antisocial MJ

[corpathina]

so MJ has been neutered since december 14th. at first, he seemed totally normal. he hopped around and snuggled and seemed fine. but after a few weeks, he started becoming a lot more skittish. now, it seems that all he does is hide in his cage, eat, and run away from me. it makes me so sad.

 

he used to play chase with me, snuggle with me, and follow me around. now, even when i’m careful to get down on the ground as not to scare him, he still runs from me. for a while i thought it was because we were cooking more at home and that the smells scared him, but we’ve gone back to eating at more restaurants lately because of our shcedules and he’s even MORE skittish.

 

also, he acts like he’s just starving to death. i feed him a 1/8 cup pellets in the morning along with a cup of various greens and he always has unlimited hay. it seems like he never stops eating, though. he goes through hay faster than i’ve ever seen, now.

 

he’s about 10 months old right now. do you think this is just a phase? he’s shedding right now really badly.. that shouldn’t affect his mood, though, right?

 

i feel like it’s my fault because i’ve been gone a lot and haven’t spent as much time with him. but when i do try to spend time with him now that my schedule is calming down, he wants to have nothing to do with me.

 

any insight into why this is happening? is it just a phase? do you think he’s changed hormonally and has just decided he doesn’t like me? do you think he’s depressed and needs a playmate?

 

i love him so much.. he was like my little companion and followed me all over the house. now he won’t even let me pet him.

 

thanks in advance for the help and comments!!

[Elrohwen]

My Otto started going through a similar phase at 10 months (though he had been neutered at 4 months). I’m not sure if that’s just a coincidence or if it is age related behavior. He has also been more skittish and has enjoyed my company less.

I think it’ll just take some more floor-ignore, lots of hand fed treats, etc to bring him back around. Is there any interaction he does like? I try to focus on the moments when Otto does want attention and not worry when he runs away from pets.

[Barbie]

You mentioned that he’s shedding really badly right now, did the anti social ness start around the same time he started shedding? Sometimes a big shed can make Leroy grumpy, so that may have something to do with it.

[Elrohwen]

Oo, good call on that Barbie (and I’m still holding out hope that molting is Otto’s excuse too 😛 )

[Sarita]

I think also at this age they are starting to develop their personality. I think it could partly be age related too.

It could also be the change in routine – animals like routine – it makes them feel secure. So now you are changing your routine again and spending more time with him – probably throwing him off.

[corpathina]

good suggestions everyone. i spent some quality time cleaning his condo today and hanging out with him on the living room floor. he got really excited when i cleaned his litter box and has been more friendly since then.

i think you’re right sarita – even if i feed him at the same times every day, i’m sure he’s still very affected by me coming home at 3 am versus 6 pm. my bf is here with him, but i’m sure me being away affects him more (my bf doesn’t really interact with him).

and yes, barbie, he started getting particularly antisocial when he started shedding.

elrohwen, i hope it is just an age thing. i know i have to be patient and these things take time. it just makes you feel so awful when they shun you!

oh well.. he’s worth it.

[Elrohwen]

Yes, it does feel awful sometimes! I’m pretty sure I care more about what my bunny thinks of me than what other people think of me 😉

[Monkeybun]

Its amazign how excited they get when you clean their pottys… Monkey dances when I clean hers Moose gets all excited and climbs onto my lap when I start piling the new hay in his box. Its the only time he comes near me lol.

[Elrohwen]

MB, my bun is the same way. Lol. Whenever I take it away, he goes and sits in the spot where it belongs. Then when I try to put it back, he’s trying to climb in before it’s in place.

[Monkeybun]

Monkey helps me refill her box. She pushes the carefresh into the corners for me, and smooths it all out with her itty bitty paws. Its so cute, I need to get the hubby to take a video of her doing it sometime.

[RabbitPam]

Please get a video of that, MB.

Ten months old and a big shed, despite being neutered, can be a combo to produce a mood swing. I’m also wondering if there’s anything going on in the general surroundings that’s making him nervous. For example, a neighbor with a new barking dog would bother him, even though you may not notice. Or if you boyfriend started watching TV or movies that are loud or have action sounds and music that he watches when you’re gone so it won’t disturb you – might be disturbing the bunny. You also may smell differently as the result of your shift change.

Just approach him gently and get back into some kind of routine. He will definitely perk up once the shed is over.

[corpathina]

awww, i can picture monkey doing that! so cute! MJ acts similarly – hopping in and out of the box as i refill it and running circles around me as i sweep his condo out. he likes to play with the broom, too. he charges it and growls. i used to be worried that he was upset by the broom, but i think he actually enjoys charging it and playing with it. he really shows the broom who’s boss. XD

thanks for the advice, RP! it’s hard to know exactly what’s bothering him, because as you said, buns are so much more sensitive to things than we are. i’ll definitely try to get him (and me) on more of a routine and spend more quality time with him.

and now that you mention it, the neighbor did get a new dog. he rarely barks, but i think that could also be affecting things.

[bunnytowne]

Yep   age and shedding can contribute to his new behavior.  It should settle down as he gets a little older.  About 4 more months

[wendyzski]

I joke that Pepper gets PMS – Pre Moulting Syndrome! 

She is almost always grumpy and moody going into a big shed.  She’ll hang out under furniture rather than in the middle of the floor for example, and she’s jumpier.  I’m not sure if it’s the hormones that cause the shed, if she’s cranky because it’s itchy, or if she just knows that she doesn’t look her best 

And if he’s already touchy, a change in routine that might ordinarily be fine could be affecting him more than usual.

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