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FORUM BEHAVIOR Neutered/spayed male keeps mounting female

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    • Ms.Marshmallow
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        Hello all,

        I have 2 issues that are concerning to me.

        I recently adopted 2, 2 year old rabbits, 4 days ago. One is a male and the other is a female and they are a bonded lair. They both got spayed and neutered 8 days ago. The male, (Thumper) keeps mounting the female (marshmallow) every chance he gets and he is so persistent! It’s like every 25 minutes he tries to mount her face or her backside and she doesn’t like it at all: she squeaks in displeasure and runs away every time, but Thumper will just chase her down all around the cage. I feel bad for marshmallow because I don’t want her to be stressed but I can’t separate them as they are handed. WHT do I do? Do I atop him every time I see it or do I just let them be to figure it out on their own?

        My second issue is that I was told they are litter trained. But I have a litter tray set up perfectly and they refuse to use it. It seems like they pee in it ok, but they poop all over the cage. I’ve been scooping the poops and putting it in the litter tray, but still they just kind of poop as they lay down or wLk around the cage. What should I do?


      • sarahthegemini
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        5584 posts Send Private Message

          Prior to being neutered and spayed, bunnies can’t really be bonded so really they need to be separated whilst their hormones disipate and then bonded properly.

          Litter habits are probably rubbish right now for a couple of reasons:

          -New environment so they want to mark
          -Hormones spiking after surgeries which adds to the urge to mark.

          Speaking of hormones spiking, it’s very common for bunnies of either sex to go through a hormone surge immediately after being spayed and neutered. So things such as spraying and being aggressive might get worse before they get better (but they will get better!) Litter habits should improve too but you should continue picking up poops and putting them in the litter tray to help get the message across.


        • Sirius&Luna
          Participant
          2320 posts Send Private Message

            Congrats on the new bunnies! If you’ve only had them for 4 days, its completely to be expected.

            As Sarah said, their hormones are spiking following the neuter and spay, so it would be best to separate them. How were an unneutered male and an unspayed female living together anyway? They can’t have been bonded for long, or surely she would have been pregnant (not a criticism of you, I just can’t understand how).

            If you keep them where they can see and smell each other but not touch, it should make it easier when you come to bond them together later.

            Litter habits will improve with time. They’re in a brand new place and trying to establish their territory, so give them some leeway to start with. Peeing in the tray is the main thing, and many rabbits still leave the odd poop outside their litter tray, but pick them up and put them in the litter tray.

            If you’re new to rabbits then there’s loads of great info about diet and housing etc in the info sections and we’re always happy to answer questions!

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        FORUM BEHAVIOR Neutered/spayed male keeps mounting female