Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Help! Bunny Behavior Changes!

Viewing 3 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • ArvadaLanee
      Participant
      44 posts Send Private Message

        I need some advise about my rabbit, Happy. She has been with me for 3 months now, and she seemed really settled in, and always used her litter box. Then came the drama. I got a call one day, out of the blue, while my boyfriend was at work. It turned out that my boyfriend’s 11 month old nephew needed temporary guardians, or he could go to foster care. Of course, I said we would take him! Our apartment is only 2 bedrooms, and I have 9 year old twins, so the crib, and all the baby’s things were set up in the living room. My boyfriend was freaking out, over his family situation. The bunny, and the cats were confused, and scared. I tried to keep to our normal routine, letting Happy out to free roam each morning, and putting her to bed in her cage at night, I didn’t have the time to give her and the cats the attention I normally would. Adding to the drama, my boyfriend decided to have his sister come stay at our place, so she could be with the baby, and I could help her learn how to properly care for him. (She’s young, and a first time mom, and just didn’t know she had been making some mistakes.) Now our home was very overcrowded, and I had my hands full. I felt like I had to take care of Mom, as well as the baby, and the house was getting messy, and uncomfortable, and my boyfriend was so stressed, he began having severe panick attacks. The bunny spent a lot of the day just hiding behind her chair, and the kitties were clearly stressed. Any way, we made it through, and were able to send both Mama, and baby home. It was a relief to get our home back, and little by little, the bunny and kitties started venturing out, looking for attention again. Happy started following me around everywhere I went. She would climb in my lap and groom me, and started licking/grooming my face, which she had never done before. At first I just thought it was cute, like she was just relieved. But now it seems like it’s more than that. She scratches at the doors sometimes when I’m in my room, or the bathroom. And she has stopped using her litter box, altogether. She insists on peeing on the couch, or on me, and poops anywhere, and everywhere. My boyfriend is getting upset. He doesn’t want me to let her roam the house anymore. He wants me to use the playpen. But I feel so bad! I feel like she was traumatized by the family drama, and now she feels so insecure, she just wants to be by me, all the time, and wants to mark her territory so she won’t ever lose it again. I do agree that we can’t just let her keep peeing and pooping all over. I just don’t know how to get her back to feeling comfortable. I’ve tried moving her to the litter box after she pees, and giving her praise, and treats. I have put her in her cage on a time out when she pees. I have even told her no, but not harshly. I never ever yell at her, or anything. I just need advice. Should I use the playpen for now, until she starts using her box again, or will that make her even more traumatized? What should I do? She’s such a sweet girl, and I love her so much. I just don’t know how to get her to use the litter box again.


      • Mikey
        Participant
        3186 posts Send Private Message

          Sounds like your little bun is mad about everyone moving into her living space. Shes peeing and pooping all over to try to claim her territory back. She sounds incredibly stressed with the situation. Did everyone leave, or are they still there? Is Happy spayed?


        • jerseygirl
          Moderator
          22338 posts Send Private Message

            Wow. You’ve had a hectic few months. That is a great thing you did for your BF’s sister and the baby.

            I see in your profile you were uncertain of Happy’s age. Any better idea now? Do you know if she has been desexed?

            Should I use the playpen for now, until she starts using her box again, or will that make her even more traumatized? What should I do? She’s such a sweet girl, and I love her so much. I just don’t know how to get her to use the litter box again.

            Yes, it’s best to go back to a contained area when re-training. It won’t traumatise her. I know it is really difficult to do if you are use to letting her have the run of a lot of space.

            I actually think confining her at this time will help her sense of security. She won’t feel she has to guard a larger area from “intruders”. She’ll just have a clearly defined area that is her territory.  Remember, they are prey animals and in the wild, they spend majority of their time in a burrow. Only venturing out for social time, eating, toileting.

            When you do have her out for one-on-one time, keep a litter box or 3 handy to direct her to when she’s about to toilet.


          • ArvadaLanee
            Participant
            44 posts Send Private Message

              Thanks. Yes, everyone is gone now. We have moved some things around, so now her cage can be in the living room, where we are most of the time. I am going to build a second story onto it soon so she will have a bit more space, and I’m going to use the playpen, so I can let her out into a small area where I can keep an eye on her and begin potty training again. I feel a lot better about keeping her contained, with her cage in our central living space. I was just so worried she would feel alone, and left out. I still don’t love the idea of keeping her contained, because I know she hates it, but she pees on me, and the couch, all the time now. I had planned to take her in to get fixed. The vet said on her first visit, that she likely was not fixed before I got her. (He wasn’t sure on age either, but he said if the previous owner told me she’s 2, we will go by that.) Unfortunately, our recent circumstances meant that we got a little behind, financially. Once we can get caught up, I will put together the money again. It just might take a little bit now. Poor Happy. It has been a stressful time for all of us, and I totally understand her fear. Hopefully this new set up will help her gain her confidence back. She is my little angel, and I will do everything I can to help her.

          Viewing 3 reply threads
          • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

          Forum BEHAVIOR Help! Bunny Behavior Changes!