How to Keep a Rabbit From Going Under the Bed
Rabbits make cuddly pets that are relatively easy to care for and keep healthy, but sometimes their desire to explore can cause problems for owners as they find remote hiding places, such as beneath beds. If your pet rabbit consistently takes refuge beneath your bed, take precautions to prevent this behavior and save yourself from having to clean up a mess in an inconvenient location.
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Things You'll Need
- Wire cutters
- Chicken wire
- Staple gun
- Spray bottle
- Cardboard box
- Paper cups
- Towels
- Rabbit hutch
Instructions
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Cut a piece of chicken wire that matches the perimeter and height of your bed frame. Attach the chicken wire to the bed frame using a staple gun. These staples can be removed at any time, but will leave small holes where they entered the wood.
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2
Spray your rabbit with a spray bottle filled with water each time it enters a forbidden location, such as under the bed. With time, your pet will learn that entering certain areas means getting wet, and it will learn to avoid these places.
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Make a cardboard-box fort for your rabbit so it has its own hiding place in your home where it feels safe. This can prevent your pet from feeling like it must take refuge under the bed. Fill the space with toys such as paper cups and towels to entertain your rabbit and make the fort an attractive location.
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Prevent all other pets from accessing the rabbit. Keep them outdoors or in separate rooms where the rabbit does not venture. The presence of a dog or cat is likely to scare your rabbit under the bed right away, and dogs can even scare rabbits to death by attempting to chase or play with them.
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Tips & Warnings
You can most easily keep your rabbit from going under the bed by keeping it in a hutch. But if you want your pet to be able to roam freely around your home, make sure you take the necessary precautions to make all rooms safe, as if you were baby-proofing your environment. For example, protect all electrical wires at ground level which your pet may chew through, and remove all toxic houseplants.
Use chicken wire that is painted a specific color to avoid detracting from the appearance of your bedroom. Do not attach the bottom of the chicken wire to the floor, so you can lift it up to access storage space beneath your bed.
References
Resources
- Training Your Pet Rabbit; Patricia P. Bartlett
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Pixland/Getty Images
