When I think of home, I think “homey.” And homey to me means grey tones (please don’t call me boring, but I’ll admit I’ve totally fallen into the grey trap), pumpkin spice smells (0-2 here in the “I’m unique” category) and all of the fuzzy blankets. (Yes, fall is my favorite season.) But even more, when I think of home, I think of my rabbits keeping me company while I snuggle up in all of the fuzzy blankets and watch Grey’s Anatomy re-runs. We totally encourage rabbit free roam. But rabbit free roam comes with some potential safety hazards which need to be addressed before your buns can safely explore. If you’re wondering how to rabbit proof your house… you’re in the right spot.
KEEP THOSE CORDS OUT OF REACH. OR, COVER THEM.
As a rabbit parent, my top tip is to use your furniture to your advantage. If possible, use large pieces to cover/hide cords. This will make it much more difficult for your rabbit’s mischief to get the best of them. Plus, the rooms gonna look better, even if you don’t have buns. If completely hiding cords isn’t an option, you can cover them with hard plastic sleeves or flex tubing for protection. (Check out how cute this idea is!)
If you’re handy, try making a hole in the back of a table to keep charging cords hidden. My husband tried it, and it worked out pretty well. Now everything is charged inside of his top drawer. No cords. No potential danger. #winning
Large pieces of furniture that sit in the middle of a room (think bed or couch) can be a serious point of interest for your bunny. If they don’t sit all the way on the floor, it’s pretty darn easy to attach some kind of barrier (a board or large piece of wood) to the bottom. Use a bed or couch skirt to cover. Viola. Understanding how to rabbit proof your house just became easier.
SLIPPERY SURFACE? INVEST IN SOME RUGS.
Rugs are your best friend. Use rugs (or even cool looking carpet squares… I found matching ones from our local Pottery Barn), to keep your home looking classy and slip-free for your fur babies. If you have a little one with slippery feet, they’re also a fabulous way to contain them in a certain area without having to use a baby gate. Another win? If there’s an accident or mess (which buns are known to happily create) they can easily be washed. Done, done and done.
FLOOR VENTS? MAKE SURE THEY’RE SECURE.
If you have floor vents, screw them in! It’s an important piece of the “how to rabbit proof your house” puzzle. Two tiny screws through the vent (or even on the sides) to keep these tight to the floor are all you need. This may seem like something that's not a problem, however, from personal experience, my small 5 pound bun, Bellagio, was able to flip up an air vent all by himself, in order to attempt traveling down the “bunny hole.” Scary for mommy. Scary for bunny. Securing your floor vents totally eliminates this danger.
Of course, you should always keep watch when your bunny is out and about, but keeping your home secure from potential dangers ahead of time can keep your worries at bay and most importantly, keep your baby safe. Your home is a place for your entire family to enjoy time together. Your fur babies will appreciate the time you put into making the space secure for them. They bring so much to our lives and the safer your home is, the happier it will be.
