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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 17 years, 6 months ago by Scarlet_Rose.

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- 09/04/2008 at 8:44 PM
  Sarah M
  Participant
  8 posts
  So we’ve had Maxwell for about two weeks now and all is going pretty well until the past few days.
  
  Over the weekend, I was sick and stayed home for about two days straight. Max was great. He hopped up on the couch and let me pet him and was very personable. Tuesday I went back to work and since then he’s been really anti people. He only seems interested in eating and sitting around. He hasnt gotten on the couch, doesnt want to be petted, and only hops over to me if he thinks I have food. Even when I have the door to his cage open (whenever I’m home) he spends most of his time sitting in his litter box. He absolutely freaks (worse than before) if I try to pick him up for grooming or whatever. He never has played with his toys much, or his box house I made him but he just looks so pitiful. Is he mad at me for going back to work? Sick, hurt, being a “teenager”? Any suggestions. He’s eating and pooping up a storm and doesnt appear to be outwardly sick, just sort of listless and in a generally bad mood. I hate him ignoring me but I dont want to spoil him by bribing him with treats just to be near me. I just want my bunny to love me
- 09/04/2008 at 10:28 PM
  Kokaneeandkahlua
  Participant
  12067 posts
  Oh buns can hold a grudge (I’m still in trouble…) How terrible of you to feel better and go back to work to pay the bills and buy him things!!
  -keep watching for poop and pee and eating and likely , physically he’s fine.
  
  You’ve only had him two weeks and your still bonding. It’s frustrating but SOOO rewarding to bond with a bun. Give it more time and keep the treats coming
- 09/04/2008 at 10:45 PM
  Cassi&Charlie
  Participant
  1260 posts
  Sounds like he liked having you to himself. Charlie was so angry at me when I started working part-time again after being at home with him all the time. He pretty much ignored me for a week and somewhat delibrately gave all his attention to my boyfriend, who he doesn’t usually like.
  
  Don’t be afraid to bribe! Bribery will get you everywhere.
- 09/05/2008 at 7:16 AM
  Beka27
  Participant
  16016 posts
  bunnies are very big on routines. he most likely was getting used to you being around and then you went to work and left him (HOW DARE YOU?!) but while they love routine, they are also very adaptable… so you can start a new routine… try and feed him at the same times everyday, and let him out to play around the same time. he is still new and gettig used to his surroundings. plus like all of us, they can have a bad days where they want to do their own thing. you mentioned “being a teenager”, this is also a possibility. rabbits go thru both puberty (hormone-related), and adolescence (age-related up to about a year)… so even after neutering, there can be some behavioral changes and general mischief.
- 09/06/2008 at 3:46 PM
  Scarlet_Rose
  Participant
  4293 posts
  Oh that is so sweet that he stayed with you when you were sick. Rabbits do like routines as well as all the other input you’ve been given. I think he really did like having you to himself and maybe because you weren’t moving around a whole lot or laying in a way that you don’t usually do? Have you spent any quality time on the floor with him? Read a paper, book etc. and give him the option to come up to you rather than on the couch. Since you haven’t had him for very long it does take some time to really bond and you don’t have to bribe with treats. Rabbits are naturally curious creatures, so time on the floor and let him investigate you. Something I have done with my two is drape an old towel over myself or my head and they LOVE investigating underneath. I get rewarded with a nice tickle of whiskers.
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