Yes, but be careful with the amount of cardboard that they eat. Probably the reason why pet rabbits love to eat cardboard is that it packs on cellulose, which is a significant component of leaves and vegetables that they eat. However, this does not tell us that cardboards can be meal replacements.
Rabbit-Safe Chewing Materials Include:
Grass Hay. Certain Types of Untreated Wood. Dried Apple Sticks. Cardboard.
Gut blockages, while causing gut stasis, are not always directly part of the gut stasis syndrome we regularly see. Blockages are often secondary to the rabbit eating some-thing inappropriate, for example, nuts, fake straw bedding, wallpaper or cardboard.
Large cardboard boxes that are filled with hay or shredded paper, with food items hidden inside them will provide a rabbit with hours of fun as they scramble around in the box, nibbling the hay and searching for the food.
While wrapping paper is beautiful, it is because of it's beauty that we recommend you keep your rabbit away from it and not allow them to chew on it. The color dyed paper, metal inlays, and other chemicals that make it all stay together aren't good for your rabbit's sensitive digestive system.
Newspaper. This is a good base to line the floor of the hutch or cage with. However, many rabbits, especially if bored, will rip it up and the ink on newspaper can be harmful to rabbits if they ingest too much of it.
Untreated wood is generally fine for rabbits; however you should never give your bunny sticks or tree branches that you find in the yard. They may contain mold spores, parasites, bacteria or insects that can be toxic. Commercially available sticks made from applewood are safe for rabbits to chew on.
Rabbits need to chew on things regularly to keep their teeth trimmed and healthy. Wood is a popular and natural choice for rabbit owners but not all types of wood are safe, which is something to keep in mind when choosing wood for a rabbit hutch or for rabbit toys.
Plastic is not healthy for rabbits to ingest. However, chewing on plastic toys will not harm rabbit teeth. It's okay for rabbits to chew on some plastic as long as they are not eating chunks of the plastic material.
Rabbits with GI stasis often look bloated, pass little to no stool, and have big, gas-filled stomachs and intestines on x-rays. Blood tests often reveal evidence of dehydration and abnormal electrolyte values. There may also be changes associated with other underlying diseases (such as kidney or liver disease).
You can expect that if the rabbit eats a large amount of hay in the morning, they will produce a large amount of fecal poops around 5 hours later, while the cecotropes will take much longer to be ready for redigestion.
That's where stamping or thumping comes in: they use this body language to tell others they are feeling threatened. If your bunny thumps their back legs, it usually means they have heard or seen something they believe could be harmful. They could also thump at you to show their displeasure: “Not like that, Two-Feet!”
The best cardboard to give your rabbits is plain brown boxes. The standard plain cardboard boxes you receive when you order something online work great to chew and are great places to hide. They can also have paper towel rolls or an empty toilet paper roll.
Apple sticks are widely recommended by veterinarians for promoting healthy teeth. Rabbits, Chinchillas, Guinea Pigs and other small chewing animals simply love the taste of the apple bark. Hand cut, trimmed and selected for the best quality.
High in sugar, apples should only be fed to rabbits as a treat. Also high in sugar, it's safe for rabbits to eat bananas occasionally. Rabbits have a sweet tooth, so grapes are great as a treat.
Here's why rabbits need to chew.
If they don't wear them down naturally then rabbits' teeth grow too long and start to grow sharp spikes, which dig into their tongue and cheeks causing painful mouth ulcers.
Give your bunny lots of rewards (like pets, cuddles, and occasional treats) when they are not chewing or when they are chewing on things they are allowed to chew. You can also teach your bunny simple commands such as HOLD, which is training your bunny to stop what they are doing.
Rabbits generally have a few sensitive spots where they dislike being touched - their dewlap (under the chin), whiskers and feet. Some rabbits are also extremely sensitive about their ears or tail.
Twigs from safe trees (apple, pear) that have not been treated with pesticides can be given to the rabbit to chew on.
Pine and cedar shavings should be avoided for use in bedding or litter for rabbits. They are toxic and can lead to liver complications.
If rabbits live in small hutches with nothing to do and no space to move, they get bored. Boredom can cause some serious health problems: Bored rabbits will fill their time by eating. If they eat too much and don't move around they'll put on weight.
How often do I need to clean my rabbit hutch? For the ideal rabbit environment, the hutch should be cleaned at least once a day, by removing any shavings or bedding that are wet and dirty, removing any uneaten fresh food and cleaning the food and water containers before refilling them.
Hay. Most rabbits will prefer to sleep on hay because it is soft and something they can play with. This type of bedding can be grown on a farm or backyard.