I have two spayed, female rabbits that I adopted as a bonded pair from the San Diego Humane Society about two and a half years ago.  They’re almost 3 years old, and they’re Californian sisters named Matilda and Collette.  For the most part, they’ve lived a happy, spoiled, and harmonious life together.  Matilda established herself as dominant bunny soon after I adopted them and they’ve been fine with that arrangement up until now.  The only problems they ever had with each other was last spring when Matilda got sick, and in my ignorance I took her to the vet without her sister.  They had quite a spat when Matilda got home but after numerous car rides, a complete re-arrangement of their living quarters, and de-scenting everything (including each other), I was able to get them re-bonded with Matilda being dominant bunny once again. 

Alas, the harmony has been disturbed.

Collette has decided she wants a turn at top bunny.  About 5 days ago, they were out playing and I saw Collette mount Matilda.  This wound up in a short-lived chase around the apartment with Matilda doing the chasing.  Obviously she didn’t want to be challenged for her rank and I thought the chase put an end to Collette being weird.  I was very, very wrong.  Collette has stopped trying to mount Matilda, but she’s been doing everything else in the book regarding dominance behavior and I’m pretty sure the flip in hierarchy has been achieved.  I don’t mind Collette being dominant, but she’s exhibiting behavior that I never saw Matilda do as top bunny and it’s getting pretty annoying.

Collette is on a serious power trip.  When Matilda wants to eat hay, Collette follows her into the litterbox that the hay rack is under and nips her on the sides/butt until Matilda gets out, all the while circling and spraying Matilda.  She does the same thing when Matilda wants to get a drink.  When the’yre out playing, Collette is glued to Matilda, demanding attention by circling and spraying Matilda.  I’ve given up on worrying about pee on the carpet and I just clean it up once they’re back in their x-pen for the night.  Matilda can’t do anything without Collette pestering her for attention.  I’ve actually begun getting Collette out of their x-pen when I see Matilda going for the hay or water and sticking her up on the couch with me.

I know that’s all part of determining hierarchy so I’ve tried to stay out of it and let them work it out.  What I’m worried about is Collette being so territorial about the hay/water.  I’m thinking about doing the same thing I did last spring, where I completely re-arranged their living quarters and de-scented everything that they might have marked.  Yet I don’t know if this will make the problem worse because I feel like Collette might be inclined to over-mark the new, “neutral” territory.  They still seem completely bonded because there’s grooming on both their parts and I haven’t seen any aggression whatsoever.

Any advice/suggestions/comments would be MUCH appreciated.  I am a very confused bunny mom.