How to Rabbit-proof a Home

A house rabbit can be a sturdy, child-friendly pet. Although they reside in cages, house rabbits require frequent excursions for exercise. You can give your pet rabbit room to roam inside your home as long as you take some precautions for your pet's safety and well-being. Read on to learn how to rabbit-proof a home.

Instructions

    • 1

      Start by confining rabbit proofing activities to a single room. It's much easier to make your home safe for a house rabbit one room at a time, rather than all rooms at once. Lie down on your stomach and "elbow crawl" through the entire room. Look for pet hazards from a pet's level. Remember that rabbits can squeeze into small places, such as behind and beneath furniture.

    • 2

      Cover all electrical cords with heavy plastic tubing. You can use PVC pipe, lengths of old garden hose (be certain it's completely dry) or commercial grade cable covering available at home improvement and hardware stores.

    • 3

      Expect your house rabbit to chew things. Be certain there are no plants close enough to the floor for your rabbit to reach. Many houseplants are toxic to pets. Provide plenty of chew toys and block access to wooden furnishings (such as chair legs and baseboards) that are at your rabbit's level.

    • 4

      Place plastic floor runners or car floor mats spike-side-up in doorways, in front of furniture--anywhere you don't want your rabbit to roam. The hard plastic spikes won't harm your bunny, but can be an excellent deterrent.

    • 5

      Hike floor length drapes up and out of reach when your bunny is loose. Tying them in a loose half knot normally raises them high enough.

    • 6

      Keep doors to cupboards, closets and other rooms firmly closed. Your house rabbit can get plenty of exercise and stay out of excessive trouble when confined to a single room.

    • 7

      Confine other pets to separate rooms when your bunny is loose. Even the tamest dog or cat can become overly playful and strike your rabbit.