House rabbits make wonderful companions — they're sociable, characterful, and endlessly entertaining to watch. But keeping a rabbit happy indoors takes more thought than most people expect. Rabbits are intelligent animals with a strong need for mental and physical stimulation. A bored rabbit can quickly become a destructive or anxious one.
The good news is that rabbit enrichment doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Here's what actually works.
Why house rabbits need enrichment
Wild rabbits spend the majority of their time foraging, exploring, and interacting with their environment. A house rabbit has lost access to all of that — and while the safety and comfort of an indoor life is genuinely better for them, it comes with a responsibility to provide stimulation in other ways.
Without enrichment, rabbits can develop behavioural problems including excessive chewing (of things you'd rather they didn't chew), aggression, lethargy, and depression. The RSPCA lists mental stimulation as a core welfare need for pet rabbits.
The best rabbit enrichment ideas for house rabbits
Give them space to roam
The single most important thing you can do for a house rabbit's wellbeing is give them enough space. Rabbits need room to run, jump, and binky (those joyful leaps and twists that mean a rabbit is happy). A minimum of 3 metres of running space is recommended. If your rabbit is in a cage or hutch for parts of the day, make sure they have several hours of free roaming time.
Create a multi-level environment
Rabbits love to climb and survey their territory from height. A multi-level setup — whether that's a purpose-built rabbit condo, a cardboard castle, or simply some sturdy boxes arranged as platforms — gives them more to explore in the same floor space. Our Castle is designed exactly for this, with three storeys connected by ramps that rabbits love to race up and down.
Rotate their toys regularly
Rabbits habituate quickly. A toy that's been sitting in the same corner for three weeks becomes invisible to them. Try rotating toys in and out every week or two — something they've ignored for a month will often get a fresh enthusiastic investigation when it reappears.
Use feeding time as enrichment
Instead of putting pellets in a bowl, hide them. Scatter them in hay, hide them in a cardboard tube stuffed with paper, or use a treat ball that dispenses food as your rabbit rolls it. Foraging for food is one of the most natural rabbit behaviours and makes mealtimes genuinely stimulating.
Provide safe things to chew
Chewing is non-negotiable for rabbits — their teeth grow continuously and chewing is how they keep them trim. If you don't provide safe chewing options, they'll find their own (usually your furniture or cables). Safe options include willow, apple wood, untreated cardboard, and hay. The cardboard in our Castle is chew-safe and 100% recycled, so your rabbit can nibble to their heart's content.
Give them somewhere to hide
As prey animals, rabbits are instinctively drawn to enclosed spaces where they feel safe. A simple hideaway — a cardboard box, a wooden hide, or the ground floor of a cardboard castle — gives them a retreat when they want one. Rabbits who have a safe hiding spot are generally calmer and less stressed.
Let them rearrange things
Rabbits are surprisingly opinionated about their environment. Give them things they can pick up, move, and rearrange — cardboard tubes, wooden blocks, fabric scraps. Many rabbits spend hours reorganising their living space, and this counts as genuine enrichment.
Try clicker training
Yes, you can train a rabbit. Clicker training using small treat rewards can teach rabbits to respond to their name, navigate obstacle courses, and perform simple tricks. It's excellent mental stimulation and a great way to bond with your rabbit.
Signs your rabbit needs more enrichment
Watch out for: excessive chewing of cage bars or furniture, thumping without obvious cause, fur pulling, lethargy or hiding for long periods, or aggression when you approach. These can all be signs of boredom or stress.
The bottom line
Keeping a house rabbit entertained is mostly about variety, space, and things to chew. Rotate toys, provide foraging opportunities, give them room to run, and make sure they have safe cardboard or wood to nibble on. A stimulated rabbit is a happy rabbit — and a happy rabbit makes a wonderful companion.