Rabbits are natural chewers. It's not a bad habit — it's instinct. In the wild, rabbits chew to keep their teeth worn down and to explore their environment. Your home is their warren, and they'll test everything with their teeth.

Good news: with the right preparation, you can keep your rabbit safe and your home intact. This guide covers everything from electrical cords to houseplants.

The Big 3 Dangers

🡢 Electrical Cords

Every year, rabbits die from electrocution after chewing through power cords. This is the #1 danger in most homes.

How to protect:

  • Cover all cords — Use cord covers, cable conduits, or raceways. You can find these at any hardware store.
  • Box them in — Run cords inside PVC pipes or under furniture against the wall.
  • Elevate — Keep cords on high shelves or behind heavy furniture your rabbit can't move.
  • Taste deterrents — Apply bitter apple spray (reapply weekly as it washes off).
  • Organize with velcro — Bundle loose cords and secure them behind furniture.
Pro tip: Save yourself stress — do a full cord audit before bringing your rabbit home. Walk through every room they'll have access to.

🡢 Toxic Plants

Many common houseplants are poisonous to rabbits. Even small bites can cause serious illness.

Plants to remove (or move out of reach):

Highly Toxic:
  • Lily (all varieties — extremely dangerous)
  • Philodendron
  • Pothos
  • Aloe vera
  • Ivory
  • Dieffenbachia
  • Elephant ear
  • Rhododendron
Also Toxic:
  • Tulips (bulbs especially)
  • Daffodils
  • Hyacinth
  • Azalea
  • Oleander
  • Chrysanthemum
  • Sago palm
  • Marijuana

Safe alternatives:

Spider plant, Boston fern, bamboo palm, prayer plant, African violet, hawthorn (outdoor). When in doubt, look it up before planting.

🡢 Small Spaces & Gaps

Rabbits can squeeze through surprisingly small openings — and they can get stuck or escape into dangerous areas.

Check for:

  • Gaps behind appliances and furniture
  • Holes in baseboards or walls
  • Spaces under beds, couches, or cabinets
  • gaps behind stereos, TVs, or computer equipment
  • Openings to basements, attics, or garages
  • Spaces between fence boards outdoors

Use hardware cloth (1/2-inch mesh or smaller) to block any openings your rabbit could fit through. Don't use plastic — they'll just chew through it.

Room by Room Checklist

Living Room

  • Cover all electrical cords (TV, lamps, chargers, gaming equipment)
  • Remove or elevate toxic plants
  • Secure gaps behind and under furniture
  • Protect carpet edges — rabbits love to dig and chew
  • Move remote controls out of reach — buttons are irresistible
  • Cover sofa undersides with cardboard or plastic if your rabbit roams
  • Secure books and papers — they'll mark territory with urine

Bedroom

  • Move all charging cables off the floor
  • Remove toxic plants from windowsills and floors
  • Secure cords from lamps and electronics
  • Consider blocking under the bed if you don't want them there
  • Move shoes, laundry, and small items out of reach
  • Protect baseboards — rabbits chew them

Kitchen

  • Block access behind appliances (refrigerator, stove, dishwasher)
  • Store food in cabinets — rabbits can and will chew through bags
  • Remove toxic plants from countertops and floors
  • Cover cords from microwaves, coffee makers, toasters
  • Secure trash cans — use ones with tight lids
  • Keep cleaning supplies in secured cabinets

Bathroom

  • Keep toilet lid closed — rabbits can fall in and drown
  • Remove toxic plants from counters and floors
  • Secure medications in cabinets
  • Keep cleaning supplies locked away
  • Cover vent openings that lead to other rooms
  • Be cautious of slippery floors — rabbits can injure their spines

Home Office

  • Cover all computer cables and charging cords
  • Protect power strips with cord covers
  • Secure phone chargers and headphone cables
  • Keep keyboards and electronics off the floor
  • Remove toxic plants from the space
  • Store small office supplies (rubber bands, paper clips) out of reach

Give Them Alternatives

The best way to protect your stuff? Give your rabbit plenty of their own things to chew.

  • Apple sticks and willow balls — Natural wood toys
  • Cardboard boxes and tubes — Great for digging and chewing (no tape or stickers)
  • Untreated wicker baskets — Fill with hay for foraging
  • Phone books and paper bags — Shredding material
  • Wood blocks and parrot toys — Safe wooden chew toys
  • Tunnels and hideaways — Satisfies natural burrowing instinct

When your rabbit starts chewing something they shouldn't, redirect them to an appropriate toy. Praise them when they chew the right things.

Exercise Pens (X-Pens) for Safety

If you can't fully rabbit-proof a room, or you're bringing home a new rabbit, an exercise pen is a safe, contained space.

Recommended setup:

  • Size: At least 4ft x 4ft per rabbit, larger for bigger breeds
  • Height: At least 32 inches tall (some rabbits can jump)
  • Material: Metal dog exercise pens — avoid plastic connectors
  • Flooring: Use a fleece blanket or yoga mat over hard floors
  • Must-haves: Hay feeder, water bowl, litter box, hideaway, toys

X-pens are also great for gradually introducing your rabbit to more space as they learn the house rules.

Outdoor Protection

If your rabbit spends time outdoors (always supervised), here are additional considerations:

  • Protect from predators — Dogs, cats, and birds of prey can attack even in your own yard
  • Check for toxic plants — Many landscaping plants are poisonous (lily of the valley, foxglove, etc.)
  • Lawn chemicals — Never let your rabbit on grass treated with pesticides, fertilizers, or herbicides
  • Hot pavement — Rabbits can overheat quickly; provide shade and cool surfaces
  • Secure fencing — Hardware cloth buried at least 6 inches deep prevents digging out

Signs Your Rabbit Is Getting Into Trouble

Watch for these warning signs that your rabbit has found something they shouldn't:

  • Drooling — Could mean they've chewed something toxic or irritating
  • Not eating — Any appetite change is an emergency in rabbits
  • Lethargy — If they're less active than usual, something may be wrong
  • Hunched posture — A tucked belly suggests pain or GI stasis
  • Teeth grinding — Loud purring is contentment; loud grinding means pain

If you suspect your rabbit has ingested something toxic, contact your vet immediately.