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Forum BEHAVIOR Please Help With This Issue

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    • CupCakeCraviing
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        Hi, I’m new here.

        I rescued a Rabbit from a guy who was feeding her BREAD with BUTTER and DRIED SPICES. I’ve had her for a few weeks now and she is perfectly healthy and her overall appearance has changed greatly since getting into a better diet. I have no idea what kinda of Rabbit she is, or even how old she is. I just wanted to get her away from that place quick. Right now she is in a C&C Cage I had for my Guinea Pig before he passed (He passed the day after Christmas after having him for 5 Years and it completely tore me apart. So to Honor him, I rescued another little furry in need of a home.) She was fine in the cage until she started to grow a little. Now she is able to CLIMB out of the cage. We put a lid on top and she still manages to push the lid up and get out. I want her to be a house Rabbit but we are having serious issues with potty training. This brings me to my cry for help. I don’t her to injure herself climbing out of the cage. I want to get her potty trained so that she doesn’t have to be keep in the cage. She’s very attached to me and always wants to be around. She’ll escape and go all the way to my room and try jumping up on the bed in the mornings. Please, if you have any advice or tips, it would be greatly appreciated. She will Pee in the box and nowhere else, but she will poop anywhere and every 4 minutes it seems, if not more. I do plan on getting her spayed but I do believe she may be too young right now. Please and thank you for your time!

         


      • Sarita
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          She’s cute. She’s lucky you rescued her too.

          I think first of all I would add another layer of C&C cubes to make this taller and then put the C&C lid on top permanently. You might consider making this 3 cubes x 3 cubes too – bigger is better and that way you can really fit all the needed rabbit items in the cage.

          I would take out the corner litter box and get her a full size cat litter box. The basics of litter box training are to put hay in the litter box, keep her confined to her area while you are training her and then once she can be trusted to poop in the litter box then you can start expanding her area.


        • MoveDiagonally
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            I agree with Sarita about her cage and litter box.

            I would do at least 3 grids X 2 grids X 2 grids (high) and add a top to it. Getting a large cat sized litter box and placing any stray poop or pee in the box will help re-enforce good habits. I would also keep in mind that there is a chance she will not be 100% until she’s spayed (and even then some stray poop is normal).

            Glad you rescued this bunny. She’s adorable and it sounds like you’re doing a great job!


          • rissakai007
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              If you make it 2 grids high you shouldn’t need a top. My rabbits can’t get out, it’s too high. If you do make it longer you’ll probably need a new coroplast piece but if you can’t get a bigger one i’d just leave that in there and find something else to cover the newly exposed floor. I’m so happy you saved this poor baby! Bread and butter???? That’s awful! I hope you let the man know the diet was inapropriate for a rabbit. Let’s hope he never gets another one.


            • MoveDiagonally
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                If you make it 2 grids high you shouldn’t need a top

                I’m sorry but I do disagree about not needing a top. 2 grids high would only be 2.3 ft, most rabbits can easily get out of that (but it’s great that yours don’t    . The lowest recommended height for a rabbit habitat without a top is 36″ or 3 feet tall which can still not be tall enough (my rabbits get out of 4ft tall pens with ease). 

                I think a top is especially needed if her rabbit is already climbing out of her current habitat. One of my rabbits liked to climb out of his 3 grid high pen (3.5 ft) and broke his foot doing so. 

                Edited to add: A single grid is 14″. 


              • bunnluff
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                  What a cutie!! She looks like a Silver Marten. I’d say a Polish but her ears seem a bit long in that regard.

                  Good luck with her cage! I have an x-pen so I have no helpful advice there. Mine aren’t escape artists thank goodness. I’ve actually been interested in making a C&C cage, where did you get your materials?


                • Lazee
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                    she sounds young if she is just able to jump 18″ and still growing. so the poops will lessen in number as her body matures. I use a little dust buster to collect them and dump them out on my plants. Great fertilizer, the only kind that can be put right on the plant straight from the source. My boys cage is our Florida room, he goes right to a box with a puppy pad in it and does his business but I still end up gathering 5 to 10 poops daily thru out the house, but there is bunch more in the box.


                  • CupCakeCraviing
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                      Thanks for all the advice guys! The picture of the cage I posted is an old picture. I just recently (Two days ago) made a lid out of the panels and have a spring to hold them down (She would climb up and bump open the cage lid) She still tries to climb and I’m afraid she’s going to hurt herself. I know after shes spayed that she wont be 100%, but I know it’ll be better than now. I did change out the litter box yesterday and its working a lot better. I work at a pet store and have had a guinea pig and rabbit before in the past, so I’m very aware of the care they need. She’s just so much different that what I’ve had. She is still growing, she fit in one hand when I got her and now it takes two hands. Most rabbits I know don’t like to be picked up, but if you walk by her, or she comes up to you and you do not pick her up and love her, she will bump you with her nose or thump at you.
                      Does anyone have any potty training tips to help her understand what We are trying to accomplish?
                      Thanks again for all the help and suggestions!!


                    • CupCakeCraviing
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                      • CupCakeCraviing
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                          Posted By bunnluff on 01/29/2014 08:23 PM

                          What a cutie!! She looks like a Silver Marten. I’d say a Polish but her ears seem a bit long in that regard.

                          Good luck with her cage! I have an x-pen so I have no helpful advice there. Mine aren’t escape artists thank goodness. I’ve actually been interested in making a C&C cage, where did you get your materials?

                          I actually got the panel pieces at a garage sale for about 5 bucks! I was so excited when I saw them! The coroplast I got from a local sign shop. 8ft for $25.00. It was very reasonable. And then the fleece I just get at Joann’s. 


                        • MoveDiagonally
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                          • CupCakeCraviing
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                              Posted By MoveDiagonally on 01/29/2014 10:59 PM

                              Here are two great articles about litter box training:
                              https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tabid/53/CategoryID/5/PID/940/Default.aspx
                              http://www.bio.miami.edu/hare/training.html

                              THANK YOU!  


                            • CupCakeCraviing
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                                Okay guys, I added the panels to make it higher and she is still trying to get out. She’s trying to jump over it now. I’m trying to sit next to her playpen or cage to do some potty training (catch her in the act) but she is too distracted by me and trying to escape that she doesn’t even want to walk around or play. Please help!


                              • MoveDiagonally
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                                  Did you add a top to it? A roof is the only thing that discourages my escaping bunnies (I have 3 that love to escape enclosures).


                                • CupCakeCraviing
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                                    Posted By MoveDiagonally on 02/01/2014 09:55 PM

                                    Did you add a top to it? A roof is the only thing that discourages my escaping bunnies (I have 3 that love to escape enclosures).

                                    I do have a lid on her cage. She still tried to get out. When I have her in her playpen, like right now, she won’t play. She just keeps jumping at the playpen trying to get over the top. She’s going to hurt herself. She will not play or anything. The sides of the play pin are over two feet high. I have no idea why she’s doing all this. She’s just being terrible all of a sudden. :/


                                  • Deleted User
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                                      The advice given to me (and it was just a ‘joke’) was to lock my boy in and even then HIDE the KEY, lol! Bunnies can be very determined once they decide on something. My boy is now free range (THANKS to neutering – my vet now has the status of being my NEW best friend, ha ha hah), so no longer have the issue. But on a serious note – I remember one BBer suggesting pegging a sheet to the top of bunny’s house?
                                      In relation to potty training – I’m (just me) all for de-sexing. I know it’s not guaranteed – but gee, it was my saviour. I tried everything to no avail. You said you weren’t sure how old your girl is, and she may be to young? If it’s possible, I’d pop to the vet’s and get his/her opinion and take it from there. Shame to put off and endure something you don’t have to on the chance that may not be the case? In the meantime, we all feel for you – yucky bunny poo! Good luck CupCakeCraviing.
                                      PS – what’s her name? Cup Cake?


                                    • MoveDiagonally
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                                        My bunnies tried to get out with the lid but stopped when they realized they couldn’t. You could try putting something “solid” like a blanket over the top as well as sometimes the visual “blocked area” deters them.


                                      • CupCakeCraviing
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                                          Posted By MoveDiagonally on 02/01/2014 10:15 PM

                                          My bunnies tried to get out with the lid but stopped when they realized they couldn’t. You could try putting something “solid” like a blanket over the top as well as sometimes the visual “blocked area” deters them.

                                          If I put a blanket on top, she finds a way to grab it (like digging in the air) I’m so very confused about the whole situation. Potty training is going NOWHERE. She just poops everywhere, anywhere and wherever she wants. 


                                        • MoveDiagonally
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                                            Can she reach the lid by standing on her hind legs? How would she reach the blanket? I guess I’m confused. Can you post a picture of her new set up? Is there a door on her habitat or do you have to pick her up to take her out? 

                                            What are you doing to litter train? How long have you had her? Have you taken her to the vet?

                                            (Sorry for all the questions!)


                                          • CupCakeCraviing
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                                              Posted By MoveDiagonally on 02/01/2014 10:51 PM

                                              Can she reach the lid by standing on her hind legs? How would she reach the blanket? I guess I’m confused. Can you post a picture of her new set up? Is there a door on her habitat or do you have to pick her up to take her out? 

                                              What are you doing to litter train? How long have you had her? Have you taken her to the vet?

                                              (Sorry for all the questions!)

                                              She reaches the blanket by either standing on her bed, side of her litter box or hide. As soon as I go to the cage, she runs to the side and stands on her back legs. When I open the top of the cage. She’s starts jumping out. Every single time. I can’t even open to clean it without her jumping out. I’ve had her for about a month, she has been to the vet. 

                                              I’ve limited her space and let her pick the corner she wants to use and stuck a litter box there. She’s good at peeing in it just not pooing in it. If I see she is about to go, I’ll say NO loudly and work her into the litter box. I give her either banana or apple when she uses the box. And if she makes a mistake I’ll pick it up immediately. I’ve had a rabbit before and she never acted like this. I’m not quite sure what’s happening. 


                                            • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                Posted By AndHenry on 02/01/2014 10:13 PM

                                                The advice given to me (and it was just a ‘joke’) was to lock my boy in and even then HIDE the KEY, lol! Bunnies can be very determined once they decide on something. My boy is now free range (THANKS to neutering – my vet now has the status of being my NEW best friend, ha ha hah), so no longer have the issue. But on a serious note – I remember one BBer suggesting pegging a sheet to the top of bunny’s house?
                                                In relation to potty training – I’m (just me) all for de-sexing. I know it’s not guaranteed – but gee, it was my saviour. I tried everything to no avail. You said you weren’t sure how old your girl is, and she may be to young? If it’s possible, I’d pop to the vet’s and get his/her opinion and take it from there. Shame to put off and endure something you don’t have to on the chance that may not be the case? In the meantime, we all feel for you – yucky bunny poo! Good luck CupCakeCraviing.
                                                PS – what’s her name? Cup Cake?

                                                Yea I’m thinking of making something to help her realize she can’t be getting out like she does. Even though its adorable that she wants to be around me all the time, I’m afraid she will hurt herself. Her name is Xena. The vet I went to said she was “a few months” and that was a month ago. She’s just being so destructive now. 


                                              • Kbana
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                                                  It sounds like one, she is being hormonal, which at her age, is to be expected if she isn’t spayed yet (I can remember from earlier in your post). But two, it also sounds like her enclosure needs to be taller. I started with a pen 2 feet high and quickly realized that I needed something higher. I use 3 nic grids high and mine has stopped trying to jump out. You may even need to go higher as some buns can clear even that with ease. That will also allow you to use a blanket over the top since it should be too tall for her to reach then.

                                                  If she isn’t spayed yet, have you talked to your vet about when you would like to schedule that? At 5/6 months she should be able to be spayed. The sooner the better since it will most likely help cut down on her destructiveness. My guy’s appointment was rescheduled for March and it is killing me! LOL. Though, I suppose he could be worse and start spraying me. Fingers crossed!

                                                  I really do think that making her condo/pen taller will really help though.


                                                • Beka27
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                                                    Yes, bunny mischief is very common at this age! It varies from bun to bun, but females seem to reach “that age” between 5-6 months. Yours may just be a bit earlier…. Lucky you! Lol!


                                                  • Beka27
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                                                      I also want to add… THANK YOU for taking her in! It’s obvious how much you love her! I can tell you are going to have a great companion for many years!


                                                    • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                        Posted By Kbana on 02/02/2014 09:16 AM

                                                        It sounds like one, she is being hormonal, which at her age, is to be expected if she isn’t spayed yet (I can remember from earlier in your post). But two, it also sounds like her enclosure needs to be taller. I started with a pen 2 feet high and quickly realized that I needed something higher. I use 3 nic grids high and mine has stopped trying to jump out. You may even need to go higher as some buns can clear even that with ease. That will also allow you to use a blanket over the top since it should be too tall for her to reach then.

                                                        If she isn’t spayed yet, have you talked to your vet about when you would like to schedule that? At 5/6 months she should be able to be spayed. The sooner the better since it will most likely help cut down on her destructiveness. My guy’s appointment was rescheduled for March and it is killing me! LOL. Though, I suppose he could be worse and start spraying me. Fingers crossed!

                                                        I really do think that making her condo/pen taller will really help though.

                                                        I’m still looking for a place close to me that spays rabbits and doesn’t cost me a fortune. As soon as I find a place, I’ll be getting her spayed. 


                                                      • manic_muncher
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                                                          Cupcake, you might want to look around for rabbit advocates as well that may help with costs. The one near me gives a discount and extra help with those needing it. They don’t extend to Texas though, so look around.


                                                        • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                            Posted By manic_muncher on 02/02/2014 10:07 PM

                                                            Cupcake, you might want to look around for rabbit advocates as well that may help with costs. The one near me gives a discount and extra help with those needing it. They don’t extend to Texas though, so look around.

                                                            I didn’t think of that. Thank you so much. She’s just getting worse. She won’t use the little box in her cage anymore. She’ll pee in it, but she won’t poop in it. And when she’s outside of her cage now and has to pee, she’ll jump on top of things and climb ON TOP of her cage and pee on the blanket I have on it and just poop everywhere else. I’m having such a hard time. I feel so bad for her, like I’m failing. 


                                                          • manic_muncher
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                                                              You aren’t failing. Though I think it might be easier on you if you accept this territorial poo marking more than likely will continue until she is spayed (and a couple months after). As for the peeing issue when she’s outside, perhaps offering a second litter box (with some litter that has already been peed on from her main box) near wherever it is she is catapulting from to hop on top and pee on the blanket. Maybe she will realize how much easier it is to use that instead of having to do acrobats to pee.

                                                              From what I’ve heard NDs are typically pretty high energy (of course all rabbits vary as individuals!), but with her age and hormones… yea… I don’t envy you one bit! Good luck and don’t get too discouraged!!


                                                            • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                                Posted By manic_muncher on 02/08/2014 03:46 AM

                                                                You aren’t failing. Though I think it might be easier on you if you accept this territorial poo marking more than likely will continue until she is spayed (and a couple months after). As for the peeing issue when she’s outside, perhaps offering a second litter box (with some litter that has already been peed on from her main box) near wherever it is she is catapulting from to hop on top and pee on the blanket. Maybe she will realize how much easier it is to use that instead of having to do acrobats to pee.

                                                                From what I’ve heard NDs are typically pretty high energy (of course all rabbits vary as individuals!), but with her age and hormones… yea… I don’t envy you one bit! Good luck and don’t get too discouraged!!

                                                                I have a second litter box, she won’t use it. I’ve even put the litter box on top of the cage, where she likes to go, and she won’t go in it. Its not territorial droppings because there’s a ton of them everyday. I’ve tried different litter boxes, litter, and placements and still, no luck. Sometimes she’ll even use her litter box to prop herself up to climb up on the cage. My parents are getting very angry with this. I want her to be free roam, but she’s not understanding.


                                                              • MoveDiagonally
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                                                                  Generally rabbits don’t become fully litter trained until they are spayed/neutered. Hormonal rabbits will mark with their poop and it sounds like that’s what she’s doing. Territorial marking can be a couple stray poops or a ton of them so the amount is not really out of the ordinary for marking.


                                                                • caudex
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                                                                    It sounds like she needs some exercise.Not that she’s getting none, but she is focusing an awful lot of energy on escape. Can you bunny proof a room well enough that it’s easy to clean up after her, and let her run around for a while?

                                                                    Peeing on the blanket might just be how she is… my trio has no soft things, because Sophie and Finn will pee on them. They don’t appear to miss blankets, they flop often enough.

                                                                    Are you feeding in the litterbox? Hay, grain, veggies, everything. Rabbits are multi taskers. Finn was adopted from a very small cage and a corner litterbox he didn’t use, and his litter habits improved exponentially when I gave up the cute matching feeding bowls and just put everything in the (huge) litterbox.

                                                                    Spaying may help, but for me, neutering had no measurable effect on the litter habits of any of my buns. If they were making a mess, it was a message to me that they were unhappy about something I needed to figure out. A few weeks ago they all started peeing on their rug, it stank. They didn’t like where I had moved their pen. Moved it to a better location, peeing stopped. Does she have a message for you?

                                                                     

                                                                    EDIT: I just thought about her jumping, and your cage setup. Any chance she’s jumping cos she wants to be up high and see everything? Mine all like a view of the room, especially Finn. We built a tower for them, and kept adding levels. They keep going up, so it’s meeting a need somewhere. Added a pic, ignore the extra large bunny.


                                                                  • Beka27
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                                                                      That’s a great tower, caudex!!! It can be difficult to add height to xpens, but that’s an awesome alternative!

                                                                      Your pup is soooo cute!


                                                                    • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                                        Okay, I had to take the sides off the cage (the panels that made it higher) cause she was trying to still jump over and she actually hurt herself. She gets so much exercise she passes out on the floor or in her tunnel. As soon as I put her back in her cage, she starts trying to escape. Someone told me to reduce the size of her cage, so I did. She was good at peeing in the box, now she’s peeing everywhere. She even peed on my mom and on the couch. I want to give her exercise but anytime she’s out, she just goes everywhere. And even in the cage, she goes everywhere. Where she eats, sleeps, plays, everywhere. I’ll put a picture of the newest (smaller) set up I have to show that she is literally going everywhere she walks. Two steps and she poops. My parents are really about to give up and I don’t want to hear my parents say I can’t have her anymore.

                                                                         


                                                                      • caudex
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                                                                          The uptick in peeing sounds pretty territorial. In her case the spay certainly won’t hurt and might help. I hope you didn’t take my asking about exercise as an accusation. Just part of the puzzle.

                                                                          Again, any chance she’d be less interested in escaping if she could get up high and see around her?


                                                                        • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                                            My parents are fed up. They’re making me get rid of her. I don’t have the time to save up for her to get spayed, they want her gone in a week.. Any suggestions other than “spay her” would be greatly appreciated. I need to improve this issue or she’s gone.


                                                                          • manic_muncher
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                                                                              The issue is, she’s an in-tact female rabbit who is in her hormonally-driven teenage stage. Other than trying to find a way to contain her in her own space that will satisfy her need to jump and climb until you are able to get her spayed, I really don’t know what else to say. Maybe someone else has more ideas.


                                                                            • caudex
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                                                                                If you travel around the forums, you’ll see spaying is the most recommended fix. The other solutions are mostly prevention, not training, and people have mentioned some of them. Here is a quick summary of the most common fixes.

                                                                                Feed hay and grain in her litterbox, to minimize soiling while she eats.
                                                                                Line the floor of her cage with something non absorbent, to discourage peeing and make clean up easier. Linoleum tiles, for example.
                                                                                Restrict her run time until she is trained and/or spayed. You can humanely do this by expanding her cage and cleaning it diligently, vertically as well as horizontally, either covered or high enough that she can’t jump out. There are a lot of people with jumpers on this forum who can safely contain them. Check out the habitat section for ideas.
                                                                                No couches or beds. She’s marking them cos they smell like humans.
                                                                                A large litterbox, or two in the cage. She may not use both, but it’s less floor she can soil. My litterbox is one of those pull out tupperware drawers, about 15″ x 30″
                                                                                Possibly try a different litter.
                                                                                No soft things in the cage, they may be further encouraging peeing.
                                                                                Clean pee spots with an enzyme based cleaner, to prevent remarking.
                                                                                And to keep your parents at bay, clean multiple times a day.

                                                                                Truly, we have all had litterbox strike problems, and these just about run the full gamut of fixes, though most are short term and serve to train you, rather than them. That’s the nature of rabbits.


                                                                              • Deleted User
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                                                                                  Sorry CupCakeCraviing, but I think caudex summed it up for you nicely – I (along with everyone) would be so sad if you have to get rid of your Xena – it’s NOT your fault and it sure isn’t Xena’s either – just like us, bunnies grow and go through stages too. It is all a time factor, and things like spaying are just a way of helping/speeding up the process to make it more bearable for us as bunny parents. Don’t tell me your age – but are you old enough to get a part time job? (I had my kids out working part time at the local supermarket at 15yo to pay for the things THEY wanted). I really ‘think’ having Xena spayed will make the difference, and seeing you adore her so much, it would be such a shame to give up on her when spaying maybe the remedy? Gee – I so get your situation with your parents, my son is a hairdresser and does a few side jobs at home and the hair that gets left behind, well…. lets just say it drives me insane and I threaten for him to cut hair in the street out front! It is their house – but you seem to love and adore your Xena, it would be devastating for you to lose your girl over something you would have to endure (toilet) with any pet. Once you can deal with her toilet behaviour, Xena will be the best pet ever! You’ll look back and say, thank goodness I got through that (I say that everyday now with my Henry – but before being neutered, I didn’t much even like him!). I know this is so easy for me/us to say (sorry), but as I said – it would be so sad if you lost your Xena now….. I’ll be thinking everything positive for you, your parents and Xena.


                                                                                • Beka27
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                                                                                    I’m sorry this is so tough on you.

                                                                                    Would your parents read this thread? Have you shared info about spaying and it’s benefits?

                                                                                    Would your parents be willing to pay for the spay if you worked out a payment plan? Let’s say you divide the total cost by 12 months and you give them X amount per month until it’s paid off?

                                                                                    That’s really the only thing I can think that might work. Or you may just have to keep her penned until this can be under control.


                                                                                  • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                                                      I’m actually an adult. I live with my parents for complicated reasons. I have a great paying job, but also have bills I’m having to pay. Its not my first pet and not my first rabbit. Thanks for the advice.


                                                                                    • Beka27
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                                                                                        I thought you were an adult… Since you are an adult, have you asked your vet if they accept care credit? Is a credit card but can only be used for health costs (for humans and animals). Not ideal if you don’t want a credit card, but it’s worth asking about. I don’t know specifics, but they usually have promotions where you don’t pay interest if it’s paid off within a certain amount of time.

                                                                                        If none of these options are going to work for you, the best thing may be to find her another home where she will be able to be an indoor bunny. This might take awhile tho…


                                                                                      • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                                                          Best thing may be to find her a new home? I’m sorry if this is rude but that is very comical. I’m not wanting to get rid of her, I’m not wanting to not get her spayed, I just cannot afford it. The place closest to me suggested by the RHS said $500. That’s almost a month worth of bills for me. I know what I got myself into when I adopted her. She’s just giving me more problems than I’ve seen before. Again, thanks for the advice


                                                                                        • manic_muncher
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                                                                                            I think Beka only said that because you were given a deadline of a week. I’m sure almost all of us would do everything in our power to correct the issue, just like you want to do. I can completely understand financial issues, trust me when I say that I can totally identify.

                                                                                            I just googled “low cost rabbit neuter texas” and got several hits. Just looking at this one for example http://www.texasforthem.org/spay-neuter.php told me they do female spays for $55.

                                                                                            Maybe you can find one that can help. Again, as mentioned above, just trying to help the situation given the time constraints.


                                                                                          • bunnluff
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                                                                                              Have you asked the local SPCA if they could help? My friend works at the one near where I live and says that they take in rabbits so they might also do rabbit spays/neuters. It’s worth looking into if you haven’t already. I know this is tough. Mine were both terrors before their spays, and it took them a bit to adjust afterwards too. Hang in there! You’ll get through this. Good luck!!!


                                                                                            • Beka27
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                                                                                                I only meant that finding her a new home might be the best thing if your parents are not willing to budge. I in no way meant that as you not wanting her. We have given every suggestion we can and everything is either not working or not a possibility. The way I see it, only have 3 options: spay her right now in hope that this fixes the issue, don’t spay her right now and deal with her behavior until she grows out of it or is able to be spayed, or find a new home for her. “Dealing with it” doesn’t seem to be an option because of your parental constraints. If there were a magic cure other than what has been mentioned, I most certainly would have told you.

                                                                                                Good luck.


                                                                                              • BunnyLady1989
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                                                                                                  I had similar problems with Lulu with potty training. I trained her just by using the whole hay in litter box trick and it did work but it took her longer than it should have. Even after that I would still have problems with her. She was spayed right away, but I do believe a lot of the problem stems back from the fact that she was much to young when I got her. Every once in a while she will mess up but I just have to deal with it, and be patient. She has grown out of ALOT but it did take time and patience. It may be something similar with yours, where she has a lot of growing up to do. Try not to get discouraged!


                                                                                                • BunnyLady1989
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                                                                                                    And regardless, I (and I think the rest of the people here) strongly believe all females need to be spayed. It is costly, but worth it. $500 though? Wow. That’s crazy! I know every vet is different but holy cow. I’d check out every exotic vet in your area and many vets will work out a payment plan with you.


                                                                                                  • CupCakeCraviing
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                                                                                                      I wanted to go with what the RHS suggested because many people have told me to go to places that specialize in rabbit spaying. They got this idea in my head that if you go somewhere not on the RHS list, it could be bad. I’m gonna look into the less expensive ones. I’ve put my foot down with my parents and I’m going to get through this wih Xena. She’s not going anywhere. Thanks girls.


                                                                                                    • justwildbeat
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                                                                                                        I hate to beat a dead horse but spaying will most likely correct the bad litter behavior. Especially if she was doing so well before.

                                                                                                        Also there definitely are less expensive but experienced rabbit vets out there. I was astounded to see how other members could get a spay/neuter below $100. In my area it’s in the $300-400 range and there are no groups nearby to help lessen the cost. Called shelters and animal groups to for help or advice. Nothing, they all referred me to groups that only deal with cats/dogs even though I specifically asked about rabbits. Funny enough I found a reasonably priced vet by asking another customer while in line at Petco. She had her hospital therapy rabbit sitting in the cart lol. So don’t give up!


                                                                                                      • Deleted User
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                                                                                                          That’s awesome CupCakeCraviing! I am so ‘happy’ for you and Xena! Cheers.


                                                                                                        • manic_muncher
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                                                                                                            I’m happy too, I hope it all works out, because as you know, buns are great pets! Hopefully Xena will get her act together and redeem herself!

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