Getting my bunny to like vinyl flooring

[Juier58]

Hi I have 2 bunnies who adore each other. I have had luxury vinyl flooring whilst one bunny is happy to go on it his mate just won't even try. She panics and her back legs just go everywhere. I have wondered if her back paws are extra fluffy (she is a very very fluffy lion head). I am after any ideas that might help her get over her fears. I just want her to have as much freedom as is possible.

 

[Blue eyes]

If her back legs are "going everywhere" then she is one of those rabbits that just isn't able to get decent traction on the vinyl. I think you are probably correct in saying she panics. Being a prey species, no traction means not being able to escape potential danger, so panic makes sense.

I've had a few rabbits like this. I've never seen any way to make them change their ways. An area rug can provide the needed traction. I've even had to have runner rugs to span the gap between their enclosure and the area rug. Sometimes a rabbit like this may venture (cautiously) over a short area of slick floor to reach the rug. Or, one would go on the slick floor if it was under or behind the couch (where he felt safe).

 

[Juier58]

If her back legs are "going everywhere" then she is one of those rabbits that just isn't able to get decent traction on the vinyl. I think you are probably correct in saying she panics. Being a prey species, no traction means not being able to escape potential danger, so panic makes sense.

I've had a few rabbits like this. I've never seen any way to make them change their ways. An area rug can provide the needed traction. I've even had to have runner rugs to span the gap between their enclosure and the area rug. Sometimes a rabbit like this may venture (cautiously) over a short area of slick floor to reach the rug. Or, one would go on the slick floor if it was under or behind the couch (where he felt safe).

Thank you for your advice. My bunny too will go on it if it's behind the couch or between close together pieces of furniture so it is a bit like a tunnel. Thanks again

 

[SirLawrence]

I have the exact same problem. One of the boys couldn't care less about tearing across the linoleum, and the other hates it, and often panics. I put some towels down in a path across my kitchen to help him, but it's an eyesore. It's easy to put down and take up, though!

 

[Diane R]

Floor without traction is really bad for them and can lead to long term health problems even if they seem OK with it. Finding good flooring for indoor bunnies is a nightmare, they have evolved to live on soil...

 

[Orrin]

We had a rabbit that refused to leave carpet or throw rugs; so, we bought some $9.99 hallway runners from Costco and laid a path from its home base out into the kitchen. It was the best $20 we ever spent because ever so slowly it learned how to deal with slippery floors.

Your bun might not be able to do the same; but, it is worth a try. Besides, the runners have loads of other uses; so, it won't be expense gone to waste.

 

[FuzzyBunny ph]

We originally have wood flooring, so I had to cover it up with some vinyl flooring and some rugs which they loved!

Unfortunately, after a few months, they started to chew on the rug....which I eventually had to throw out.

Recently, they have found a part of the vinyl that they could chew off! ....so now my vinyl flooring has a bunch of chew marks. Annoying and scary at the same time as it can cause blockage if ever they ingest it

I have yet to find the perfect flooring which they will love to binky on and safe to chew.

I heard jute rugs are safe but some might have chemicals

 

[JBun]

We originally have wood flooring, so I had to cover it up with some vinyl flooring and some rugs which they loved!

Unfortunately, after a few months, they started to chew on the rug....which I eventually had to throw out.

Recently, they have found a part of the vinyl that they could chew off! ....so now my vinyl flooring has a bunch of chew marks. Annoying and scary at the same time as it can cause blockage if ever they ingest it

I have yet to find the perfect flooring which they will love to binky on and safe to chew.

I heard jute rugs are safe but some might have chemicals

Rubber horse stall mats. Very durable and have traction. Only problem is they're super heavy and costly.

One option for protecting vinyl flooring edges from being chewed, is to either keep the edges outside the pen fencing perimeter if a rabbit is housed in a pen. Or if free roam, tack down disposable rabbit safe wood trim boarders, or use metal or hard plastic J trim over the edges.

 

[Cinn-a-bun]

Yup, Cinnabun will not venture off carpet/rug. Had to use rugs to connect front room to dinning room.

 

[FuzzyBunny ph]

Rubber horse stall mats. Very durable and have traction. Only problem is they're super heavy and costly.

Thank you for this! I'll check if we have these locally or hopefully something similar

One option for protecting vinyl flooring edges from being chewed, is to either keep the edges outside the pen fencing perimeter if a rabbit is housed in a pen. Or if free roam, tack down disposable rabbit safe wood trim boarders, or use metal or hard plastic J trim over the edges.

ahh yes, the edges are originally blocked out, but I think from all their "digging" it made it easier for them to chew off some parts? I don't know. But most of the holes have been blocked off