Gizmo has just taken to Peeing on the loveseat

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 10sd replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 16 years, 6 months ago by Barbie.

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- 09/02/2009 at 3:58 PM
  DeVaStAt0r
  Participant
  96 posts
  For about the last week he’s been peeing on the couch, the first time my Boyfriend had him up and he was getting petted and he pee’d on his lap, the second time it was my lap. Now he’s been jumping up on the couch all by himself and we get some licks and nose bonks and he will not do it on the large couch, he will jump up on the loveseat and pee then hop away.
  
  5 days in a row this happened and i don’t want him to lose his play time.
  
  My first thought was maybe he was jealous about sophie our puppy (he’s 12 1/2 weeks and she is almost 10 weeks old) but he’s actually getting at a point where he is more comfortable with her. and he’s never pee’d anywhere other than his litter in the whole time we had him.
  
  it’s been hot this week so he’s been drinking lots of water so maybe the poor guy is sloshy haha.
  
  anyone else have a problem like this?
- 09/02/2009 at 6:00 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Actually, it’s REALLY common. The human smell is strongest on places like beds and sofas so rabbits will pee on them. All I can suggest is put a litter box up on the sofa if he gets up there or prevent him from being allowed up there at all.
- 09/02/2009 at 7:09 PM
  Balefulregards
  Participant
  715 posts
  Gizmo is getting more comfortable you the house and is trying to show that he is top bun by covering up your scents. He is Young, right?
  
  I know Coco had a stage when she decided that My Bed needed to be continually marked as HERS. Especially my husbands side of the bed. And his pillow.
  
  Made for some lovely evenings waking up to the distinct smell of fresh rabbit urine next to my head.
  
  If the couch were within hopping distance instead of across the expanse of evil hardwood floor, I suspect she would have peed on that too.
  
  I did behavior mod with Coco. We both made sure she got lots of rubs and head pats – I reminded my DH to greet her when he walked in the room ( he often just walked in and out without acknowledging her) I praise her when I see her hopping into her litter to pee. I gave her a HUGE litter box. And finally, when she did pee on the bed, she got caged at night. As she is normally 100% free roam, it was a high insult. Two weeks of being caged at night and the other changes – no more peeing on the bed.
  
  For Coco, her tail lift is distinct as the “I am about to pee” motion.
  
  Recently with the addition of Jackson and the bonding process, we had a full out URINE WAR. That was entirely a marking thing and seems to have died down ( fingers crossed), although I did have a shower liner down for the first two days to discourage errant peeing.
  
  I think it was Markus who helped me figure out that Coco was most likely insulted by my husband and this was her very pointed way of letting him know she was not to be ignored as well as let him know that she ranked higher in her mind than he did and had no right to be in what she considered to be HER spot on the bed…
- 09/03/2009 at 2:07 PM
  DeVaStAt0r
  Participant
  96 posts
  yeah he may be kicking up a fuss about the puppy being pretty much free roam unless it’s gizmo’s play time.
  
  i didnt really want gizmo upstairs away from everyone , but i may just have to make a area for him to run around more up there. although i feel like he’s being sent to exile if i can’t see what he’s doing every second
- 09/03/2009 at 4:45 PM
  bunnytowne
  Participant
  7538 posts
  YOu are going to laugh and I think everyone here remembers my crazy plastic bags. lol…
  
  Cotton used to pee on 1 particular couch cushion. So….after scolding putting vinegar and nothing worked I put a big heavy duty trash bag and put the cushion in it. lol
  
  It worked and after 2 months or was it more guys I was able to take it off and no more peeing on MY couch.
  
  Some people use shower curtains. Now when Cotton wants to mark he digs on me grooms my shirt then leaves Cotton scented poop I can handle a few poop but urine NO WAY
  
  I hope you can get him to stop soon
- 09/04/2009 at 2:39 PM
  DeVaStAt0r
  Participant
  96 posts
  haha i think i might have to have a garbage bag couture couch as well haha
- 09/04/2009 at 9:33 PM
  Barbie
  Participant
  1581 posts
  You can snag some HUGEEEE plastic bags from Walmart. Though the only time I’ve gotten them was when I bought some poster board there and it started pouring before I came out of the store, so I had to ask for something to put my poster board in so it wouldn’t get ruined on the walk to my car. I don’t know if someone there would be nice enough to just give you a few or if you’d have to buy something, but it might be worth asking for.
  
  And good luck with the peeing issue! Just tonight, Leroy has taken to peeing over the side of his litter box… sigh. I caught him doing it 3 times in the past half hour! So I know how awful it is having to clean up bunny pee all the time!
- 09/05/2009 at 2:36 PM
  luvmybunny
  Participant
  576 posts
  Sounds like he is marking HIS territory! I hope the plastic bag idea works for you!
- 09/05/2009 at 4:50 PM
  RabbitPam
  Moderator
  11002 posts
  Posted By DeVaStAt0r on 09/04/2009 02:39 PM
  haha i think i might have to have a garbage bag couture couch as well haha
  
  That would match my Danish Modern NIC cubes that surround my livingroom couch, chair, and computer desk.
- 09/07/2009 at 2:44 PM
  DeVaStAt0r
  Participant
  96 posts
  i haven’t wrapped the entire couch in plastic yet.
  
  i’m just seeing what happens when i do not let the dog on that couch, she hasn’t been up on it in a week and so far gizmo will go on it but not pee. if he gets too comfy then i move him! (it’s his playtime anyway! don’t be a couchbun!)
  
  we also managed to start socializing them (both bun and pup are younguns, two weeks apart), gizmo will approch her and when she is on her leash he feels very comfortable.
  
  we also cheated giving the puppy a nice parsely massage which resulted in her getting groomed by the rabbit if not in an attempt for more parsley.
  
  i wish i had a video camera going i was holding a yummy leaf of parsley in between the two on my lap and the puppy almost got it, until gizmo put his front paws on her muzzle and shoved her out of the way.
  
  i think they’ll be friends in the end afterall, and he’s not as territorial and he’ll let her sniff and lick him, when she starts to get a little too playful (she’s chewing on EVERYTHING) she’s corrected.
- 09/08/2009 at 11:54 AM
  Barbie
  Participant
  1581 posts
  Devastaor, that sounds so cute! Next time you do that, you MUST take pictures, AT LEAST!
  
  Pam, I too have the very stylish NIC cubes surrounding everything the bun isn’t allowed access to! It’s great! The maint. man had to come in today (my upstairs neighbors have had a leak somewhere and now there are water stains down MY wall!) so I put away all the bunny stuff and toys, and shut the door to my bedroom, where Leroy spends his days, but I left up the NIC cubes… I’m sure they’ll be very confused about my decorating choices! Though I hope no one trips over the NIC cube fence that blocks off the bedroom hallway from the living/dining rooms!
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