Bringing Global Rabbit Care Standards to Japan
Based on 30 years of rabbit-keeping experience in Japan and the US, we deliver rabbit care information in Japanese to protect the health and happiness of rabbits.
BunnyCareJP
House Rabbit Society (HRS)
International Partnership
BunnyCare JP is listed on the House Rabbit Society (HRS) official website as an International Partner.
List of items needed for keeping rabbits
Rabbits are engrossed in toys! How to stimulate their brains through foraging (exploratory behavior)
My rabbit loves playing with toys! Instead of just keeping them in their cage, incorporating "foraging" (exploratory behavior) that uses their mind and body can satisfy their intellectual curiosity and make their daily life more enjoyable. Rabbits need mental and physical stimulation to live a healthy and happy life. There are many kinds of toys that will captivate rabbits, taking advantage of their natural instincts to chew, dig, search for food, throw, and hide.
The supplies needed when raising a rabbit for the first time are slightly different from those needed for dogs or cats.
Use the following shopping list to prepare for welcoming a rabbit into your family.
Here are some tips for keeping rabbits indoors.
Wild rabbits spend much of their day searching for food. Digging in the ground, sifting through bushes, and finding prey by scent—these are not merely foraging behaviors, but important brain stimulations and instincts for rabbits. Rabbits living in homes tend to only receive food from a dish in their cages, which prevents them from developing the exploratory instincts they would use in the wild. Foraging is a form of play that recreates this "search, think, act" process through toys.
Why is toy play important for proper rabbit care?
A monotonous life without toys can be very stressful for rabbits. Lack of exercise and stimulation can often lead to behavioral problems such as excessive grooming, chewing, and aggressive behavior. By incorporating foraging toys, rabbits can gain experience in "thinking, acting, and achieving" things on their own. This is part of proper care that supports the physical and mental health of rabbits.
Types of toys
Cut a slit in a toilet paper roll and put hay inside the holder. The rabbit will enjoy throwing it around and playing with it.
Stackable cups
Toys for toddlers and children can also be used. If you hide a treat, the rabbit will pick it up with its beak and take the treat out of the cup.
Tunnel Hideaway Heidi House
Pet rabbits' ancestors originally lived in burrows, so they like dark, narrow places. You can use cat tunnels or cardboard boxes designed for cats.
Cardboard House (Hideout): A hideout made by cutting two or more slits in a cardboard box large enough for a rabbit to enter and exit. A Heidi House made from recycled cardboard.
Using toys to encourage independent thinking and action is crucial for proper rabbit care and stress relief. Instead of simply keeping them quietly confined to a cage, fulfilling their natural instincts through foraging is the first step towards a richer daily life. For more information on creating a living environment that respects their wild instincts, please see the following article.
→ Let's keep them without a cage!
→ Rabbit Care Beginner's Guide
