Creating DIY rabbit toys is a fantastic way to bond with your bunny while ensuring they have plenty of enrichment to stay mentally and physically stimulated. Whether you’re using cardboard, untreated wood, or simple household items, there’s no shortage of fun and safe ways to keep your rabbit entertained. Plus, homemade toys can be easily replaced or updated to keep things fresh and exciting. So, get creative, have fun, and enjoy watching your bunny bounce with joy over their new favorite toys!
DIY Rabbit Toys
Rabbits need toys for a variety of reasons. Mental stimulation, exercise, socialization and dental health. Durable items made from wood, tree branches, and course fibers will help your rabbit naturally wear down it’s teeth. Rabbits are naturally curious, intelligent and playful animals so giving them proper enrichment is very important to stave off boredom and naughtiness. To encourage your rabbit’s natural instincts and engage it’s senses, you can create all sorts of rabbit toys from hideaways and castles, tunnels, balls, hanging chew toys to forage boxes and digging boxes… the possibilities are endless.
Rabbit toys do not, and should not, need to be an expensive investment. Why? Well, because they are natural born chewers and anything you give them will be destroyed in a matter of minutes….sometimes literally! Whether you use random items you find around your home, or invest a small amount in bunny safe supplies to keep on hand, you can always be prepared to create DIY rabbit toys.
That being said, hay is the one and only item a rabbit should continually ingest. Even rabbit toys made of the safest materials should not be ingested, at least not on a regular basis. Just as if you were giving a child a toy, your rabbit will need supervision when it comes to playtime. As their toys start to fall apart, it is time to replace them. Continually rotating your rabbit toys will also keep your bun from becoming bored.
Safe and Fun Materials
When creating rabbit toys, safety must always be a priority! Always opt for clean, organic rabbit friendly materials.
Cardboard
Cardboard in any shape or form seems to be a beloved item for rabbits as they can chew to their hearts content! However one must be careful to have clean cardboard, free from glossy finishes and overcoatings, stickers, tape, glue, ink and staples.
Boxes: Boxes are great for making hide-aways or castles. Multiple boxes can be placed side by side to create separate rooms. Low sided boxes that your rabbit can jump in and out of can be filled with shredded paper to create a digging box, hay and treats to create a forage box or small balls for a ball pit. Extra long boxes can act like a tunnel for your rabbit to run through.
Flat: A flat piece of cardboard is perfect for creating wreaths that can be tied with hay and treats!
Tubes: While toilet paper and paper towel tubes are considered a great vehicle for small personal rabbit toys, these can be hazardous due to the glue used to secure the toilet paper. Rabbit toys can be made with them as long as your rabbit does not ingest the tube itself.
Paper
Again, any paper you use should be clean and free from ink or any other toxic material. I have read time and again that it is ok to use newspaper, for example in a digging box, however what is newspaper? Paper with ink. I would not recommend it. If you have a shredding machine like I do, you can make your own shredded paper with paper you know is safe.
Honestly this one small investment I have made is so worthwhile: Kraft paper. It is non toxic, unbleached, unwaxed and uncoated all for $11.95/100 feet. I must confess though it does have a duel purpose, not only do I use it for my rabbit toys, but I use it as wrapping paper for gifts!
Another small but fun investment is a natural pulp paper egg carton. One can be purchased for as little as .52 for a 12 slot carton. These can be incorporated into creating a variety of toys from forage trays to hanging toys made from individual cups, however I would never use a carton that previously held eggs. It should be clean and free from contaminants.
Twine, Raffia & Willow
Twine, made from sisal, is great for tying or any type of hanging toy. Sisal is a natural, coarse fiber derived from the agave sisalana plant that can be broken down similar to hay. Raffia, another natural fiber, comes from the leaves of the raffia palm tree. It is a non toxic, biodegradable and vegan friendly material. Be sure when buying any type of cording that it is natural, untreated and not synthetic. Stay away from Jute and Hemp as the fibers can cause digestive problems.
If you are lucky enough to have a Willow tree in your yard, then you hit the jackpot! Willow is an all around great item from making rabbit toys to using for forage!
Cornleaf, Catbriar, and Bulrush are other chew materials considered safe by Oxbow, however I have never used them so I can not give an opinion one way or the other.
Wood
I would not necessarily suggest heading out to your yard and grabbing sticks unless you are 100% sure you know what they are. Not all woods are safe for rabbits so before ever offering any to your bun, make sure you know what it is. Apple tree branches, readily available from orchards, are a favorite for rabbits for sure, but they should be untreated and free of disease. Birch trees, common in my area, are another tree that can be used for crafting rabbit toys when washed and dried properly.
Another good investment is the non toxic wood balsa, which is great for making toys. You can get a 3 foot piece of balsa for less than .80 at my local hardware store and they can most likely cut it into 1 or 1.5 inch cubes for you. Berries and herbs can be used to make edible dyes which will enhance the wood making it more enjoyable for your rabbit to play with.
Seagrass, Palm Leaf & Bamboo
Again these items are a small investment but well worth it to have on hand.
Pinecones
Pinecones are great for dental health and they are a cost effective item to use for DIY projects. They do require a bit more work because they need thorough cleaning and your bunny will need supervision as they can become a choking factor. The benefits though outweigh the risks as long as you practice proper preparation and supervision. You can find ideas for pinecone toys here.
Miscellaneous Items
For most creations you will at least need scissors, pencil, tape measure and an utility knife. You may also need hay, treats and/or pellets to complete some projects such as foraging trays. I like to use a tackle box to keep my crafting supplies in for my rabbit toys.
Edible dyes are a great way to infuse flavor into homemade rabbit toys. You can use natural ingredients like fruits and vegetables. Mashed or pureed raspberries, elderberries, cherries, cranberries, blueberries or beet beet juice will create a range of pink and purple tones, turmeric and carrot juice can create yellow/orange and spinach makes a nice green.
Step-by-Step Tutorials
These DIY rabbit toys are very easy to make. As long as you have the items on hand, you can whip them up any time.
1. Cardboard Castles & Hideouts
What you need:
- Sturdy cardboard box(es)
- Pencil
- Utility knife or scissors
- Blanket if your rabbit so desires
How to make it:
- Mark openings on the cardboard box
- Carefully cut the holes
- Line with blanket if you wish
2. “Christmas Cracker” Poppers
What you need:
- Kraft paper or some packing paper
- Scissors
- Twine
- Hay, apple sticks, dried herbs & treats
How to make it:
- Lay kraft paper down on a flat surface.
- Mark it 8-10 inches in length.
- Lay down the hay, twigs, herbs and treats in the center.
- Roll it up like a burrito.
- Tie both ends with twine.
3. Hay Munch wreaths
What you need:
- Cardboard
- Plate and bowl for tracing circles
- Twine
- Hay
- Optional decorations: treats, garden sticks, berry loops, fruit/veggie pieces
How to make it:
- Place a plate on the cardboard and trace a circle.
- Place a bowl inside the larger circle and trace another smaller circle.
- Carefully cut out both circles, leaving a ring-like shape.
- Lay down a generous amount of hay on the cardboard ring and wrap the twine around securing it.
- You can tuck the ends back on themselves or tie off with a knot to secure.
- Tuck treats into the twine.
- NOTE: Any shape wreath can be made as long as you can draw a smaller shape within the larger shape.
4. Hanging Chew Toy
What you need:
- Balsa wood cubes (you can also use apple wood sticks or hay cubes in between the wooden cubes)
- Twine
- Drill
- *Edible Dyes
How to make it:
- If you want to impart flavor, dye and dry your balsa wood cubes.
- Drill a hole through the center of your cube.
- Tie a knot in one end of a piece of twine.
- Thread the twine through the holes of the first cube and knot. Repeat with all your cubes.
- When done, knot the twine with a hanging loop.
5. Carrot
What you need:
- Hay
- Twine
- Scissors
How to make it:
- Grab your hay and form into the shape of a carrot.
- Halfway up, start wrapping the twine, leaving a 2″ piece, and continue wrapping down the carrot pulling tighter as you go.
- Once at the bottom, return wrapping back to wear you started.
- Tie the loose end of twine you left with the twine in your hand.
- When you are done, you can trim the hay sticking out.
6. Forage Carton or Bowl
What you need:
- Egg carton or 2 palm leaf bowls
- Hay
- Dried forage: flowers (chamomile, rose, marigolds), herbs, roots (dandelion, burdock) and leaves (willow, apple)
- Raffia
How to make it:
- Fill an egg carton or a palm leaf bowl with hay and forage.
- Close egg carton or cover bowl with a second bowl.
- Tie with some raffia.
7. Dig Box
What you need:
- Cardboard box
- Utility knife
- Shredded paper
- Hay
- (Forage or treats if you wish)
How to make it:
- If need be, use the utility knife to cut the sides of the box to a height your rabbit can easily navigate.
- Fill with shredded paper, hay and treats.
- NOTE: if your rabbit tends to poop and pee while they dig or forage, I would recommend placing some litter or a pee pad in the bottom first.
8. Chewing Stick Bunch
What you need:
- A bunch of apple sticks, or bamboo, roughly the same length
- Twine
- Scissors
How to make it:
- Place your twine down on the table about 2 inches in from the ends of the sticks.
- Grab your apple sticks and place on top.
- Tie the sticks together with the twine!
9. Pellet or Treat Puzzle
What you need:
- Cupcake Tin (ideally 6 cup, but 12 will do)
- Cardboard
- Twine
- Pencil
- Utility knife
- Pellets or another treat
How to make it:
- Draw 6 circles the same size as the top of the cup opening.
- Using a utility knife, carefully cut them out.
- Poke 2 holes in the center of the carboard. Thread the twine through the two holes, tie a knot and then a bow.
- Place treats in each cup.
- Cover with the cardboard toppers!
10. Forage Bag
What you need:
- paper bag
- pencil
- cardboard (cut to fit inside bag)
- utility knife
- twine
- hay and forage
How to make it:
- Decide on a shape for the cutout and draw it on the side with no seam.
- Place your cardboard inside the bag. (this will keep you from cutting through both sides)
- Using the utility knife, cut out the shape.
- Stand the bag upright and fill with a mixture of hay and forage.
- Cut a piece of twine and tie the bag a few inches from the top.
- After your rabbit has torn into the bag and eaten the treats, take away the bottom and back side of the bag which has glue.
11. Wood Log Treat Holder
What you need:
- A safe piece of wood either from your hardware store, or a log that has been thoroughly cleaned and dried. (I use the same vinegar solution as when I clean pinecones)
- A safe square piece of wood for the base. (the thicker the better)
- Pencil
- Tape measure
- A drill
- A screw for the base
- Herbs, greens or hay
How to make it:
- Find the center of your base with a tape measure and mark it with a pencil.
- Drill a small hole. (Depending on the size of the vertical piece of wood or log, you may need more than 1 hole)
- Line up the vertical piece with the hole(s) of the base and screw them together.
- Drill holes in the vertical piece or log big enough to hold your treats and stuff them.
12. Agility Fence
What you need:
- 2 Paper Towel tubes
- 3 Clean safe small branches or twigs (dowels made from rabbit safe wood would also work)
- Utility knife
- Pencil
- Ruler
How to make it:
- Measure your paper towel tubes to make sure they are the same size (approximately 11 inches long). Adjust if necessary.
- Measuring from an inch in on each end, mark your tubes every 3 inches. Do this on the exact opposite side of the tube.
- Using the utility knife, make a small x on top of the holes.
- Using the utility knife, cut the branches or twigs to the length you want your paper towel tubes apart from each other.
- Place the branches through both holes. You can start with one in the lowest hole and keep adding if your rabbit decides to jump!
And A Bonus for Those with Willow Trees!
13. Willow Wreath
Other Toy Ideas
Eco-Friendly & Upcycled
While not necessarily DIY, I am including this section as there are many baby items that can be repurposed for bunnies. Stacking cups, teething rings, blankets, play gym frames, balls and more. Maybe you don’t have these items lying around, however I bet you might know some new parents who would be willing to donate to you once they have outlived their purpose. Thrift stores as well as garage and yard sales are perfect places to find these items sometimes for pennies! One of our favorites is the play gym frame on which I hang home made rabbit toys!
Snuffle Mats
Snuffle mats are easy to make although they can be a bit time consuming and should only be used with rabbits that do not chew fabric..
Cat Toys
Cat toys can have a dual purpose as rabbit toys! Hard balls with bells inside, interactive track toys, tunnels, pop up huts and scratchers can typically be found at your local dollar store!
Final Thoughts…
Rabbits are naturally curious, playful, and intelligent animals, which means they thrive when given the right toys to keep them entertained. While pet stores offer a variety of rabbit toys, making your own can be a fun, budget-friendly, and rewarding experience. DIY rabbit toys will not only save you money, but also allow you to customize playthings that are safe and perfectly suited to your bunny’s needs.
Sources
- Cook, Dianne, LVT “What Materials Are Safe For Rabbits To Chew? November 9, 2022 Oxbow
- Allen, Rebecca “DIY Bunny Toys” Ohio House Rabbit Rescue
- Pet Life With Bec “Willow Wreaths” October 27, 2016
- Supreme Pet Foods “Hay Enrichment Wreath” Feb 23, 2024
