What Owners Need to Know About Rabbit Scratching Behaviours

Bunnies are known for their cute faces and cuddly personalities. They also have a reputation for being active little hoppers who are full of energy! But one behaviour that sometimes surprises rabbit owners is their tendency to scratch.

“What on earth is my rabbit doing?” people wonder.

Don’t worry! This is perfectly normal behaviour. Today on the MR.RABBIT WORLD blog, let’s investigate the reasons behind why a pet bunny scratches at the ground and what you can do about it.

Why do rabbits scratch the ground?

Imagine this…

You have just sat down for a rest on the sofa. It’s playtime for your darling rabbit. They are cheerfully hopping around the house, exploring their surroundings, or maybe munching away on some leafy green carrot tops when suddenly, you hear a scratch, scratch, scratch noise.

This is your bunny trying to tell you something!

Even though they are domesticated animals, rabbits nevertheless still have innate behavioural habits that must be fulfilled. For example, the urge to dig. Before those adorable little fluffballs became pets, rabbits dug burrows. This is a shallow hole in the ground where they would later go to:

• Sleep
• Nest with babies
• Hide from predators
• Regulate their body temperature

Digging up grassy holes is a natural behaviour for rabbits – they can’t help it! Even though you are a loving bunny parent who provides a safe and warm home for your four-legged friend, they will still try to dig. Additionally, they might also scratch at the ground to get rid of boredom, exercise those wee bunny paws, and mentally entertain themselves.

It’s harmless behaviour. But still, constant scratching at the floor is not ideal for your house (or bunny). Don’t forget, bunny nails can accidently get snagged on carpet, blankets, hardwood floors, etc. This could end with a painful injury.

What can you do to address scratching in the house?

Thankfully, MR.RABBIT WORLD has discovered an amazing product to reduce unsafe scratching. It’s called our Rabbit Toy Scratch Mat.

Made from natural high-quality sisal, this adorable carpet offers rabbits a safe way to release all their pent-up scratching energy! To see just how much our sweet Mooncake loves it, be sure to check out mr.rabbit.mooncake Instagram videos.   

We can guarantee “everybunny” will adore this product for the following reasons:

• Cute orange and green carrot design
• Sturdy
• Eco-friendly
• Painted with natural materials
• Easy to wash
• Comes with a lanyard for hanging
• Convenient size that fits into any home / décor

Not to mention, the best point of all: your bunny will have a safe place to go when they feel the need to scratch. No more ripped carpet threads. Or messy blankets. Rest easy seeing your pet’s nails get the physical stimulation they require, minus the risk of injury.

Who knows?

You may even catch your bunny resting with closed eyes on the Rabbit Toy Scratch Mat (because it makes an excellent sleeping pad, too).

Spoil your bunny babe with a scratching mat

Our goal is simple…

We all want happy pets. These are our fur babies, after all. While bunnies have been domesticated and no longer live in the woods, they still have that natural inclination to scratch the ground.

By ordering a scratch mat, you are providing them with the best indoor alternative!

Interested in more paw-some bunny content?  Like Us on Social Media @mr.rabbit.mooncake and Subscribe to our newsletter!