Rabbit Enrichment With Cats in the House

A Dutch rabbit sharing space with cats — that's a fun household but a genuine puzzle when it comes to enrichment. Cats will bat away anything small and loose, and anything that smells of food becomes fair game for them too. Before I suggest something, is your Dutch mostly free-roaming or does he have a dedicated space the cats don't access?

That's really common — cats aren't trying to upset the rabbit, they're just opportunists. Small forage toys, willow balls, cardboard tunnels — cats will claim all of it. So what kind of enrichment are you most trying to improve for him? Foraging, chewing, physical movement, or just general mental stimulation?

Afternoon thumping and carpet digging is classic under-stimulated rabbit behaviour — he's got energy and nowhere to put it. The good news is foraging puzzles are actually quite cat-proof because they require a specific motion rabbits do naturally with their nose and paws, but cats typically lose interest in after a few seconds. I'd go with the Trixie Snack Board for rabbits. It's a flat wooden puzzle with compartments, sliders and pegs you can hide pellets or herb treats under. It sits flat on the floor so it doesn't tip, it's heavy enough that cats can't easily drag it off, and the problem-solving element genuinely occupies Dutch-sized brains. A Dutch at two years old has the intelligence to work through all the compartments and will start anticipating it as part of his routine.

Most rabbits try the flip first — that's just rabbit logic. The Trixie board is weighted and wide enough that flipping is harder than solving it, which nudges them toward actually using their nose. Start with the easier compartments uncovered so he gets the idea that food comes out when he interacts with it, then gradually use all the covers. Within a few sessions most rabbits have a system. The afternoon slot is perfect timing — give it to him around the time he usually starts thumping and you'll likely see that energy redirected pretty quickly.

Regular pellets work brilliantly — actually better than treats in some ways because it turns his normal meal into a 20-minute activity instead of a 2-minute bowl. You can mix in a few dried herb pieces like dried chamomile or dandelion to vary the scent and keep it interesting, but the pellets alone are plenty to start with. Just account for what you put in the board against his daily portion so you're not overfeeding.