Pruritus. It is when an animal experiences extreme itching and scratching. There can be many reasons behind this: dry skin, fur, allergies, or infections.
Scratching posts are usually very common among cat owners but if you own a rabbit who is suffering from the same issue, you can also provide them with a scratching post.
Now you might be wondering about what a scratching post is. Are they good for rabbits? If you own both a cat and a rabbit, can you provide a single scratching post for both of them?
Do Rabbits Like A Scratching Post?
Rabbits usually chew on everything and can scratch anything. They might have some dry skin which causes them to scratch themselves often. So, to distract them from doing so you can simply provide them with a toy to play with.
Paper bags and cardboard boxes can become their play area and also a great scratching post. If they want to chew on that, they would be completely fine because they won’t hurt themselves by chewing on electronic chords or damaging your furniture.
You might wonder, why would rabbits play in a box full of shredded papers? Well to your surprise, they are definitely not going to leave that! Why? Dude they can play, chew, scratch, or even practice digging there like in a digging box.
Just keep an eye on your bunny so it doesn’t eat too much paper or cardboard.
Do Rabbits Use A Scratching Post?
If you are annoyed seeing your rabbit scratching everything everywhere, just imagine how irritated and stressed that little one is. And this is where scratching posts come in handy.
If you make a scratching post for your rabbit, it will use the post as a scratching post to help them to relieve some stress and get them to relax.
Cardboard boxes can be your best option to make a scratching post or a mat for them.
But you can also buy them online or from an offline store. Just make sure to check the material. Is it good or not? will it hurt your rabbit or is it safe?
When you set their new “toy” in front of them they will take a long hop and will utilize their whole day there, chewing and scratching the cardboard.
How To Make A Rabbit Scratching Post
Well, today in this modern world, you can make anything under DIY, so why not DIY a scratching post for your bunnies? You just need these simple and affordable items to make them more comfortable:
- Cardboard boxes
- A ruler
- A pair of scissors or a knife
Step 1:
First of all, choose a cardboard box of the preferred size or the size you want for your finished pad. Just remember to remove all the sticky tape, staples, and any labels.
Step 2:
Using a scissor or a knife, cut around the base of the box so that at the end you get a 1-2” deep tray. Don’t throw away the rest of the box, you’re gonna need it.
Step 3:
Now you need to make a lot of strips from the remaining cardboard. Cut the strips of the same length of the tray you got in the previous step and as for the width, it could be 1-2 inches.
Just cut as many strips as possible. Don’t worry about it being perfect because they are going to get shredded anyway!
Step 4:
After cutting plenty of strips you may start slotting them into the box. Pack them as tight as possible.
Step 5:
Voila! you have successfully made a scratching post, now you can enjoy seeing your little bun roaming and playing over that; well you might see them scratching and shredding too.
Why Do Rabbits Scratch The Ground?
You might have seen your bunny randomly digging a hole in your lawn, which is not surprising because you know they might be feeling stressed or bored or simply they want to hide somewhere.
But when you watch that your rabbit is scratching the ground, you might get worried for your bunny because it might not be good for it.
As it is very normal for a rabbit to scratch, there is nothing wrong with your rabbit. You can take a deep breath now!
Scratching is one of the behaviors that domestic rabbits have inherited from their wild ancestors, that is, domestic rabbits inherited this instinct from wild European rabbits.
Are Cat Scratchers Safe For Bunnies?
This would depend on which type of cat’s scratcher you are providing to your bunnies. If you are going to provide a corrugated cardboard scratching post of a cat to your bunny, he will try it out.
Male rabbits aren’t usually as big on big digging as their female counterparts so they will not dig it as much as they will scratch it.
You can also sprinkle some dried herbs or oregano over the post to encourage them to chew or nibble it.
Rabbits seem to like the texture of cardboard posts and if your bunny is chewing or scratching on a cat scratcher, you can be relieved that it will not scratch or chew your furniture or electric chords around your house.
But if you are trying to use a wood scratching post or a post that is covered with rope, they won’t be much use to bunnies. Since the rope that is used for cat scratching posts isn’t made for bunnies, there is no guarantee that they may be safe for your rabbit.
Is Scratching Post Necessary For Rabbits?
Every owner wants to provide their pet with a very happy and comfortable environment to live in. They can’t see their pet being stressed or hurt, which can possibly be due to pruritus.
So, it’s better to provide them with a scratching post rather than seeing your bunny scratching over dangerous things.
A Scratching post can make your rabbit happy and also they get something to play with. Rabbits use scratching posts for biting, and scratching which can save your furniture and also make rabbits satisfied.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to scratch my rabbit?
This would depend on which type of cat’s scratcher you are providing to your bunnies. If you are going to provide a corrugated cardboard scratching post of a cat to your bunny, he will try it out.
Male rabbits aren’t usually as big on big digging as their female counterparts so they will not dig it as much as they will scratch it.
You can also sprinkle some dried herbs or oregano over the post to encourage them to chew or nibble it. Rabbits seem to like the texture of cardboard posts and if your bunny is chewing or scratching on a cat scratcher, you can be relieved that it will not scratch or chew your furniture or electric chords around your house.
But if you are trying to use a wood scratching post or a post that is covered with rope, they won’t be much use to bunnies. Since the rope that is used for cat scratching posts isn’t made for bunnies, there is no guarantee that they may be safe for your rabbit.
Do bunnies like to be scratched?
Scratching is a very normal behavior of a rabbit, they love to do that or even want others to do the same for them. There might be many reasons for this like itching, dry skin, or because they love it more than digging!
All rabbits have their own preferences. Some might like scratching more than digging and some might not. Bunnies love getting scratched when they are in a safe location. They bow their little head and try to scratch themselves with their legs if they have a need for scratching.
Conclusion
Just like digging holes, scratching is also an instinct in the domestic rabbits passed down from their wild ancestors. They are very normal! But the scratching may be caused by some other reasons also that might be related to their skin or fur.
For that, you should take your bunny to your vet for a proper check-up. And after that, if you notice that your rabbit is scratching everywhere even at your leg, bro this is the time for taking the right actions!
Buy your bunny a scratching post or you could make it at your home too, they are going to love that new “toy”. Just make sure they are eco-friendly and do not hurt your bunny in any way.
Provide them a cardboard scratching post rather than a wooden or rope one, those are not meant for rabbits. So, try to relax and also give a proper “relaxation spot” for your bunny too!