Rabbits are incredibly agile and nimble creatures with impressive top speeds and the ability to hear potential threats from great distances. However, despite all of this well-rounded finesse, you might ponder how capable they are when stacked with a more vertical challenge. More specifically to the point, can rabbits climb ladders?
Rabbits can indeed climb ladders if they are inclined, but if you are referring to a vertical ladder, they do not have that ability as they cannot grip or pull themselves up on that.
In this article, we will discuss the topic in more depth and ask questions like whether rabbits can climb stairs (for those who have their rabbits out of the cage most often) and what the best ladders are to purchase. We highly encourage you to continue reading for more information!
Can Rabbits Climb Ladders?
Addressing the elephant in the room, rabbits can climb ladders, but truthfully you might be more inclined (yes, pun fully intended) to classify the slopes they climb as ramps more than ladders. Rabbits cannot truly grip onto a real ladder, much less pull themselves up one.
Even more alarming would be the hypothetical dangers your bun might be getting itself into if you were to place a true ladder in its cage in the first place. Curious as they are, rabbits can lose their balance like any other animal, but unlike other animals, falls and tumbles can spell disaster due to how fragile rabbits’ spines are.
While you might be led to believe something like a five-inch tumble would be considered almost insignificant in most cases, even such a minor slip-up can be fatal for your rabbit, even if you have a proverbial mountain of cushioning in place under the ladder itself.
Can Rabbits Climb Up Stairs?
Once again, we enter the realm of “technically, yes, but…” as a rabbit could once again be capable of hopping upstairs or down there; the same dangers that loom on a potential mishap are just as relevant here; perhaps even more prominently.
Stairs aren’t just a quick series of hops; they are the same angled challenge over and over again. More importantly, the higher up your bun makes it, the more dangerous a fall from that height becomes, so for those reasons alone, it’s best to keep your rabbit in its enclosure or, if it is a free-roaming rabbit, take some time to section off elevated areas in your house.
Can Rabbits Be Trained to Use Ladders and Stairs Safely?
Thankfully, you can slowly but surely educate your bun to safely navigate elevated ramps, ladders, and stairs. However, you must take your time with this process, allowing your rabbit to understand how to prepare itself for each leap and how to get down when needed.
The reason the above information places such a severe emphasis on your rabbit not utilizing stairs or ladders is to instill the understanding that these toys aren’t something you should simply plug and play with, expecting your rabbit to know what to do or, better yet, do so without injuring itself. Safety is paramount, after all.
What Objects Should Rabbits Not Climb On?
Assuming for a moment the objects in question were only being assessed from a safety perspective, anything over five to six inches should be considered questionable if there isn’t a rail in place to keep them from teetering over edges.
If the concern were to be flipped into how your rabbit could potentially damage the objects themselves, then you’d want to avoid letting your rabbits get easy access to couches, cushions, and even areas where electronics and cables might be within gnawing distance.
Keeping your rabbit out of harm’s way when you eventually get them a ladder, set of stairs, or ramp can be as easy as adding a small strip of carpet or a similar surface to guarantee that your rabbit has something to get a firm grip on and cushion any falls, should they happen.
What Are the Best Ladders for Your Rabbit to Climb?
The absolute best ladders for your rabbit are ones that take a serious glance at safety but also don’t make themselves an eyesore for you to look at specifically, price is also something to be considerate of, but of all the things you should focus on, the biggest aspect of your purchase should be the quality of the piece.
Quality is important for a few reasons, but the biggest one simply boils down to how durable the product is. It must be sturdy enough to safely handle your rabbit’s weight and not collapse upon itself, putting your rabbit in danger and you out of an otherwise good investment.
1. NUOBESTY Small Animal Wooden Ladder
First up, we have an adorable wooden ladder from Nuobesty, which doesn’t have any unique coloring or complicated design formats for you to learn and can easily be installed on the side of one of your rabbit’s enclosures, or mounted to a wall if your rabbit is free to roam, bear in mind however, that there are multiple options as far as size choices go, and you’ll want to double check you are getting the one specifically noted for Rabbits, as they make the same ladders for mice and gerbils too.
2. Hamiledyi Rabbits Wooden Cage Bridge Ramp
Hamiledyi enters the arena, bringing quite a lot to the table for a very modest price. The product itself is made out of 100% real wood, which is phenomenal for a myriad of reasons, stability, scents, and durability being the biggest of them. The ramp itself has safety measures to ensure your rabbit has a firm grip and a hinge on the underside of it, guaranteeing it won’t collapse upon itself and potentially injure your rabbit.
3. Barn Eleven Rabbit Platform with Climbing Ladder
Last but certainly not least,, we have Barn Eleven, bringing a very unique ramp and perch combination to display. The ramp itself is made of cute little wooden logs, with beads that have a rod threaded through them leading up to the final perch, which has a nice little fence surrounding it, keeping your bun snug while it observes from on high.
A bit of a side note on this product, however: It is truthfully only meant for smaller rabbit breeds. Larger ones wouldn’t be able to get the most out of this specific add-on, but Barn Eleven does make similar designs for large rabbits as well.
Can You Make Your Own Rabbit Ladder?
Everyone loves a good DIY project, and making a ladder might be one of the easiest projects you could take on. So yes, technically, you can make your own ladder. However, there are certain aspects to the build itself you might want to really do research on before trying your hand at it, more specifically, if this is your first time making something that has to withstand a certain weight limit.
A few solid pieces of lumber, some nails, and sanding paper to ensure there are no rough edges for your rabbit’s feet to nick itself on. You could be off to the races, but find yourself a solid schematic to work with first, or check out some YouTube videos for rough ideas about what direction you’d want to go and how to do it.
Above all, you’ll want to do some testing on the ladder you make before ever letting your rabbit near it. You can use a small weight set and allow it to roll around the length to ensure it won’t collapse or double down on the side rails to really make it safe. Take your time, and be creative!
What Other Objects Do Rabbits Like to Climb On?
Truthfully, rabbits will allow their curiosity to get the better in almost any situation where they are allowed free range of an area. Anything from the basic toys you’ve purchased for them to stylized tunnels, cardboard boxes, and any other odd objects you have lying around the area might make for a potential adventure in waiting for your rabbit. Just gauge the surroundings and keep it safe.
If you were shopping around for similar toys that your rabbit could climb on with, you could check out select hutch tops, cat trees, and certain mobile toys that they can roll around on, push, and even cuddle with, should the mood strike them.
Final Thoughts
Rabbits can climb ladders given the time and education to do so, but don’t assume your rabbit innately knows how to, and try to start educating it from a young age, as these toys would be easier to get accustomed to when they are younger and less risky.
