If you’re a new rabbit owner, you may think your cute bunnies will look even cuter in clothes. And you’re probably right! But before dressing up your bunnies, you want to make sure you know how to do it safely. Part of that involves choosing clothes made from materials that won’t harm your rabbits.
Thankfully, most fabrics are safe for rabbit clothes as long as the rabbit is not allowed to chew on the clothes. However, there are still some fabrics that are recommended over others for their own reasons.
Read on to find out more about these fabrics, as well as some tips for safely playing dress-up with your rabbits. We’ll also discuss whether fleece blankets are safe to give to your rabbits.
What are the Top 5 Safest Fabrics for Rabbits?
First of all, it should be noted that, in this case, “safe” does not mean “safe to eat.” Rabbits have a tendency to chew on anything and everything, including fabric. If they start chewing on their clothes, they may eat through the fibres and wear away bits of the fabric, which may cause internal blockages if swallowed.
With that in mind, you should never allow your bunnies to chew on their clothes or blankets!
Now, let’s take a closer look at some of the best fabrics for rabbit clothes and what makes each of them a good choice.
Polyester Is Durable Enough for Rabbits
Polyester fabrics are made of plastic instead of plant fibres, which makes it harder for your rabbits to break off bits of clothing if they do start chewing. That said, the synthetic materials and the process used to create them may allow your rabbit to ingest chemicals if they chew on polyester too much, so again, keeping your rabbit from chewing in the first place is essential.
Polyester is used for making a diverse range of fabrics, so you’ll have lots of options when choosing or making polyester clothes for your rabbits.
Plain Cotton Is Very Safe, but More Fragile
One of the best fabric options for rabbits is plain, simple cotton. Cotton is completely natural so it won’t expose your rabbit to dangerous chemicals. It is also quite diverse and can be made into various types of fabrics.
That said, it will break down fairly easily if chewed so, again, supervising your bunnies to make sure they don’t eat their cotton clothes is important to preventing digestive issues.
Linen Is Light and Strong
Linen, which is made from flax, is another excellent choice for rabbit clothes. Its natural fibres are lightweight but strong. It is both absorbent and fast-drying, which will help keep your bunnies comfortable if they get their clothes wet.
Like cotton, it will break down rather easily if it gets chewed on.
Wool for Rabbits: Dress One Animal with Another
Wool is made from the hair of sheep, goats, and other similar animals. In fact, Angora wool is made from a certain type of rabbit! Wool is a good choice for rabbit clothes especially in colder weather, as its insulating and water-resistant qualities make it excellent for holding in body heat.
That said, wool is also a bit scratchy, and some rabbits may find it irritating to wear. It will not break down as quickly as some fabrics if it gets chewed on, but it’s still a good idea to supervise your rabbits while they are wearing wool.
Bamboo Fabric Is Safe, but Get the Right Type
Did you know that bamboo can be made into fabric? In fact, it can be processed in different ways to create various types of fabrics, so it is nearly as versatile as cotton and linen. Bamboo fabrics are generally quite breathable and have high moisture-wicking properties.
That said, not all bamboo fabrics are created equal, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting fabric that was sustainably produced without chemicals and harsh additives. And again, don’t allow your bunny to chew on clothing made of bamboo fabric.
Tips for Safely Dressing Up Your Rabbit
In addition to choosing fabrics that won’t harm your rabbits, it’s also a good idea to consider some other safety tips. Like what, you may ask? Let’s take a closer look at some top safety tips for playing dress-up with your bunnies.
Don’t Dress Rabbits that Don’t Want to be Dressed
Like other pets, different rabbits have different personalities. Some may be super relaxed and won’t care if you put clothes on them. Others may be high-strung, have anxiety issues, and fight you if you try to dress them.
If you experience any resistance from your bunnies, stop trying to dress them. Forcing the clothes onto them can cause an unhealthy amount of stress, and it simply isn’t worth aggravating your pet for a few minutes of cuteness.
Don’t Leave Your Rabbit Unattended While Dressed Up
As mentioned throughout this article, rabbits may try to chew on their clothes, which can lead to them ingesting some of the fabric or chemicals used in producing it. Both of these scenarios can lead to health problems.
The best way to prevent rabbits from eating their clothing is to keep an eye on them. Always supervise them while they’re wearing their clothes and be ready to remove any clothing that finds its way into their mouths.
Also, when you’re done playing dress-up, remove the clothes. It isn’t good to keep your bunnies in their clothes for long periods of time, particularly when you get busy with other things and can’t supervise them.
Make Sure the Clothes Fit Well
Even clothes made of soft fabrics aren’t particularly comfortable for rabbits. To keep them from being too uncomfortable, make or choose clothes that will fit them well. Clothes that are too tight may cut off their circulation, while clothes that are too loose may allow your rabbits to become tangled in the clothes or make it easier to chew on them.
Go for clothes that will fit snugly but not tightly, that will allow for freedom of movement without dragging underneath the rabbit.
Can You Use Fleece Blankets for Rabbits?
So, we’ve talked quite a bit about clothes for rabbits, but what about blankets? Is it safe to give your bunnies a fleece blanket and leave them alone with it?
One type of fleece, called polar fleece, is fairly safe for rabbits. It is made of polyester, so it can’t be chewed up easily.
However, as previously noted, polyester is made of plastic and a number of different chemicals are used to produce it. Though rabbits may not be able to bite off and swallow the fabric itself, they may absorb some of the chemicals if they spend a lot of time chewing on it.
That said, even polyester fabrics may start to come apart if the rabbit repeatedly chews on it, so it isn’t a good idea to leave your bunnies alone with their favourite blanket. If you want to get them or make them a blanket out of polar fleece, it should be perfectly safe as long as you are there to keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t start eating it.
Final Thoughts
Playing dress-up with your rabbits can bring out a whole new level of adorableness, but it’s important to keep your furry friends safe during playtime.
Choosing fabrics made of polyester will make the clothes harder for rabbits to chew and swallow while choosing natural fabrics such as cotton and linen will keep comfortable and prevent exposure to chemicals.
Just be sure you supervise your bunnies while they’re dressed up and remove the clothes after a short time.
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