Still peeing outside the litterbox!

[Tate]

 Hello!

I’ve posted a few times on here concerning Fievel’s litter habits. He was neutered about a month ago and moved into an x-pen about a week and a half later. I would wake up in the morning to find 1-2 pee spots. He had two cat litter pans- a bigger one and a smaller one. I took out the small one and replaced it with the bottom of his old cage (generic pet store cage- wire top, plastic bottom). He has hay in both of these litter pans. Occasionally, I’ll find a pee spot when I wake up now. BUT, for whatever reason, he now jumps out of the x-pen and likes to pee right in front of me! I figured he was upset with me a few times… but he’s done it twice today and right before he peed, I was petting him. He doesn’t pee WHEN I pet him though… he takes a hop or two away from me and turns his back to me and then pees. What’s going on here? Could he still be experiencing some changes in testosterone? Also important, he doesn’t do this every day. But if he does it once during the day, I can count on him doing it again later that day. 

He is housed with my other bunny who has very good litter habits as well. 

[RabbitPam]

It sounds like he is marking you. I’m also wondering if he is being let out before he goes, so if you let him know you are ready to let him out, but wait until he pees in his pan, then he gets to come out, he might go there first instead. That would take a bit of training, but bunnies learn fast.

[BinkyBunny]

It could be a couple of more weeks before his hormones really die down. But some bunnies, regardless, will communicate through marking. He could be reminding you that he’s the big cheese bunny here, or he could be wanting to just reiterate, especially after having such a wonderful groom from you, that this is his kingdom. A way to feel secure in a place he likes.

However, to break that habit, you will have to catch him the moment he does that and herd him to his litterbox. You have to catch him right at the moment. IF he’s already peed and you wait until he done, then it won’t help much.

[Tate]

What a bugger. I will try to keep him in his “room” (cage is just too hard to say ) until he goes to the bathroom and anticipate when he needs to go potty again.
BB- I have tried doing doing that- I watch him like a hawk! But the weird thing with him is that he continues to pee as I’m picking him up!! He is determined to get his scent out there!

[Author]

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