Ok, so Mr. Fred (aka…the firehose) was just neutered about a week ago. After his surgery, we just weren’t comfortable putting him back outside in the shed at night, so he has been set up permanently in our house. We don’t cage our buns.
He’s actually been doing really fantastic for a bun who had been out on his own for at least 4 or 5 months. He’s not destructive at all, loves and craves our attention/affection… is very playful and he tolerates my 7 year old’s antics with him. I saw him do a full-on “flop” for the first time today. He’s very content.
He’s a typical hormonal male rabbit… territory drops and sprays his general area a bit. We’ve limited access to /protected all of the trouble zones – so we’ve got the house situation under control. I’ve read all the info on waiting out the post-neuter hormonal drop, so I understand. BUT, Fred is just CONVINCED that I am the female rabbit that he smells all over the house. I did the best I could after Radar passed to wash/clean all of the spaces Radar liked to go – but it will be impossible to eliminate all her smell, so it is what it is. Fred thinks I am a girl bunny….he follows me around everywhere like a lovesick puppy dog – circles me, jumps into my lap, climbs on my back. If I pat him continuously, there is no problem – he is happy to get the attention. As soon as I ignore him… he sprays ME (no one else….just ME). And darn does the bugger have great aim. So, the last few weeks I have found myself fleeing from him if I don’t have time to stop and pat him. I feel bad, he looks so confused as I run away going “noooooo!” because I don’t want to have to change my clothes.
In the next 4-6 weeks – I need to know how “I” need to handle his amorous behavior. One thing that works great is simply putting my hand on his back and pressing slightly… he just submits to my hand and lays down/calms down. I hate constantly immobilizing him though, so I’m wondering if I have any other options…
Here are my questions:
We have been giving him my “stunt-double” still – it distracts him from me… is this ok to do still after his neuter? Or- is it encouraging the behavior? That poor, poor stuffed Koala. I didn’t know Fred was into marsupials… I feel like I should be playing Marvin Gaye for him in the background when he’s with his Koala. We won’t even mention how my 7 year old demonstrated how Fred “loves” his Koala bear to the whole family on Easter. *sighs*
When he comes up and does spray… I tend to holler “Noooooooo!” Bunnies are smart…… they do learn “no” Do I even bother doing this, or am I just fighting an instinct and am in a losing battle?
Someone told me to squirt him with a squirt bottle when he sprays me or is about to (I can tell now by his body language when he’s is just about to do it) Do you think this might discourage him? Or will it do more damage than good (possibly get him to not trust me…don’t want to ruin the really great loveable friend he is. Um…well, besides the spraying thing, lol.)?
Anyone have any additional ideas or thoughts on the above? It’s going to be a LONG 4-6 weeks!