Rabbit chew toys: does the type matter less than simply having one?
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
Standing in front of the chew-toy aisle, the question that comes up is almost always "which one should I pick?" Poggiagliolmi, Crowell-Davis, Alworth and colleagues asked a different question: does the type of toy actually matter? Thirteen individually housed male laboratory rabbits each received three different toys in rotation, two weeks per toy, with fifteen-minute observation sessions several times a week. The study was published in 2011 in the Journal of Veterinary Behavior (see the study). Our other play-related guides sit in the rabbit toys and enrichment section.
Having a toy changes everything, the model almost nothing
The central result: having any toy at all markedly increased total chewing time, and above all redirected that behaviour away from cage bars and fittings. What did not emerge, though, was a clear preference for any one of the three models tested: rabbits did not consistently abandon one toy in favour of another, and no stereotypies were observed over the course of the study.
What this means for picking a chew toy
The most useful takeaway isn't "buy this specific model" but "provide one, regularly." A rabbit with nothing to chew tends to redirect that natural behaviour onto whatever is within reach — skirting boards, bars, cables. That's another argument for rotation rather than the hunt for the perfect toy, a principle covered in our guide to toy rotation to prevent boredom. Material choice still matters for safety, a topic covered in our article on safe chew wood and species.
- 13 rabbits, 3 toys rotated, 2 weeks per toy.
- Markedly more chewing time once any toy was available.
- No clear preference among the three models offered.
- No stereotypies observed over the course of the protocol.
A rabbit that always has something to chew naturally redirects that behaviour away from your furniture — the exact toy chosen matters less than the simple fact of offering one, at all times.
Frequently asked questions
Should I buy several different types of chew toys?
That's not what the study shows: no model came out preferred. Variety mainly helps sustain interest over time, not find "the right" toy.
Does a rabbit with no chew toy always develop problems?
The study did not test that specific case, but it shows that once a toy is available, chewing is redirected away from cage fittings — a hint that the absence of a toy pushes it toward other available targets.
Wood, cardboard or plastic: which should I prioritise?
The study doesn't settle that, since its three toys showed no preference. Material safety remains the priority criterion, ahead of shape or brand.
In our shop, for this use: Natural loofah chew carrot for rabbits and rodents, 20 cm (€17.90) · the whole shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Rabbits universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
