Hormones or Stubborn?

[DustiBunny]

My bunny was always pretty good at peeing inside the litter box. He, recently, will pee outside the litter box, but only occasionally. He also will drop his droppings right next to the litter box (but will hop right into the litter box when he sees me walking over to him and finish his business in there). He never goes to the bathroom anywhere else except that one corner (or in the litter box in his cage – I was waiting to take the second one away until after I got him neutered). That’s why I am unsure if it is hormones, he’s a little over 3 months, and he’s marking his territory, or if something is wrong?

Thanks!

[LongEaredLions]

If he acts otherwise normal, I would guess it is just hormones and that he needs to be neutered.
Have his *twinkly bits* dropped yet?

[DustiBunny]

I’m not sure. He’s a social bunny, but still hates being handled.

As for behavior, I noticed slight changes when it comes to his cage. Tonight, for example, he wouldn’t stop chewing on the door of the cage so I let him out to run around and switched out some of his toys. I also took one of his play boxes and put it in front of his cage door so he can go in and out and have more space. He currently is still fighting my, temporary, set up to get out.

I know bunnies need a lot of mental stimulation, but I am unsure if he’s acting out right now out of boredom or puberty. If it’s boredom, I don’t know what else to do.

[Beka27]

At his age and unfixed status, I’d almost bet money that what is happening is hormone related. Baby buns can be great at the litter box at first sometimes, then the hormones kick in and they suddenly “forget”…

If his testicles are not descended yet, they should be within the next 4-6 weeks. Until then, just try your best to keep his space clean. The poops aren’t that big of a deal since they’re dry, but you don’t want him sitting in urine for an extended time.

[kirstyol]

We had to wait quite a while to have Bramble neutered because his testicles didn’t descend until he was around 20 weeks (he was fixed last week) and I have to say that there was a definite change in his behaviour in the 2 or 3 weeks before he was neutered. His litter habits were still good but the biting at the cage door sounds exactly like what Bramble was doing. He was putting his two front paws on the door and biting down on it and shaking it really violently. I am not trying to worry you but Bramble managed to chip a tooth doing this. I would try and get him neutered asap if I was you and make sure the vet checks his teeth at the same time just to be safe, most vets do this routinely but it wont hurt to ask them to have a look.

[DustiBunny]

Thanks guys! My vet won’t perform any operation until he’s 5 months but it does make me feel better

[Author]

Messages