Does anyone know how it is that Bitter Apple and other repellents can be safe for wood? You would think the moisture would be harmful to wood.

Hey, I have that stuff.. it hasn't damaged my wood at all.. Im not sure how that works.. but it is more an alcohol type instead of water.. so it evaporates very fast and thus leaves no moisture.. and it definitley even if it caused a problem, wouldn't be as much destruction as my bun did ... and also one more thing.. it hasn't detered my bun from the wood at all... she even was eating the wood when it was still wet with the liquid.. so.. yeah.

hey amanda... i had the same problem with Fujoe and him liking the phooey stuff.. it really pissed me off.

Yeah, that stuff doesn't deter my bunnies either, and like Fuejoe, Jack actually likes it. I think that since many bunnies actually like the taste of bitter things - like Dandelion greens, that the bitter taste of the bitter apple spray doesn't phase them.

I have tried it on my wood furniture, and it didn't do any damage. Note: all of my wood furniture has been finished. So there is some protection, but the bitter apple didn't damage the finish either. They used to carry a bitter apple cream. For some reason the bunnies didn't touch that stuff, maybe it was the texture. That was the only thing in that line of products that worked, but now they don't carry it. Go figure!

have you guys found anything that does work then?

Perfume works well for mine. I can't tell you for sure that it wouldn't damage all wood, but it hasn't mine.  I don't want a huge smell of perfume, so I spray it on a paper towel (you don't have to soak it, just a light spray) and then I wipe it on the areas that I don't want chewed.

Another member had success with pure lemon oil, while others say rubbing lemon rind on worked.

What exactly is she chewing on, a dresser, a table leg???   I know with Jack he likes to chew on the end of a particular door when it' s open. I use one "Fiddle Sticks" Flexible wood thing around the edge of it and he chews on that instead.    Here are some links to what it looks like.

Smaller size in natural -
Colorful larger size
I prefer the more natural wood look so it doesn't stand out so much.

Note: these are pictures I  found on ebay.   I don't know those sellers and can't vouch for them, but at least it offers pictures.  I was having hard time finding the "natural" ones online.  I just got mine at a local pet supply.

Sophie EATS and LICKS the bitter apple stuff. Sophie thinks I put the bitter apple stuff on the Pottery Barn furniture to make it taste better to her.

Binky Bunny got me to try perfume. I now regularly use Body Spray from Bath and Body or febreeze. Rabbits hate perfume! You just have to reapply every other day or so in a fine mist until your bunny stops going to that area completely because they hate the smell!

My rabbits ignored the bitter apple as well. Perfume has worked to save our carpets. Carpets are the only things they bother. We keep toilet paper rolls and scrap paper/phone books in the areas where they would normally pick at the carpet and since they have something else to capture their attention they leave the carpet alone (of course if we have company we have to pick up all that stuff but its worth it to save the carpet lol).

I wonder if anything that has an citrus flavor/smell works. I have my computer wires covered with crittercord (I think that's the name) which has a citrus smell and flavor to it. My buns haven't touched the wires at all! I have all my wires in my office covered with it.  I think the website is www.crittercord.com. Maybe a citrus spray would work. Good luck!

As far as citrus, I guess it depends on what kind - I have heard pure lemon oil and grapefruit scent are deterrents.   I haven't used it.  I don't think orange would be good because many bunnies actually like orange.     My great vet, Dr.Harvey, originally told me about the perfume deterrent idea a few years ago, and so far that has worked so well, that I haven't needed to try anything else.

Keep me updated as to what other things work for ya all.   I'll also ask the the vet this Sunday if she has any other ideas.   She has bunnies of her own

BinkyBunny, you're probably right about the citrus. My buns are just strange. They don't like oranges, bananas or raisins! I thought bunnies loved bananas and raisins. I even tried a little piece of apple. Nope! Three of my buns love popsicle sticks soaked in apple juice. They LOVE dried papaya though. Is Dr. Harvey the vet at VCA in Oakland?