New cage and moving house!

[Rufus]

Rufus finally has a new cage! His XXL dog crate showed up (two weeks later than it was supposed to) and my plan is to join it to his x-pen for a new habitat. My other news is that I’m moving house in two weeks. Very exciting because there will be more room, it will be cooler, closer to my work and my new housemates are keen to have a bunny

I don’t want to give Rufus too much to handle all at once so I’m starting to give him some time in the new cage each day so that he’ll be more used to it before I move and he gets put in it full time. Does anyone have any advice about easing into a transition like that? I’m nervous about him getting stressed out. He also has his very peculiar problem of refusing to pee anywhere except in his old cage. I’m still not sure of how to encourage him to pee in his new set-up. I’m hoping that he will give it a go before I move.

So here is the new set up. This is the shelf I built – it’s got carpet on top for traction

This is Rufus exploring for the first time. Right now I’m using a box as a step to get up on the shelf. He jumped up there without it once but he hit his legs on the way up and I don’t want him to hurt himself. I’m thinking I might need to soften the edge of the shelf somehow so it’s safer.

It’s not fully set up yet. I’m hoping having the litterbox under the shelf will make him more likely to pee there because it might seem a bit more like his old hutch.

Any suggestions or ideas would be most welcome! Right now I’m only leaving him in there supervised so I can identify any potential problems. He seems like he’s getting more comfortable though

[Deleted User]

Rufus – that looks so cool! Your Rufus looks like a pig in mud! Hey, not sure if this will work for you, but thought it may be worth mentioning? On another forum it was suggested to bring the used litter box into the new area, mess, poop, wee and all! Another suggestion, my idea solely (so I’ll take full responsibility) take the old cage away from him completely. Let him get used to the new cage in his ‘old’ environment, then bring back the old cage in the new environment. I’ll apologise now, lol! But I’ve done that, not with Henry, but other pets and it did work. Good luck with the changeover – and wishing you the best with your move too! New home, exciting!!!!! (Does it have air con, lol!). Cheers Rufus.

PS – We hit 41 on Saturday! (and I live by the water/sea!) ?????

[Rufus]

Thanks Andi! I think they’re both good suggestions. I wanted to give him a bigger litterbox in his new cage but I’m thinking I should work in baby steps and start with the smaller one that he is used to. Last night I had him in the new cage for two stints of a couple of hours and he goes in the litterbox to eat hay but won’t do anything else. Then as soon as I put him back in his old cage he rushed to the litterbox. It makes me feel so guilty!

I think the solution is to just leave him in the new cage and hope for the best. I thought I might ask my housemates if I can leave him in there for the last week that I live there. That way if he does make himself sick we’re right near his vet (new house is an hour and 15 mins away) and he won’t have to have that on top of moving stress. I hope that’s the best course of action!

I heard there was an awful heatwave in QLD. So gross! My new place still doesn’t have aircon (hardly anywhere in Sydney seems to – must be too expensive!) but it’s a three story terrace and the bottom floor is always really nice and cool so hopefully it will be better than my current fibro house!

[Deleted User]

Hey Rufus – I hope this doesn’t sound to mean (poor Rufus), but I’d do it full stop! – keep Rufus away from his old house completely with his old litter box in his new house till he does use it (pee and poop)! He may hang on and on, but he’ll eventually have to go and I reckon he will go in his old litter box in his new house if he isn’t given the choice. Again, I know this sounds mean, but…. a bit like when I bought the wrong food for Henry once. When I found out it was super bad for him, I cut it out completely – and knew he would eat the new/healthy stuff when he got really hungry, which he did. It seemed really cruel at the time, but it worked and Henry now loves and indulges in his ‘healthy’ Owbox rabbit food. But your his mum, and you will know best – this is just my suggestion. And I agree, if he can live in his new house fulltime for your last week I reckon it will make his move less stressful. Surely, they can’t say no to your ‘cute’ Rufus? (I couldn’t, ha hah!).
Yes – I gotta remember that Sydney is usually a lot cooler than QLD – for the odd super hot day, air con really isn’t necessary, silly me! And YES! Fibro house’s are awful to live in on hot days. I lived in one once, and never again! Your new home sounds wonderful! Rufus is gonna love it just as much as you – cool!

[Rufus]

I think you’re definitely right! My current housemates have said that they are ok with me setting him up in the living room in his new cage for a couple of days before I move. I’m so nervous. The questions I’m currently mulling over are: If he doesn’t pee/poop how long should I leave him before I call a vet? Would the vet even be able to do anything for him? Is it possible he’s just blow out his kidneys? Could he give himself stasis just by holding it in?

I can’t find any actual resolved queries anywhere online. I can see a couple of people asking the same question but no one comes back to say if it worked. Then I found one who said his bunny died! Of course that sent me into a new realm of terror.

I tried the dirty litterbox in the new cage yesterday and it was a complete shambles. He became really agitated (I think because he had to go to the toilet!) and started digging in the dirty box, flinging wet litter, poops and hay all over the living room. Charming little guy, isn’t he?

[Deleted User]

Oh gee – maybe my idea isn’t the best….. (Gosh now I’m worried, silly me). Hopefully others will see your forum and can make more sensible suggestions. Not putting myself down, but I do have to admit I am one of those common sense people (if it makes sense – go for it), but “I” have to remember that bunny’s are more sensitive, and because my Henry hasn’t caused me any major concerns (yet?) I shouldn’t be sticking in my two cents worth – especially when you just said someone’s bunny died. How horrible/sad. I so get your terror!
Like I said, I hope someone with experience or knowledge will jump in – luckily you asked early, so you have time for others to reply. As far as the ‘how long do you wait for Rufus to wee and poop’, I’m sure someone can give you an idea, if not – call the vet and ask the question (free), even if the receptionist has to call you back later after speaking to a vet on your behalf. Seriously – these dam bunnies of ours, it’s always something!

[Rufus]

Thanks so much for your response Andi!
Yeah, the problem with the internet is it can be really hard to check the reliability of information. I can have no idea if the person whose bunny dies actually had anything to do with the fact he wouldn’t poop after moving to a new cage. It’s impossible to follow up on these things too.
It’s so frustrating! For ages I thought it was great he was so well litter trained but now it makes me crazy!
Does anyone have any idea how long I should leave him for if he is not peeing/pooping as a behavioural pattern rather than a medical issue?!
ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GREAT! My move got pushed back a week so I’m planning on moving him to the new cage permanently on the weekend of the 18th, I really want to know what I’m doing before then.

[Jessie1990]

When I took the buns with me over break to the parents house, Moogle had some issues adjusting. He didn’t want to use HIS litter box in the new “take along” cage, so he held it for almost an entire day… It made me very nervous because he has stomach issues sometimes. I had the emergency kit with me just in case. His poops started to get small and he also was not eating as much due to stress, so I was VERY afraid he would put himself into stasis. He finally got over his nerves and was back to his normal self. I found that letting him investigate AROUND the outside of the cage helped. (He did have a stasis episode the first time we visited, so we try not to move him to new places. The first time I kept him in the cage, thinking he would stress more if he was out and about.) So you may want to let him out to see what the new smells are, new sounds, ect. I also fussed over him a lot. I’m not sure if that helped or hurt the situation lol… I would have gas drops, CC, and a syringe ready just in case. Maybe keep those items in the purse or somewhere you can unpack if fast if needed. Good luck with the move!

[Rufus]

Thanks Jessie! It’s extra helpful to hear about Rufus’ twin bunny.
Rufus is a strange little guy, he’s not remotely timid and he likes new spaces. He’s been going crazy in his new cage hopping up and down up and down, sniffing eveything, binkying and zooming. He also eats plenty while he’s in there, he just won’t let it out again! I just worry he’s going to take in all this food and water without letting it in and then explode!
I will definitely take on board your advice about letting him get out and get a feel of the place though. It looks like he’ll be living in my bedroom (let’s hope he’s not too noisy!) but it’s huge and even has a balcony that I can easily bunny proof for him. So I’ll make sure he gets out and about to look around ASAP.
Do you think CC would help him poop or just fill his belly up more?
I also definitely know what you mean about fussing! Whenever I get worried about Rufus I end up hovering over him and I swear he’s more put off by that than anything else. He just looks at me like what do you want from me? I can’t help it though, I don’t want to miss any signs

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