New bunny used to be affectionate, now won't leave the cage

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This topic has 6sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 6 years ago by Cass.

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- 11/15/2018 at 6:57 PM
  Cass
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi! I received a unspayed female bunny, Buttons, from my mother’s work friend about a month ago. Buttons used to be very affectionate and hop out of her cage and right into our laps for snuggles, but now she won’t come out of her cage, and is lunging and occasionally nipping at our fingers. On the rare occasions that she does come out, she immediately hides under the bed. We try to let her out for an hour each day and offer her fruits and vegetables in addition to the Timothy hay and pellets. I don’t know what we’re doing wrong. Could this just be teenagerhood? She’s two years and a couple of months old. Any ideas?
- 11/15/2018 at 8:56 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22345 posts
  Hi Cass
  I noted you said you got her “about a month ago” . Is it just under a month by chance?
  Do you know if the past owners had any other rabbits? Just trying to establish if perhaps she is pregnant. ?
  Or even experiencing a false pregnancy.
  
  Is she moulting at all? Some rabbits can become a bit testy when they are moulting or about to begin one.
  
  Could she have gotten a scare while out one time? Are there other pets?
  
  Or had she been picked up once, instead of voluntarily coming out?
  
  Bunnies are “teens” around 3-6 months of age, so she is well past that. However, hormonal changes can still occur in adult buns.
- 11/15/2018 at 9:18 PM
  Muj Mom N Bun
  Participant
  352 posts
  Hi, welcome… I also wonder abt the chances of her becoming a bit territorial, hormonal and possibly pseudo pregnant. Or even, really pregnant, if under 30 days and had even the slightest passing by with an unaltered male that maybe you may not have been aware of? If any of these were to be the case, it would be plenty reason for her to sort of hunker down (nest) and become very protective of that area.
  
  Also, for how many days has the change in behavior been? I ask because I have an unspayed female and I have witnessed first hand a false pregnancy, no picnic, albeit short lived, but I’m also no expert.
- 11/15/2018 at 9:57 PM
  Cass
  Participant
  4 posts
  Thanks for responding so quickly! The change in behavior has only been going on for a week or so. I don’t think she has had any contact with male rabbits, but I’m not sure if the previous owner had one. I don’t think so.
  
  A pseudo pregnancy does make sense, though. I also suspect she’s not getting enough play time outside of the cage, or at least the offer to come out. My sister is taking care of Buttons, and my sister is not the most responsible person. I will double check to see if Buttons is getting outside of the cage. Thanks for the help! If anyone else has any ideas, please let me know.
- 11/15/2018 at 10:28 PM
  Cass
  Participant
  4 posts
  Hi, jerseygirl. Thanks for your quick response. We have one cat, but she is terrified of the bun and won’t come near her. I don’t know if Buttons is molting, and I’m pretty sure the previous owner had just one rabbit. She could be experiencing a false pregnancy, though.
  
  It is likely that she was picked up from the cage. We’ve certainly done a lot of picking up and putting back! My sister takes care of her for now, and my sister is not the most responsible person, so it’s entirely possible that Buttons is not getting enough time outside of the cage as well. I will redouble my efforts to check on her. Thanks again!
- 11/16/2018 at 7:29 AM
  Asriel and Bombur
  Participant
  1104 posts
  Some of it could be hormones as well. So it could be worth it to spay her. Spaying is also essential for the health of a girl bun as they have high chances of reproductive cancers by age 5/
- 11/16/2018 at 12:09 PM
  Cass
  Participant
  4 posts
  I absolutely plan to spay her. I have a vet all lined up; now I just need to bring her in for an exam and estimate. Thanks for the advice!
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