Am I nuts to think this?

[Jack and Noggin]

When we got Jack, I noticed right away that he’s slower to find treats than Noggin. While she bounds right to the treats, Jack sniffs around like a hound dog. So I thought, maybe he doesn’t have great eye sight (I know he’s not blind, the vet checked). Jack was an outdoor bunny with not a ton of attention before we adopted him so his litter box habits are not the best. As the weeks have gone on, Jack has gotten a lot better – but only during the day. At night he leaves pellets all over and even a couple urine spots. Then I thought, maybe he’s afraid of the dark? Is that nuts? I know he had a bit if adjustment to the sights and sounds of being indoors but he’s a ton less freaked than he was. What could explain the lack of litter habits at night?

[Deleted User]

Sorry I can’t answer your question – but it’s soooo funny to think a rabbit is afraid of the dark, ha hah. But I can’t talk, my bun has always had a night light – his house being in my kitchen/dining area. My night light is for me in the kitchen to make a cuppa as not to disturb anyone if I wake up through the night. Now that you have posed the question, you’ve got me wondering???? DAM!

[Stickerbunny]

My two cannot stand being in the dark. Stickers thumps like a predator is out to eat her and they both spook at any and all noises. I keep the light on for them on lowest dimmer level. When the power went out one time, I kept the only flash light on in the animals room so the bird and two bunnies could crowd around it so they’d have some light and sat in the dark myself. lol

[Starah]

Jake, our bunny before, was always very easily spooked in the night time. It seemed like if we walked anywhere near his hutch or right past him the shadowy figure of us walking past him would always spook him. We had to talk to him before we got even close to him so he knew we were there.
So I’d say yeah it’s entirely possible that the night time has got your bun on high alert, particularly since he lived outdoors before, he may well be expecting a preditor to walk by any second.
Like you say, it’s a big adjustment for him and it’s bound to take some time. I wonder if he is scared at night and it kicks in his territorial instinct? Is he neutered?
It can’t hurt to try a night light and see if he relaxes a bit more!

[Jack and Noggin]

I put a nightlight out there last night but it was very dim and under a table – but there was no urine spots this morning. I’m wondering if the territorial poos are actually Jack jumping out of the little box and kicking stuff all over – ’cause there is hay all over too.

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