My rabbit won't play with toys. What can I do to stop boredom?

Your rabbit may be bored. Rabbits are playful, energectic animals that require a sizable enclosure that contains a nest box, toys, a toileting area, feeding area, and room to play. Toys can include cardboard boxes, cardboard toilet paper/towel rolls (basically any cardboard shape), wooden chew toys, hard plastic baby toys, cat toys, and dog toys, metal measuring spoons, bowls, and small cups (as well as many other options). Many toys designed for parrots are also suitable for rabbits. Recommendations for appropriately sized enclosures range from 8-12 square feet (or 4-6X the size of your rabbit), with a larger exercise area. Your rabbit should also have unlimited access to Timothy or mixed grass hay. Hay stuffed into boxes, bags, or other types of toys makes for an enjoyable treat. Fresh vegetables and the occasional fruit should be a regular part of your rabbit's diet. Rabbit pellets/chow should be limited. For additional information on toys you can give your rabbit, see: http://rabbit.org/faq-toys/

Thanks for reaching out about Fluffy. Large plastic tubes (from Home Depot or other) or large cardboard boxes with doors and windows can be used as play structures. Large cat toys such as plastic balls, many rabbits find enjoyable. Care must be taken to monitor ingestion. Good luck.

Hi there. Rabbits aren't usually well known for many tricks, but they are usually pretty food motivated. I would find one of her favorite foods and use it to encourage/ teach her to do tricks. Have fun!

He may be bored with the items in his cage. Keep a variety of toys and chew treats for him and rotate their usage to prevent boredom. You can also let him out of his cage for play and exercise each day. Supervision is required so he doesn't chew cords or wires. Rabbits do sleep and it would be good to provide a dark area or turn the lights off at night so he can rest.

I am assuming that your concern is that your rabbit is active for only short periods of time, and otherwise it is doing rabbit-typical relaxation behaviors? Rabbits, like people, have differing activity levels between individuals. From what you stated, it sounds like Julius is excited to come out, so one thing you may try is encouraging him to come out and play more often. Some rabbits will do this by chasing balls (make sure they are made of non-toxic substances, are not so small that they could accidentally be ingested, and use them only when Julius is supervised), or playing in cardboard boxes (no labels, markings, or tape please!). Hopefully this gives you a place to start, and if you would like to dive into this subject further, I’d be happy to do a consult with you!

I would recommend making his home more welcoming with toys and treats. You can hide treats in his cage and add bunny safe toys to keep him preoccupied. You can also place a nice sleeping area in the cage as well. The more fun/comfortable his cage is, the more likely he will want to spend time there.

Max sounds like he is trying to get your attention :) Rabbits are highly social creatures and when kept in small cages with little stimulation often get very bored and destructive. Is it possible for you to have "play time" with Max where he is allowed to run around loose in a playpen area inside the house, or in a fenced, safe backyard? Also, consider rabbit-safe toys like cardboard boxes and plenty of sticks and hay to chew on, for all your rabbits. Hope that helps!