Why does my rabbit mess up her cage and how can i stop her?

Question

My rabbit is an 11 month old Lop eared rabbit.

She is really cute.

I put just a few sheets of newspaper at the bottom of her cage then on one half i put lucerne and on the other i put hay.

She pushes all of the lucerne on top of her food bowls (which are on they hay side) and rips up all the newspaper.

Please help

Answer 1

She is bored out of her mind.

Try letting her go for a run on some grass - with a harness on if necessary.

Answer 2

First of all, ROMAN K you really shouldn't say that!!!!!! He wouldn't ever kill a cute lop eared rabbit!!!!!! Anyway, Your rabbit might want time to go free. To frolic in the yard. But DO get him a rabbit harness like this one

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js... that might help you out. Also, get her some toys. She'd really love a few toys if they are meant for a rabbit. If she still does it, Ask a vet. He should know why.

Answer 3

Kill it then you will not have any more problems =].

I have a question, how is a squirel alive?

Answer 4

Maybe switch what you use bedding. http://exoticpets.about.com/od/guineapig...

I use cell-sorb-plus and I find little to no mess.  

Answer 5

ALL my rabbits do this if i use newspaper.

I just use *Shavings*(wood chips from a pet shop)

Because they don't/can't rip it up,also female rabbits *Does* are more likely to than males *Bucks* as they un-spade doe tries to make a nest in the easy-to-rip-up-newspaper.

Otherwise no,there isn't a way to stop her doing that.

They *Love* ripping up newspaper.

Really the "ideal" rabbit bedding should be,

A layer for *newspaper*(this helps to repel mites as they dislike the ink used.),

Then a thickish layer of *Shavings*,

& Finally a layer of *meadow hay*,Lucerne isn't best to use as bedding.

Though i normally(unless very cold)just use a thick layer of *Shavings*,these are very absorbent & the hutch should only need to be cleaned out twice a week max.

Where i find using paper the hutch has to be cleaned out every 2 days.

Here in the U.K i buy 4ft by 2ft bales of bagged Shavings from a farm shop(shavings can be used with horses as well) it only costs me £4.35 a bale! Dead cheap & it very good wood.

Its normally 1 bale a month,you would only use less than a quarter of it & the rabbits hutch would be thick with shavings.

Though you can buy fairly cheap,either bagged up shavings in the shop or ready bagged ones that are also for sale in a pet shop though some supermarkets sell min bales of Shavings that do a couple of cleaning outs.

Here a site i discovered just in case you weren't sure what shavings were.

http://www.ardenwoodshavings.co.uk

Oh & they don't normally do because of being bored they just do it!

Hope this helps & good luck on finding a way! x*x

Answer 6

I have the same thing with my rabbits. I personally don't stop them, I think they are just having fun and sorting out their space.

It's a good idea to make sure she has plenty of toys, which can be cheap such as the inner tubes of toilet rolls, apple wood, or can be from pet shop like untreated willow balls.

Ripping up newspaper is a natural behaviour, and mine get lots of pleasure from it.

I wouldn't worry!  

Answer 7

  Rabbits have a natural chewing habit, its part of there breed.   They chew to keep there teeth healthy and well to keep busy.  Your bunny is not doing it because she wants to mess her cage up, its most likely just out of boredom.  Bunnies are very smart, and there mind is going at all times!

  Its really hard to tell what they are thinking when they do stuff like this, but its really just about something to do!  

  Every bunny I have every had will shred newspaper as soon as I put it down in the cage.  So well......I got rid of the newspaper.

  Here are a few options for you that you could try!

  1) Instead of newspaper try shavings, or straw, this will deter the chewing, and give something to absorb the bunny poo.

  2) Try putting something in the cage for your bunny to chew on. Like those wooden toys.  (Most likely she will still go back to the newspaper to chew but its worth a shot!)

  3)  Change cages, get a cage/hutch with a bottom that poo falls through. This will eleminate the need for newspaper, or shavings, and makes clean up a lot easier!  This would be your best bet. And your bunny will stay cleanier, happier, and healthier!  You can put a box in there so your bunny doesnt have to stand on the grate all the times.



I have a lopped ear bunny who loves to tip her food bowl over, then she plays with it.   I have been where you have, and honestly I did the straw thing for a while, then when I could afford it I got a totally different cage, life is so much easier now when it comes to clean up time!  I put a bunch of toys in there to keep her mind stimulated!