TV and stereos

Bunny proofing a TV, DVD & Stereo centre. How to stop a house rabbit chewing your TV, DVD & Stereo. Make sure your TV, DVD & stereo is safe

It is important to your rabbit’s health and happiness that you share lots of time together. For most people this involves watching TV, listening to music or playing a games console when there rabbit is out. Bunny proof your TV and audio visual equipment is essential to ensure they are safe for your rabbit so you can relax even when your back is turned for a moment.

What problem can occur

TV’s and home entertainment centres can be incredibly dangerous to rabbits.
Unfortunately you’re TV or entertainment centre is a danger zone for a curious rabbit and before you notice they have gone they can have crawled into the spaces around the back and chew through the speaker leads, audio visual cables or the power cord which can be fatal. They can also come to harm from trying to escape from sharp metal edges that are exposed at the back.

Reasons for behaviour

Rabbits love places to hide Rabbits like to squeeze through gaps and try and hide behind spaces like your TV.
Rabbit like to have a clear run around the edge of a room which can cause a problem as your TV and entertainment centre is likely to be positioned directly in there path leaving just enough gap for your rabbit to squeeze through. This makes them very tempting for an unsuspecting rabbit and It can be hard to prevent there instinctive need to exploring these hiding spaces.

Bunny proofing solutions

Blocking of access behind your TV and protecting electrical cable is essential.
Bunny proofing is necessary to ensure your rabbit is safe around electrical equipment such as your TVs or home entertainment centres and that your equipment remains free from damage that can lead to costly repairs.

Wall mounted TV

Wall mounting you TV removes it from harms way and makes it much safer.
If you have a flat screen TV then it’s a relatively simple job go have it wall mounted well and in the long run this is well worth considering as it provides the best solution. What’s more you can save quite a bit of floor space which if you are short of room will give a bit more freedom to you bunny rabbit to play in.

Beyond reach

Place audio visual equipment and games consoles out of reach on a shelf.
If you can stack up the home entertainment units you have off the floor on a shelf or on top of a cabinet then this is the simplest way of keeping them out of harms reach. You then also have the advantage of only having to protect the single lead of a multiple adaptor up to the equipment.

Stands or cabinets

A TV cabinet can protect your TV and home entertainment equipment and make it safe.
The simplest way of removing your TV from danger and make it safe is to install it in a cabinet that shuts it off completely. Cabinets with glass doors are great as you can still use the remote with them shut although avoid doors with complex mechanisms that your bunny rabbit could get trapped in and hurt.

Blocking off access

Use some fencing or ply wood to block of the sides of your TV to make it safe.
You can use ply wood sheeting or if you want to be discreet Perspex sheeting make sure the back of the TV cannot be reached by blocking of the gap between the wall and the sides of the TV. You can also break apart the panels of a wire pet pen which are easy to tie and secure. A good tip is to wedge these surfaces up against the sides of the TV with other bits of furniture. Avoid using cardboard as it won't be secure enough and may end up being more of a temptation then a hindrance.

Hiding power cables

Place electrical equipment in front of the plug to help conceal the power cords.
If you can position your home entertainments centre in front of a plug socket so you don’t have to trail any leads across the floor then block it in from the sides this will make them safe with out having to protect individual leads.

Power cable safety

Protect power cables and make them safe with wall boxing or split length tubing.
There are variety of products available from DIY stores that can be used to protect power cords including plastic boxing used to conceal cables along the edge of the wall. Leading into the room you can protect the cable inside some plastic piping. If you split the pipe along its length the cable can be slipped in with out removing the plug. Trip protectors can also be used and are safer then leading the cables under a carpet which can be dangerous.

Audio visual cables

You can use cable wraps or tidies to protecting leads that need to be flexible.
Audio visual cables can be tidied up using cables wraps or tidying solutions that can be purchased at stationary suppliers. These typically come in the form of flexible split length tubing or coils that can be wrapped around leads. The neater you make things the less of a temptation it will be. .

Remote controls

Keep your remote controls out of reach to prevent the buttons being chewed off.
The attention you give your remote control will not go unnoticed by your bunny who will also want to have a go on it if you leave it exposed. This unfortunately normally involves slicing all the buttons of which can be incredibly frustrating. It’s best to finding a place out of reach and get in the habit of putting it there when you not directly using it.