How much do you know about rabbits and rodents?

In the wild, rodents and dwarf rabbits need to protect themselves from dangerous predators such as foxes or birds of prey. In their burrow, which often consists of many passageways that branch off, they feel cosy and safe. Many rodents – and particularly rabbits too – have such large paws to enable them to dig well. They also use their sharp claws and teeth when digging. Any roots which get in the way when they are digging can simply be bitten through in no time at all! Digging, therefore, is a long-standing instinct which your pets still retain.

Their self-made tunnels and hiding places always have a number of exits so that they are able to quickly escape from danger. Pretty clever, don’t you think? If you want to create an environment for your pets in which they will feel very comfortable, you need to do something similar. Offer them various little houses and hiding places with lots of entrances and exits. They can also provide a place for your animals to retreat to during squabbles. As rodents and dwarf rabbits are very curious animals and like to be able to see everything, they also enjoy sitting on roofs and observing the situation. It’s best to make a number of levels, viewing platforms and a variety of hiding places. Many rodents also like to build hiding places, tunnels or paths out of natural materials such as hay.

There is a simple explanation for this: the gnawing instinct is innate. The teeth that rabbits and rodents have continue growing throughout their lives. For many animal species, they can even grow several millimetres per week. If your animals do not have the opportunity to wear down their teeth by gnawing, their teeth will grow too long and can cause a great deal of pain and problems. That’s why it is so important for them to always have enough roughage, such as hay, to feed on. They have to chew it a lot and this wears their teeth down.

The branches of fruit trees, walnut trees or willow trees also provide variety and fun in their enclosure and are a welcome snack. In addition, they ensure that your little treasures’ teeth get nice and strong. However, it’s important to ask your parents whether the branches come from trees which have not been sprayed with pesticides. In particular, fruit trees are sometimes treated with products which protect against lice, fungi or beetles. However, these products can also be very harmful for your animals. That’s why you should always use only unsprayed branches.