Hello everyone! I got a new rabbit 5 days ago. We got him from a shelter, which was less than clean but they had over 100 rabbits there and were having a hard time taking care of everyone since there seemed to only be about 4 people taking care of everyone.
I was told that he was letterbox trained and not fixed. When I took him home we found that he was definitely not letterbox trained. His letterbox there was filled with that generic pine rabbit litter. I had heard stories of this being harmful, so I went to what I used with my last rabbit, newspaper and hay. He pees in it almost perfectly, does poop in it as well but he also poops everywhere else.
When I try to scoop up the poops and put them in his litter box, he gets upset and charges at the dustpan and brush, even biting at them and chasing them. He never goes for me, so I thought maybe it just scares him, so I try and do it when he isn’t looking or with something else but he always attacks whatever is taking away his poop. So I’m starting to think maybe he is marking his territory because he is insecure? I’m not sure how to help him feel secure. He had a couple bunny safe hidey places around my room so he can go into them whenever he wants. He also can do into a large cadge I have where I keep his litterbox. Its tall enough he can stand on his hind legs without ever reaching the top and can run around in it just fine; but I don’t like having to goad him in there at night because I don’t want him making a mess of my room when I’m asleep.
I took him to the vet as well to get a general checkup and get him fixed, but he was already fixed. I don’t know how long the shelter had him, but they said he wasn’t fixed. I of course trust the vet’s judgement but I’m now am sort of at a loss.
I know litterbox training will take some time, but I’m not sure if it is just that or if he is territorial. How long does litterbox training usually take?
He also has taken to nibbling on me, licking me then nibbling and sometimes actually biting me, even digging at my hand. While I was typing this he even sprayed my leg, and peed on my pillow and blanket. Also anytime he sees my phone case (which has bunny ears on it) he lunges for it and tries to kill it. Which is annoying to say the least.
He definitely is in no danger of being rehomed, I took responsibility for him and thats that, but I don’t know how to handle any of these behaviors. Does anyone know what may be going on with him?