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The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

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Forum BEHAVIOR Destructo Bunny

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    • RemyRabbit
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        Hello, all. I am currently housing my 6 month old spayed bunny, Remy, in my large walk in closet while I am away in classes. I figured this would be perfect, as it is 8 x 5 ft and all tile, big enough for play and easy cleanup. Remy has been doing extremely well with litter training and mostly only chews on the variety of toys I have for her while I am home. However, when I leave the house and Remy in her “room” with all her toys, litter box and food/water dishes, she gets destructive, chewing on the baseboards and built in furniture, and peeing and pooping all over the place. I originally gave her reign over my bedroom while I was gone, but she would pee on and under my bed in my absence, which is why she now has her “room” in my closet. I’ve rabbit proofed to the best of my ability but it seems she always finds a new place to chew while I’m gone. I would get an ex pen but she is an exceptional jumper and would escape, I am sure. Is there any way to eliminate this behavior? I’m currently taping cardboard to all my walls but I want to eventually free roam her, preferably without covering my house in cardboard. I was so frustrated coming home to her mess today I nearly cried. I love her and want to give her the happiest life and most space possible, but I can’t without eliminating these bad habits. Please help!


      • Wick & Fable
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        5813 posts Send Private Message

          I think this may stem from boredom, considering it occurs when you’re not there. While a walk-in closet can be spacious, I assume there are no windows and the visuals are pretty static, so being there, alone, for multiple hours at a time with no visual, audio, or physical stimulation can be depressing and/or stressful for a rabbit. Space is great, and I’m glad to hear you provided more than a simple Xpen, but stimulation is also important. Rabbits are social creatures, and repeated periods of loneliness and this behavior are good indications that your rabbit needs a friend and/or some changes to the current situation to be happiest. Rabbits are not inherently destructive and out-to-annoy-you; they’re simply responding to their environment and their emotions. It can be really overwhelming, absolutely.

          Perhaps you can rearrange stuff each day before you go, so it’s always new. Give her tunnels, move around boxes, etc.. Another idea is hiding food around so she is encouraged to forage as a wild rabbit would when they’re active. Some rabbits may benefit from having a TV on or some noise in the background to get some stimulation in the environment as well.

          I would also do a mental and physical check of her to ensure she’s healthy. Rabbits can sometimes either retreat or “flare up” when something is wrong with them, either because they are instinctively hiding from predators or they are venting frustration at pain/discomfort.

          How often are you gone and for how long?

          The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.


        • pinknfwuffy
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            Sorry to hear you are having so much trouble. Could be a lot of different things. How long ago was Remy fixed? It is possible that a hormonal surge post-surgery could be causing the extra potty accidents if she was spayed in the last month or so. This will settle down as she gets a bit older.

            If she has plenty of toys and entertainment but is still being destructive I would suggest rotating her toys so they are more interesting to her. If I leave toys in my rabbits cage all the time he never plays with them because they aren’t as interesting as new toys. As a chewer, I would suggest filling a cardboard box or plastic bin with shredded paper and cardboard for her to play with. Paper tubes full of hay and other interactive toys may be more enticing.

            You also mentioned that she is destructive when you leave. This may be due to her feeling like the closet space is a negative place, where she has to stay when you are gone. I would try to use treats and positive reinforcement to encourage her to play in that area even when you are home so it becomes a safe space and her home base. At the very least, an x-pen my be useful to put up around the inside perimeter of the closet to make a barrier between her and the baseboards/walls.

            Good luck!


          • RemyRabbit
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              Thank you for your response. I stop by in between my classes when possible to let her out, refill her water, etc. The longest I am ever away is about 3.5 hours at a time, and that’s only once a day, twice a week. Otherwise I’m gone for 1 or 2 hours, stopping by to play. I used to leave music on for her while I was gone when she had reign of my bedroom, and she was less destructive then but was peeing on and under my bed still.


            • RemyRabbit
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                Thank you for your response. She was spayed a little over a month ago so I am hoping there are still some lingering hormones. It’s just strange because she is almost completely potty trained while I’m home, with the occasional exception of my bed. I’ve covered the walls in cardboard and put some protection on my dresser which has helped.

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            Forum BEHAVIOR Destructo Bunny