guilty of. While your plants might not be as demanding as your pet bunny, make sure you don’t forget about your plants for two weeks! Your vegetable plants still need water and attention.
Don’t let your plants fry: Make sure the place you put your plants isn’t a death trap. I found out the hard way that my sunroom gets way too much direct sunlight. It only took a day for some of my plants to fry.
Don’t put your set-up within reach of your bunny: Obviously you’re growing your vegetables for your rabbit. But if you’re not careful, your bunny can jump his way to your growing station before the veggies are actually ready.
Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.
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It can sometimes be difficult to find rabbit home decor that truly shows the world how much you love those furry creatures.
Stores, virtual as well as brick and mortars, seem flooded with cat and dog decorations.
But it is possible to find some cute bunny items!
Over the years, I’ve accumulated some cool items, although I’ve definitely had to hold back to stop myself from looking too much like a crazy bunny lady!
Here are some ideas for your own home:
Buy cute bunny prints
Nothing says I love rabbits like having paintings and prints of bunnies all over your home. It’s also one of the easiest and cheapest way to incorporate your beloved pet in your decor.
You can literally snap a photo on your phone and print it at Walmart for less than a dollar. And you can get cheap frames at a dollar store or thrift store.
You can find prints in all different styles, from traditional to minimalist.
Commissioning a painting or print of your rabbit
Etsy is a great place to find someone who can turn your bun into a work of art.
Some will photoshop your bunny’s head onto a traditionally painted human. Others can put paint them using watercolor or cartoonify your rabbit.
When ordering, just make sure you look at reviews to make sure other people were happy with the work (especially if you’re using a smaller shop). You’ll also want to make sure you’re clear on whether you’re getting an actual picture in the mail OR a digital file sent to you electronically.
If you don’t necessarily want a representation of your specific rabbit, you can always get some adorable artsy prints of rabbits online.
This options allows you to get a piece that fits the fit and aesthetic of your decor. You can also make the art a little more subtle if you don’t want your place to scream “rabbit lover.”
For example, if you’re going for a more cottagecore feel, you can get a set of four bunny prints like this:
Incorporate bunny themed decor pieces into your home
You can add subtle touches of rabbits throughout your home!
If you opt to shop in physical stores, make sure to catch the after Easter sales. I’ve been able to find such good pieces for 50%-75% off! Buying a bunch of items at the same store will also help your finds have a more cohesive look when you put them in your home – since stores seem to have a general theme they’re going for each year.
Thrift stores are also a good place to find rabbit decor. Beware though, some of the bunny figurines I’ve seen could haunt dreams. I don’t know why, but for some reason, it seems like people have a difficult time making rabbit eyes not look creepy.
Kitchen
I love the rabbit themed kitchen towels I got on sale one year. They are, of course, the designated “good towels” that we don’t actually use!
I absolutely love this ceramic rabbit cake stand. I initially bought it for my wedding, but now I use it as a display for my wedding tiara. You could also use it for an actual dessert, of course!
Bedroom
A lot of bedroom rabbit decorations are geared towards nurseries, but there are options for adults.
This is where you can get really cozy with your decor by putting bunny themed pillows on your bed!
You can also use apps like FreePrints Gifts to turn your photos into your own creations for your home. I turned one of my favorite photos of Baby into a blanket!
Rabbit ring holders also look adorable on your nightstand. I bought my sister one like this for my sister a few years ago.
Photos are some of the best ways to cherish memories with your pet rabbit. Even when they cross over the rainbow bridge, you can look back on all the cuteness they had to offer. I love seeing pictures of some of our past rabbits when I check Facebook memories or look at old Instagram posts.
Some may find it difficult to capture those special moments.
The good news is, you don’t have to be a pro to take good photos of your bunny.
Here are some of my tips for getting the shot!
Things to keep in mind when setting up your shot
Anyone can take good photos with a little effort and planning!
Use natural light when possible
Bad lighting can ruin any photo or video. From my experience, it’s very difficult to get a good shot in low lighting. Everything ends up looking grainy and blurry.
If you can, try to shoot in the mornings or a little bit before sunset. You may even catch the “Golden Hour,” when the sunlight hits just right and gives the shot a magical feel!
I wouldn’t recommend using the flash. I find that it’s too harsh and makes the photo look shadowy. It also doesn’t distribute light well, so seems to aggravate Baby more.
Check your focus
Besides bad lighting, nothing wrecks a photo quite like blurriness. The only good blurry photo is one done for comedic effect to show an especially fast zoomie!
Make sure your lens is focused on your rabbit. For most phones, this just means taping your bunny on the screen.
Get on your rabbit’s level
I find the best photos come from getting low to the ground. It makes for a cuter photo than a far off photo from a bird’s eye view.
It also helps you get close-ups of cute rabbit features like their soft paws and their cute little nose!
What equipment do you need?
You don’t need a expensive DSLR camera to get a good photo or video of your rabbit. Most smart phones and tablets nowadays have create cameras already built in.
I just use my phone to take photos. I’ve found the OnePlus line of phones is cheaper than many other options but still has great camera quality.
That being said, there are some extras you can buy to take your photos to the next level.
Consider getting a pet cam
I’ve found that pet cameras are so helpful!
First and foremost, they are great tools to incorporate into your rabbit care. I first bought a pet camera several years ago so I could check up on Baby while I was at work. Since then, I’ve used it during medical recovery times to make sure he was eating and pooping consistently. One time, I was even able to pinpoint the timeframe when Baby hurt his front leg by comparing videos taken by the pet camera at different times.
The other good thing about having a pet camera is that you can capture more candid photos and videos of your rabbit without all the extra effort. Just look through the recordings! You’ll be able to save screenshots or video recordings of nighttime zoomies and daytime shenanigans.
I use the Wyze Indoor/Outdoor Camera. It’s small enough that I can easily bring it on trips or mount it discretely in my apartment. It’s also easy to set up and the most reasonably priced camera I’ve come across.
Make a backdrop on a budget
I make cheap backdrops by clipping pieces of fabric to white foam boards. You can find these at most dollar stores.
It makes it easy to switch out backgrounds without having to buy those full sized backdrops designed for professional photography.
Buy cheap props
Make sure you supervise your rabbit if you’re using props. The last thing you want is your rabbit to accidentally eat something they shouldn’t.
Props aren’t necessary, but I use them to add another element of cuteness in some of my photoshoots with Baby.
I’ve found most of my seasonal decor at dollar stores. You can also find unique items at tag sales. One thing I look for are items made for 18-inch dolls, like American Girl furniture. They also happen to be the perfect size for rabbits!
Don’t get discouraged
Rabbits have a mind of their own, so don’t be shocked if your rabbit doesn’t sit nicely for a 30 minute photoshoot. It’s important to be patient with your bunny. They’re not a professional, and they’re just trying to live their best bunny life.
There are some rabbits I’ve seen on social media that seem like statues. They let their owner dress them up in cute outfits and even make them dance by holding their paws.
I know Baby would murder me if I even thought about doing that, so I don’t bother. Most of the time, I just wait to catch him in his natural environment, doing his cute daily activities.
Here are some things I do to make an actual photoshoot easier on Baby:
Set up in advance: Make sure you have everything ready before you bring your rabbit over. You don’t want to be fumbling around, waiting valuable bunny attention span and time.
Use food: If your rabbit is food motivated, keep a pellet or two in your hand so you can redirect their attention. I’ll sometimes drop a pile in the middle of the photoshoot space and snap photos when Baby picks his head up to chew.
Don’t force it: Take your cues from your bunny. If they’re not having a good time, you’re basically torturing your rabbit “for the ‘gram.” Take a break or wait to take photos another day. The pictures will be better anyway if your rabbit is calm and in a good mood.
Take your time and make sure your rabbit is comfortable.
Storing Photos
Once you have your photos, make sure you don’t lose them!
I try to make sure I backup the photos on my phone to a hard drive every few months. That way if something happens, you’re not losing all your photos.
GI stasis is something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
It’s an ugly, silent killer that can turn your life upside-down in a matter of hours. It’s left me curled up in bed crying my eyes out as I’ve waited for a call from the vet.
Baby and I have dealt with GI stasis three times. I’ve had to do a lot of research and develop a plan to keep Baby out of the hospital.
Here are some answers to common questions about GI stasis, how vets treat GI stasis, and our prevention plan.
What is GI stasis?
GI stasis is a digestive issue. Food slows down as it goes through your rabbit’s GI tract. This slowing or stopping altogether can cause bad bacteria to build up. That bad bacteria then makes a gas that builds up painfully. It makes the issue worse because a rabbit in pain doesn’t like to eat or drink.
Rabbits basically need to eat ALL THE TIME to keep their gut healthy, so this slowdown can be disastrous.
What are the symptoms of GI stasis?
Because Baby has had GI stasis three times already, we can tell almost instantly when he has it.
He’ll hunch up in one corner and refuse to move even when we crinkle a treat bag. When I’ve tried to forcibly move him along, I’ve noticed he has peed just a tiny bit.
It’s important to have an established routine with your rabbit. That way you’ll be able to quickly tell if something is “off.” We know that if Baby isn’t done with his afternoon nap by 5 p.m., we should do a check in with him just in case.
You should also groom/pet your rabbit often so you can identify a change in their stomach. The first time Baby had stasis, I was able to feel that his stomach seemed a bit harder and bloated than usual.
Look for these signs in your own rabbit:
Refusing to eat or drink
A lack of poop or much smaller poop than usual
Hunching up (one cuzrabbits reader said her bunnies push their bellies to the floor instead when they have stasis)
Grinding of teeth (this is different than the happy “grinding” you may hear while petting your bunny)
Looking like they’re in pain
Feeling a hardness or swelling in their stomach
Why do rabbits go into GI stasis?
There are a number of reasons a rabbit might go into GI stasis:
A bad diet: Rabbits need a low starch, high fiber diet. That means more hay, less pellets.
Stress: Some rabbits don’t handle things like changes to their environment, loud noises, or travel.
Other health issues: When a rabbit is in pain from something like overgrown teeth or arthritis, they can stop eating.
Blockage: Something may be blocking your rabbit’s digestive tract, like a clump of hair, pieces of fabric, or cardboard.
What do you do if you think your rabbit has GI stasis?
GI stasis in rabbits is an emergency.
Go to the nearest emergency exotic veterinarian hospital near you.
While some people have successfully treated GI stasis on their own, I do not recommend it.
Unless you’ve been to vet school, you’re not an expert. For all you know, your rabbit may actually have a blockage of hair or cardboad — which means force feeding critical care will only make matters worse.
What will a veterinarian do to treat GI stasis?
Each time Baby had stasis, the treatment followed the same pattern:
First Evaluation: Baby was taken in to be evaluated. In this stage, they checked Baby’s vitals to see if he needed immediate emergency care or if he could wait in line with the other emergency pets that needed care.
Incubation, hydration, and medication: Baby always ended up having a lower temperature than they wanted. He was also dehydrated, so they’d give him an IV. The IV hydration is supposed to help loosen any blockage that may be there. They’d also start giving him pain medication and motility drugs (to get the digestive system up and working again).
Overnight monitoring: Baby’s emergencies always happened after 5 p.m. He never recovered fast enough to be released that same night.
Suctioning: A few of the times Baby was hospitalized, they had to try to suction out the blockage of fur.
Daytime check-ins: The vet in charge will typically give you a status update in the morning. No news is good news in this case, so don’t worry if they’re a bit late with the call. Depending on how busy the staff is, they may send you photos of your bunny in their recovery nook.
Monitoring until better: Baby has always had to stay in the hospital for multiple days. The vets are essentially waiting for 50 poops in one day as well as consistent eating a drinking. We’ve been held up by Baby only pooping 15 times. Better than nothing but still not good enough for the vets to feel comfortable sending him home. After a few days, we were given the choice of taking Baby home if we were desperate. They trade-off is that if he got worse again on the 1+ hour car ride back home, we’d have to turn right back around and readmit him — starting the process over.
Release: Once Baby was better, they’d set up a pick-up time. They were pretty flexible with the timing.
Home care: The vet prescribed Baby pain medication and motility drugs for use to give him at home via syringe. We also had to buy Critical Care to syringe feed time three times a day. Make sure to follow whatever instructions your vet gives you.
What will the vet do if your rabbit has had multiple cases of GI stasis?
Our emergency veterinarian decided to do some testing when Baby had GI stasis more than once.
They took bloodwork for testing and tried to see if he had E. Cuniculi. It’s a parasite that can cause issues with your rabbit’s nervous system and can be an underlying cause of GI stasis. For Baby, the tests came back negative.
They also took an X-ray to see if they could find anything odd in his system. They didn’t see anything wrong in Baby’s scans.
Their other theories were that maybe he is starting to develop arthritis and just isn’t grooming as often as he used to during shedding season. If that’s the case, when he does groom, he’ll end up picking up bigger chunks at a time, which could lead to a blockage.
The discouraging thing about GI stasis is that sometimes you won’t know the exact reason for it. There’s no guarantee it won’t happen again. All you can do is try your best to be an amazing bunny parent.
What is the cost of treating GI stasis?
Each time Baby had stasis, the total bill came out to be between $2,500-3,000.
That is a hefty sum of money.
We paid for the first case with the emergency fund we had been creating for Baby. Each month, we put in about $100-200 in the bank account.
We funded the second and third trips to the hospital with money from stimulus checks, tax returns, and more of the money we’d continued to save each month.
Not everyone has that kind of money available to them.
BEFORE an emergency strikes, I recommend getting exotic pet health insurance through Nationwide. They’re the only insurance company in the United States that covers rabbits. DO NOT wait until after your rabbit’s first GI stasis incident because then it will be considered a preexisting condition. I’ve heard you can get your pet’s case reviewed after 6 months of being stasis-free, but we haven’t gotten to that point yet.
Our GI stasis prevention strategy
My husband and I have developed a plan with the help of our primary care veterinarian to prevent GI stasis.
As cute (but mostly horrifying) as Baby looks with a shaved leg from the IV, we definitely don’t want a repeat episode.
That being said, we can only do the best we can. Nothing is a guarantee.
Food
Baby has constant access to fresh timothy hay. Because I work from home, I’m topping off his bin every few hours. You can also mount a hay feeder to your rabbit’s playpen.
My husband feeds Baby a few papaya treats each morning, breaking them into smaller chunks. Papaya is supposed to help break down hay in his stomach.
One of the biggest changes? We’ve significantly limited the amount of pellets we feed Baby each morning. Our primary vet told us rabbits technically don’t need pellets at all. They were primarily used to fatten up rabbits being raised for meat, but obviously we have no need for that. Now I just give baby maybe ten pellets each morning — but I put them in a puzzle feeder to make him eat slower and use his nose.
Grooming
My husband and I wake up at different times, so we each have separate morning grooming sessions with Baby. I also end up petting and grooming him for at least an hour each night as we watch TV or hang out in the living room.
Besides the normal petting, we go in and really try to make sure we’re picking out loose chunks of hair. Every bit helps and means less going into his stomach.
We’ve also taken out any cardboard from his area that he could potentially injest. When he was younger, Baby would just shred cardboard boxes as he made tunnels. But we started to notice he was eating more of the bits. We just don’t want to take a chance that it will cause a blockage.
We also don’t give Baby any cloth items for the same reason. He tended to start eating at the blankets. So now he just has access to the couch blankets, and we’re around to supervise and tell him “no.”
Exercise
We’re still working on this part of the plan, but our vet suggested we help Baby become more active.
This could be anything from training him to do tricks to having him participate in agility exercises.
Years ago, I built one of those jumps like the ones horses use in competitions. But it was definitely a rough build, and my family all voted the nails on it were a hazard! So I’m on the look out for something a little more safe to invest in.
When I had makeshift jumps (make out of dowels and empty tissue boxes) was able to train Baby to go over 2-3 jumps in a row though. He is very treat motivated, so he was all for the extra activity with pellet rewards were involved.
I bought Baby a new collapsible cat tunnel for Christmas, so I’m hoping to incorporate that in a course once I have everything I need!
Regular vet visits
We make sure to take Baby to the vet at least once a year.
This time around, our vet wanted to make sure the GI stasis wasn’t stemming from a teeth issue. Apparently that’s common in lionhead rabbits. Baby seemed to have a little bit of an issue, but the vet said it was only an issue if the growth was significant in six months. So we’re going back in early spring for another checkup.
Have a Plan
The emotional toll of a GI stasis incident is great. Not only can it put your rabbit’s life in danger, but it also reeks havoc on their human parents’ emotions.
Make sure to know the signs of GI stasis and know which exotic vets are open at which times. The last thing you want to do in an emergency is waste time calling around to find a location open 24/7.
You also want to take preventive action.
Do you have any GI stasis advice for rabbit owners? Leave a comment to let people know your tips and tricks for navigating this horrible health issue.
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Maybe a loved one got you a rabbit as a Christmas present. Maybe you got one for your birthday. Maybe you saw a rabbit at the pet store and couldn’t resist. Maybe you picked up a stray rabbit that was dumped by a previous owner.
While it’s not ideal, sometimes people end up with a bunny they didn’t expect would be in their lives.
Here’s a crash course on rabbit care if you find yourself in a situation like this.
Know the financial cost of owning a rabbit
Despite common belief, owning a rabbit is not cheap — if you’re doing it right, that is.
You may also want to consider getting pet insurance.
Know what to feed your rabbit
One of the most common mistakes new rabbit owners make is only feeding their rabbit pellets. It’s an easy mistake to make when even pet stores are giving out this false information.
Adult rabbits should primarily be eating timothy hay. If you’re allergic, you can always try oat or meadow hay instead.
You’ll also want to make sure you’re feeding your rabbit some veggies. And no, that doesn’t mean give them a giant carrot and call it a day. Cartoons like Bugs Bunny have been toting that narrative, but in reality, carrots are a bit too sugary to be their main course.
If you have a rabbit, please avoid keeping him/her in a cage 24/7. It’s like being quarantined in a small bedroom and never getting a chance to stretch your legs.
It’s even worse if you keep your rabbit outside in a hutch, exposed to the elements and potential predators. That’s very pre-2000’s rabbit care.
Ideally, your rabbit would be able to free roam. That means free reign of the entire house or certain rooms.
This isn’t possible for all pet owners. Some rabbits are extremely destructive. It may be for their own safety that they are only let out when they can be supervised.
In these cases, it’s great to have a playpen set up with additional flooring underneath, like an area rug. This way your rabbit can have lots of room to move around, and you can have peace of mind that they won’t eat anything dangerous.
Either way, you’ll have to make sure the areas your rabbit has access to are rabbit proofed.
Make sure to:
Hide all electrical cords or wires
Gate off areas that are not rabbit proofed
Cover baseboards if your bunny is a chewer
Move house plants out of reach (some are toxic to rabbits)
Rabbits DO NOT need baths. It can actually shock their body to experience that. If they have a “poopy bum,” you can give them a sponge bath on their butt with a damp cloth to loosen the mess.
Make sure get your rabbit’s nails clipped regularly. If they’re left too long, the nails can get caught on things and break. It can also make it very uncomfortable for your rabbit to walk. You can either learn to clip your rabbits nails yourself by watching YouTube videos or take your rabbit to a professional. Some vets will clip nails for a fee as well as some workers are pet supply stores.
Litter train your rabbit
Rabbits can be taught to use a litter box.
Make sure to get a large cat sized litter box and fill with either paper bedding or pine pellet bedding. Steer clear of pine shaving, since that can be bad for your rabbit’s lungs.
You can give your rabbit a hint at what you want by placing some dropping in the bin and putting hay there. Most rabbits like to snack and poop at the same time.
How to get to know your rabbit
This is the fun part of owning a rabbit.
Get to know your rabbit and their personality by spending some quality time together. Just sit down on the floor while your rabbit is running around. Eventually they’ll get curious and come to you.
It’s important to establish that trust and not force anything. Remember, rabbits are prey animals, so they likely won’t take kindly to being smothered by a stranger. It takes time to develop a bond.
In the beginning, try not to pick up your rabbit unless necessary for grooming, vet visits, or emergencies. Most rabbits prefer having all four feet on safe, solid ground.
Nowadays, many people consider their pets a part of their family. We hang out with our pets after work, research the diet that will keep them healthy, take them to vet appointments, and even travel with them.
Many pet parents are also including their bunnies in holiday celebrations!
Baby, my white lionhead son, has been spoiled with most of these gifts. And I wouldn’t mind receiving (or treating myself to) these finds!
Here is the ultimate gift guide for rabbits and their human parents, updated with all the latest ideas!
For Bunnies
All bunnies are different! Some are easy to please, while others are very particular about their toys. You may have to try a few of these gifts right.
Something To Munch
This is a really great, cheap way to give your bunny something they love!
You know your bun (or can at least do a trial and error during advent). Pick your bun’s favorite treat, whether that’s a bag of dried papaya or a small piece of banana.
Put it in a gift bag and you’re good to go! Your bun will love it and so will your wallet.
If you’re training your bunny to walk with a harness, a good harness is a must have.
I have tried so many different styles of harnesses with Baby. Some were definitely cuter than others, but from trial and error, it seems like Baby (and I) much preferred a step-in harness. It is easier for me to put on, and it has less bothersome fabric.
Here’s a cute harness I found on Amazon. It is super cheap and for girl buns, there are skirt attachments. We found this step in harness is just about the only type Baby will tolerate!
A Bird, Cat, or Baby Toy
The joys of having a bunny is that they can play with a variety of toys even if they are not specifically for rabbits.
Options include:
Hanging cage hangings: Typically these are for birds, but if you can find one specifically geared towards bunnies, buy that instead. It’s more likely to be safe for rabbits (no glue). I like to hang these from the playpen, especially by the entrances. Instead of biting the gate, Baby “fights” with these hangings. There are also larger ones you can hang that offer extra enrichment for your bun’s mind.
Baby keys or nesting cups: Although he prefers my real ones, Baby has his own set of keys to toss around. Some of our bunnies (crossed over the rainbow bridge) loved playing around with stackable rings and cups
There are a bunch of different types out there, but basically you’ll want to look for some sort of feeder, typically marketed towards dogs. The ones I’ve seen for rabbits have generally seemed too small, like the businesses selling them think bunnies are more like hamsters.
A puzzle feeder with sliders might be on the easier side for your bunny but a great introduction to the concept.
A Bunny Castle or Hidey House
There are so many options floating around.
Keep your bunny’s chewing habits in mind when you’re picking our a knook for them.
If your bunny does NOT eat cardboard and instead just shreds it, there are tons of cardboard holiday themed ones (great for photo shoots!). Target is a hotspot for these and are on the cheaper side.
If you want a more permanent option, you can also look into towers marketed towards cat owners. We got a second-hand cat tower for Baby one year, he slept in in every afternoon. We had to remove it after a couple years because he secretly started chewing at the sides.
Once we learned that Baby switched from shredding to eating cardboard, we opted for wooden bunny castles. One year we got a Small Pet Select castle, and Baby loved it just as much as his since trashed cat tower.
Since then, the company has designed a new model, opting for a build-it-yourself collapsible style castle. Small Pet Select also sells a wooden bridge, which could help make your Pinterest bunny paradise dreams come true. People in the Facebook groups I’m in have come up with some pretty cool configurations!
A Bunny Box Subscription
Boxes are a little pricey, but they do come with a lot of food and themed toys. There are a few different boxes out there, but here are two that pop up on my Instagram feed a lot.
Happy Bunny Club: This company has monthly, six month, or 12 month plans. It boasts safe ingredients and gives part of their profits to bunnies in need.
Bunny FunBox: This company ships out monthly boxes. It includes presents for bunnies and their parents! Bunny FunBox picks a small animal rescue to donate to each month.
For Bunny Parents
Bunny parents need Christmas gifts too! Whether it’s something you wear or something that helps their buntastic experience, they’ll love these gifts.
A Plushy Twin of Your Bunny
Whether you want a gift to memorialize a bun who’s crossed over the rainbow bridge or want a twin for your current fur child, you can get a customized stuffed animal bunny.
There are two big brands that I saw, and both are pretty pricey. Cuddle Buddies takes about eight weeks to create and two weeks to ship. You upload a photo and clarify some details about your bunny’s physical appearance. Petsies is a little cheaper, but, in my humble opionion, seem a little freakier from their product photos.
A Fancy New X-Pen
When you’re first starting out as a bunny owner, you might get those white wire cubes or a regular x-pen advertised for dogs.
If you want to step up your game this holiday season, opt for a uber trendy clear panel x-pen!
If you’ve been on Instagram or Pinterest recently, you know that some bunny parents go ALL OUT decorating their rabbit’s playpen. I know I have certainly gotten the green eyed monster after looking at some of the gorgeous photos.
There are lots of ways to decorate. Many parents will have a color scheme or mental plan. While you can really spill the big bucks to deck out a bun’s space, consider getting your bun lover accent pieces.
I shamelessly got myself these fake green vines for Christmas. I’d been eyeing them forever! They’re so cheap, and they add that extra pizzazz. Pair it with Christmas lights and BAM! Amazing!
Baby doesn’t care at all, but I look at it each time with joy!
Apparel and Jewelry
This one is easy with a quick Google or Amazon search.
Help the bunny lover in your life keep precious memories of their pet forever!
It can be as simple as buying a nice picture frame and actually printing out a physical picture of their bunny.
You can also get one of these more official momento kits, which include a no-mess dough to capture the bun’s paw print. We tried this out with Baby, and it was perfect! I didn’t even have to worry about his paw getting dirty from it. Just make sure you don’t wet your bunny’s paw like the instructions tell you too. It works perfectly fine without that step.
A Bunny Cam
Pet cameras are so much fun! Some bunny owners have been able to catch their first bunny flop or binkies on camera using one.
There are many different types, but I picked a Wyze Cam based on advice from other bunny parents. It’s a cheap camera that works well and includes night vision. The company also gives you 14 days of cloud storage for free!
While I was working in an office, I’d shamelessly have the livestream up, spying on my bun for signs of sickness and cuteness. It’s also been a lifesaver when we’ve gone on vacation and can let the sitter know when Baby’s litterbox hay is low. Another time, I even was able to pinpoint for a vet when exactly Baby hurt his paw by comparing different clips.
Fan Favorites
Cardboard Boxes
So simple and oftentimes free! One of our cuzrabbits Facebook followers suggested we add cardboard to the list!
Many wholesale food stores like BJ’s give out boxes in weird shapes. We’ve grabbed a few that looked like little huts!
Some furniture or appliance stores will give you big, broken down boxes if you ask for them. These are great for tunneling!
One of Baby’s favorite style of boxes is printer paper boxes. I’ve often cut out a small opening on one side and left the tops on. He’s spent days scratching and destroying the little caves!
With cardboard, just make sure your rabbit isn’t eating it. If there’s a hole in the box, you should see plenty of scraps around, proving it’s not ending up in their stomach!
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cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.
The cottagecore aesthetic, popularized by romanticized TikTok videos, is absolutely perfect for bunny lovers!
Cottagecore drips with nostalgia and a longing for a simpler life. Think “going back to basics” – baking bread, taking care of a backyard garden, learning how to knit, reading a book while on a picnic, etc.
It’s permiated many aspects of life, not only daily activities and hobbies.
Some people have taken to dressing cottagecore (florals, longer skirts, and puff sleeves). Others have transformed their homes (buying vintage furniture, hanging prints of botanicals, painting their walls dark green). There are even Spotify playlists that can help you get in the cottagecore vibe!
Common visuals include:
Mushrooms
Flowers
Herbs
Toads
And, of course, bunnies!!!
Launching myself headfirst into cottagecore, I decided to get Baby, my lionhead, on board!
What you’ll need
There’s no hard and fast rule whether or not something qualifies as “cottagecore.” I’d say the best thing is to look at your space and follow the vibes.
To give you some inspiration, here are some of the things I gathered:
Fake greenery: I didn’t want real plants in case leaves dropped and he accidentally ate one.
Christmas lights: Our apartment doesn’t have great lighting, so I draped lights around the top of his pen. They’re connected with the light switch so they’re off at night.
A string of fabric carrots: This can also be strung along the top of the playpen.
A wooden castle: Baby won’t be running towards it in slow motion wearing a flowing gown… but he could!
A canopy doll bed: He sometimes sits on it while he eats, but it’s too small to lay down on.
A woven basket: Baby doesn’t jump up on his castle, so I can put a basket on top of it with some extra toys in there. If it is in reach, just make sure the material is bunny-safe.
A miniature mailbox: It’s just adorable! No other reason!
Grass mats: We’ve found Small Pet Select‘s sea grass mats to hold out the longest against his super chewing. Couldn’t get it in time for the cottagecore makeover because it keeps selling out! But Amazon has another good alternative we’ve tried
Where to buy cottagecore props and decor
Cottagecore is all about vintage, so why not take advantage of that?
I’ve gotten the majority of my props from tag sales and flea markets. You’re almost guaranteed one-of-a-kind items that have serious character.
I was able to find Baby is very own little picnic set at a small flea market in Connecticut!
Keep your eye out for items for 18-inch dolls. Although not always the case, props for these dolls typically match rabbit proportions. This is how I found my canopy bed, the mailbox, and the cute little apples for sale sign/mini crate.
Another place to look is estate sales. These items are usually pretty cheap, especially if you go in the last hour. Sellers just want to get rid of the stuff at that point. There are oftentimes antiques or cute painting you can incorporate into your bunny’s space.
You can also check sales at craft stores. The best time to go is after Easter, when they’re trying to sell off all their carrot and rabbit themed inventory.
What type of castle to buy
There are some cardboard castles that you can construct at home, but we try to stay away from those. Some rabbits, including Baby, have a bad habit of eating cardboard instead of just biting it off. With his past issues with GI Stasis, we just don’t want to take the chance. For the money they cost, I also wouldn’t want a castle easily destroyed by bunstruction.
I got my castle from Small Pet Select! They’re really well made, so I don’t have to worry about it collapsing if Baby jumps on it.
The castle I have is open on two sides, so Baby doesn’t feel cornered while he’s in there. It also has little windows on the closed sides (spoiler alert: you will die from cuteness when your bun peaks out the window). The castle is hand-made with Kiln-Dried #2 Untreated Pine, so even if Baby did happen to take a nibble, he’s still safe.
Some bunny parents buy a couple castles and combine them with wooden ramps. This is a cool idea if you have a dedicated bunny room, but I’d suggest getting one to see how your rabbit likes it before splurging on a giant setup.
Small Pet Select Redesign
Small Pet Select recently switched up their designs, launching a whole new line of castle habitats.
Once you put it all together, your rabbitat should start to look magical!
Here’s a final look at Baby’s Bungalow:
cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.
There are plenty of companies that market dangerous treats to rabbit parents by using a cute bunny on the packaging. They may even falsely say one of their products is especially for rabbits, despite including ingredients that can cause health issues.
I’m an experienced rabbit owner, yet even I have fallen for these marketing tricks.
So, how can you figure out which treats are safe and which you shouldn’t waste your money on?
Maria Lary of Texas worked at a veterinary office and decided to start her own Etsy shop AshyandCC. She shares some things that she considers when making treats for her shop and picking out food for her own rabbits.
How do you know whether the ingredients in treats are healthy for rabbits?
There are many different types of treats out there, like herb mixes, willow balls, compressed timothy hay cubes. When choosing between all these options, make sure to look at the ingredients on the packaging or the online listing.
Lary says she would double check with the exotic vet at her office to make sure certain foods were okay for her rabbit. But you can also do your own research, comparing packaging ingredients to lists of healthy foods on trusted websites.
“Google would be my best friend, searching on medically acclaimed websites,” Lary says.
Simpler, more recognizable ingredients are better, especially if you’re questioning whether a treat is actually healthy for your rabbit.
“Things that are too processed are bad for them,” Lary says. “If you see that a treat has too many ingredients, that is going to be a warning sign right there, especially if it’s ingredients that you don’t know what they are.”
Some good ingredients to look out for are:
Timothy Hay: Rabbits need all the hay they can get! It helps with their digestion and keeps their teeth trim.
Certain Tree Branches: Little branches and twigs can also give your bunny’s teeth a workout! Just make sure you know which trees are safe for your rabbit.
Certain Fruits: Since fruits have sugar, you want to make sure you don’t overdue it with treats that have foods like bananas and apples. But they can be delicious in moderation!
Certain Vegetables: Veggies are good for your bunny in general, but make sure you keep the carrot quantity in check. You may not realize it, but carrots are high in sugar too.
While researching, you may find that the safety of some ingredients are not as straightforward as others.
It may be better to take a more cautious approach.
“Things that are iffy, I usually just don’t feed them to my rabbits. Recently, I was looking into honeysuckle and adding those to treats because we have a huge honeysuckle growing. But I was seeing that there was conflicting opinions on what kinds are okay for rabbits and what are not. So I’m probably just not going to be including them,” Lary explains.
Which bunny toy construction techniques should you beware?
Even if a treat is made from healthy ingredients, it can still be dangerous because of how the treat may have been made.
Steer clear of toys or treats made with glue (which can be accidentally ingested) and wire (which could cut your rabbits mouth during chewing).
Braided or woven hay rings and mats may fall apart after a while, but these natural ways of keeping treats and toys together is much safer.
What are some rabbit companies and small businesses you can trust?
If you have no idea where to start, it’s worth researching the companies themselves.
Check product reviews before you buy.
Look at the comments on their social media posts. While every company will have some naysayers and the occasional angry customer, oftentimes people will call out companies online for their bad practices.
Here are some good options to get you started.
Companies and Small Businesses
Small Pet Select is a family owned business that focuses on transparency and quality ingredients. Many of their employees own rabbits themselves!
Oxbox is another respected rabbit supply company. It’s often recommended by vets and is known for its Critical Care products (given to sick rabbits).
AshyandCC is Lary’s Etsy shop and is relatively new on the scene. There are a wide variety of treats to choose from, and you can even order a box packed with treats and toys.
BinxBox is a well known subscription box for bunnies with monthly and bi-monthly options.
Your own household
You can also grow your own veggies to incorporate into treats.
“I would always look for healthy options that maybe I have growing in my yard. We grow lettuce, collard greens, kale, parsley, and lavender. We have a huge rosemary bush. So I have a huge variety of things that I can choose from that are free, available to me,” Lary says.
What are Baby’s favorite treats?
Over the years, Baby has been exposed to a bunch of different types of treats. While there have been a lot of misses, we’ve also discovered some favorites – that are actually healthy.
Right now, he’s obsessed with:
Papaya Treats: They’re delicious and great for his digestive system. We give this in moderation to prevent him from getting too much sugar.
Timothy Hay Cubes: With a little trickery on our part, Baby is getting more hay into his diet. It took some time for him to get used to the idea, but now he loves chewing on these.
Have any treat suggestions for us and other rabbit owners? Let us know what your bunny’s favorite treat is in the comments!
cuzrabbits gets commissions from some of the affiliate links in this post. Support our education efforts by buying your pet supplies at Small Pet Select.
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