Bunny loosing interest in me?

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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

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

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- 06/10/2018 at 8:27 PM
  Karrakov
  Participant
  41 posts
  So I recently bonded Benny, my 1 year old holland, with Bailey, my 6 month old holland. They moved in together about a week ago. Since then, Benny has been less interested in me. He was always super affectionate with me, he’d cuddle with me and run up to the cage door whenever I came in the room. I’d say goodnight to him and give him pets and kisses and he’d click his teeth and sit with me for an hour. Since he bonded and moved in with Bailey he’s been much more distant. When I come in the room he doesn’t acknowledge me, he doesn’t really come up to me when he’s running around and when I try to pet him to give him attention he just hops away. It’s like he has no use for me. Is this normal when bunnies bond, is there something wrong or am I over reacting? Maybe he’s just off or not feeling well? I’d be heart broken if we lost the bond we had, he was always around me, following me like a puppy and always wanting affection. It’s got me pretty upset. I’m worried he doesn’t care about me anymore or that something is wrong….anyone know anything or had a similar experience? Everything else is normal with him, his eating and pooping and he’s super happy with Bailey. I’m wondering if maybe the affection he gets from her now is enough for him and he doesn’t need me.
- 06/11/2018 at 1:39 AM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  Mmm… it could be just his age. Now that he’s an adult bun, he’s seeking you out less? They can appear to be more “stand-offish” once they mature.
  
  I think there is still time for him to be more like his former self with you though. Do you stick with much the same routine you had when he was a single bun?
  
  What is your relationship like with Bailey?
- 06/11/2018 at 6:03 AM
  Daisy
  Participant
  199 posts
  He has a bunny mate to be affectionate to now. Bunnies are not like dogs that see humans as masters and should be interacted with regardless of other “pack mates” being around. Bunnies will see you as feed slave and if you are the only one that they can interact with they may (or may not) indeed seek your company. The moment a second bunny is introduced you are dropped like a rock and you return to being just a feed slave, haha. That’s my experience though! Single bunnies are always much more human-oriented than bonded couples.
- 06/11/2018 at 6:07 AM
  Karrakov
  Participant
  41 posts
  I do have pretty much the same routine now that they are bonded. They’re in a new cage but that’s really the only difference to his environment. Bailey is much more independent than Benny ever was. She has her moments of wanting my attention but for the most part she has always just done her own thing (I’ve had her for 4 months at this point as a single bun before they bonded). I call her my sour patch kid haha.
- 06/11/2018 at 7:59 AM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  I think this is to be expected once you bond. While you and Benny had a good bond, you’re species incompatible. He now has a friend of his own species who he can communicate much better with. It’s natural that he would feel more security in that relationship and distance himself a little from you.
- 06/11/2018 at 9:02 AM
  joea64
  Participant
  1423 posts
  Panda and Fernando, for this very reason, have never been all touchy-feely-snuggly-cuddly toward me either. They’re friendly toward me, by all means, but there’s always that sense of distance between me and them. I’ve noticed for several months now that during our evening floor sessions, they usually prefer to stay snuggled with one another or in their hidey boxes, and really only come out to play once I’m outside the X-pen. As seems to be usual, they’re most willing to interact with me when I have something tasty for them!
- 06/11/2018 at 7:44 PM
  kurottabun
  Participant
  908 posts
  I don’t think it’s that he doesn’t care about you anymore, but simply because he now has a fellow bunny friend. I think it helps to not humanise them but instead think from their point of view, since bunnies don’t express themselves like humans do and don’t have the same train of thoughts.
  
  As their human though, I guess you could think of it as something like a bittersweet experience and while you are disappointed that he isn’t as affectionate to you anymore, you can also be happy for him that he found a soul mate that he could relate to
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