Stubborn Rabbit–Frustrated

[quirkygirlx]

Hi

So I’ve had a Mini Lop named Charlie for about 4 months now, who was neutered around a month ago. I litter box trained him very easily and he was very good about it for a long time, even when left out. But the last couple of months he has gotten to the point where its 50/50 if he’ll use the litter box (to poop, he always pees in it) outside of his cage, and he’s started ripping up carpet as well. He ALWAYS uses his litter box in his cage when he’s in there, and I clean it daily. Meanwhile he has plenty to play with, he has a ton of toys, toilet paper rolls, pieces of flavored wood (for rabbits), and even a yogurt treat hanging up… he gets food, water, and hay 24/7. I’ve gotten used to leaving him out around my spare room, where he used to be fantastic about using the litter box every time and not destroying things, but now not so much. I am moving into an apartment in a week where I won’t have a spare room to let him run around (or the room for an exercise pen to be left out), and I was hoping I could let him run around my room–yet now, I’m worried he’ll tear up more carpet or I’ll walk into loads of rabbit poop everywhere  He’s gotten devious, and I play with him all the time… Also, keep in mind he HATES being locked in his cage–he will bite on his cage all day and night, it doesn’t matter if you tap the cage, yell NO, rub the wires with someothing undesirable, or spray him with water… he hates being cooped up but he’s not consistent enough with the litter box to be kept out… I’m losing my patience very easily here, and I don’t know what options I have anymore. What should I do?

[Sarita]

Moving to Behavior.

[kcomstoc]

If you can’t trust the bunny outside of the cage, limit his space and as he gets better with his litter habits then let him have more and more space as he gets better. how big is his cage? if his cage is too small that may be why he’s chewing on the wires. also yogurt isn’t good for bunnies because they can’t digest it also if he’s tearing up carpet (and you want to keep your security deposit) then buy a small area carpet and let him chew that up instead of the real thing. I’ll probably do something like that for when I move to my apartment in August (Caleb, my bunny, usually doesn’t tear up carpet but sometimes he does and I don’t want it to be an issue). I have only had my bunny for 5 months so I am by no means an expert so this is just my opinion. also please post some pictures I would love to see your bunny and his cage

[quirkygirlx]

I can post pictures when i get home

And when I limit him, he jumps anything and everything… he’s a 4lb rabbit and he can jump over my bed that is on risers! it’s INSANE… so limiting him is hard, other than a bathroom floor or something (maybe I should try him in there)… he’s probably around 7-8 months old so far. His cage is nice and big, it’s a good size for him I think.. and it’s one of those weird whole grain rabbit treat things they sell in stores that are carrot shaped, haha he seems to like it I just got it for him yesterday..  and as for the carpet thing, he only does it when he’s alone, so I think it’s moreso him trying to “escape” from the room, not just trying to destroy it so I’m not sure how much getting more carpet will help. He’s incredibly stubborn and driving me mad with all his little tactics haha he was so good up until the last month or so, it’s so frustrating. Thanks for the help though!

[kcomstoc]

hmmmmmmm, if you have an x-pen you can put a top on it so he can’t jump out and it will limit him for space. what I meant about the carpet is if he’s tearing it up you don’t want him to do that at an apartment because you might not get your security deposit back. My idea was if you put a cheap carpet on top of the apartment’s carpet even if he chews on it it won’t be a big deal because you won’t lose any money. Maybe I’m being confusing I do that sometimes sorry if it’s confusing. He just must not like to be cooped up then in his cage if it’s big, you could put an x-pen around his cage so he can have a choice of being in the cage or “free” without having to worry about him escaping.

[quirkygirlx]

Yeah, you’re right, he’s just bratty i just worry about space in my apartment. It’s tight as it is so an x-pen would be a tough addition

[kcomstoc]

is it like a studio? I am very fortunate to have two of my boyfriend’s friend move in with us so we can get a 3 bedroom (they are ok with the bunny also so that helps and they are also nice people which helps also ) I know what you mean about bratty my bunny is such a spoiled bunny, he gets anything he wants because he’s so cute except when he doesn’t pee in his litter box, then he goes back in his cage. Also a little bit of poop here and there isn’t all that bad because you can just sweep it/vacuum it and it isn’t usually a big deal. It’s when they pee outside the litter box is where the problem is. Don’t be surprised if the litter box problems get worse in the new apartment because it doesn’t smell like him so he might want to mark it so it smells more like a bunny. What I’m going to do is just rub his toys all over the carpet so it smells like him.

[quirkygirlx]

it’s a 1 bedroom that i’m moving into with my boyfriend, a nice size, but i don’t want the whole place overtaken with rabbit supplies-i have a cat too (who he is fantastic with) and like it’s not fair for the rabbit to take over the whole place with fencing and food and toys everywhere lol i was fine with containing him to my room and letting the cat have free roam, or even him free roam if i could trust him. he always pees in his litter box, its just the poop thats an issue.. i’m hoping i don’t have to retrain him or he gets worse at the new apartment, fingers crossed, haha! good idea with rubbing the toys though. the cat has no issues with the rabbit being around anywhere, they get along really well and like sleep together and such.

[MoveDiagonally]

His cage frustration might be partly caused by it’s size if it’s too small. Is it a store bought cage? Most of them are not large enough for a single rabbit of any size. So that might be a factor (How big is your cage? Dimensions or if you know what brand/etc).

X-Pens can be helpful in small spaces because you can extend them when you’re not using the space (not home, etc) and minimize them when you need the space again. So when he’s alone you can have him in an x-pen and when you’re around to supervise you can put it up.

[quirkygirlx]

His cage is pretty big, it’s store bought but the biggest one pretty much you can buy.. it doesn’t matter what he’s in though, like even if hes in a room and you’re not with him he wants OUT. it’s frustrating because i can’t keep him in my room when he sleeps because he bites the bars and wants out, and he throws a fit like that in the living room as well. I don’t know the dimensions off the top of my head to be honest but he has plenty of room to run and hop around in it, he does it all the time.

i would get an x-pen but i would prefer just keeping him out all the time, he hates being cooped up and i hate seeing him cooped up.. and i just don’t have the space to keep an xpen up 24/7 plus i worry he’d jump out, he gets out of EVERYTHING

[MoveDiagonally]

What is “pretty big” ? Do you know what type it is? I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a commercially sold cage marketed for rabbits that is big enough for one. The MINIMUM space for a single rabbit is 4′ X 2′ or 8 sq ft. There are ways to work with limited space and many cage options. Check out the habitat sections here:
https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/GreatHabitats/tabid/229/Default.aspx

If this behavior is only when you’re not around then the easiest solution would be to contain him while you’re not home and let him out when you are there. Not every rabbit can be free roam all the time and a lot of members here let them out when they’re home and confine them when they’re not. It’s pretty par for the course.

[MoveDiagonally]

Here’s another thread where carpet digging/chewing is being discussed. You might be able to find some tips:
https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aft/125282/Default.aspx

[quirkygirlx]

He only seems to chew the carpet when I’m not in the room, like he’s trying to get out. Other than that he’s pretty good. I think you’re right, I’ll just have to confine him to his cage when i’m not home and then let him out when I am.. I just feel bad that my cat (who he gets along with fantastically) has free roam and he doesn’t, when he really is pretty good–especially around her. It’s just I don’t want to walk into little poops evbery day–or worse, have my cat eat it and get sick or something

[MoveDiagonally]

A X-Pen would be a great enclosure for when you’re not home while still providing him space. X-Pens can be used INSTEAD of a cage as well. You could actually get more than one Pen and extend it out so he has plenty of space when you’re not home but you can control the flooring easier. When you get home you can minimize the X-pen so it’s not in the way and then let him out.

[quirkygirlx]

He can jump them though, he can clear my bed (that is on risers so probably 4 feet off the ground) without a problem…

[MoveDiagonally]

You can get pens that are 4 ft tall. They make covers for pens specifically (or you could use something else to cover them).

Another more enclosed housing option are NIC condos. They can be made with multiple levels which also gives him a bit more space.

More space might make you feel better about having to confine him while you’re gone while causing less frustration for him. 

[Roberta]

It does take a month or longer for hormones to settle post neuter so it’s likely you would not see any major improvement until about now or even for another week or more.

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