Biting and clawing

[CloverDaLopp]

Hi, I’m an inexperienced rabbit owner. I’ve had many pets like mice/rats, a hamster, ferret and cats/dogs. Well my girlfriend had a pet rabbit and since my cat gives her the cold shoulder she wanted a rabbit… So of course we went out and got Clover, a 9week old male Mini Lopp. She works during the day and I work at night so I’m at home most of the day with Clover and I’m trying my best to take care of him.

Since I work at night I let him out to run and exercise when I’m home. Recently he starts nipping and clawing at my clothes when I lay on the floor with him. I noticed he’ll nips/claws at my shoes, jeans and shirt sleeves. When he nips at my jeans he goes for the ends and the outside seams also on my sleeves he goes for where my sleeves are rolled up. I’m kinda at a lost for what to do.

I was pretty sure he was comfortable with me since he acts pretty calm when I pick him up to put him in or take him outta his cage, he will lay under my chair or by my feet when I’m playing video games and when I interact with him I’m usually laying on the floor so I don’t tower over him and he can sniff me. So I’m at a lost of what I’m doing wrong.

[kurottabun]

Hello and welcome to Binkybunny It’s good that you are trying your best to care for the rabbit!

Is he neutered? When rabbits are not neutered, they can get quite hormonal randomly regardless of how well you’ve been treating them. Bunnies who were once sweet and cuddly may turn into a nipping monster etc. Normally they go for the seams/edges as these are simply easier to get to compared to the flat surface of a shirt/pants. Since they have to burrow in the wild, bunnies are natural diggers (which explains the clawing), so a rolled up sleeve would look quite attractive. You could try giving him some digging or chewing toys instead to divert his attention.

Some bunnies will still chew or dig even after being neutered, so make sure that your place is bunny proofed. Cords should be hidden and things that could potentially harm the bunny should also be out of reach.

[CloverDaLopp]

I’ve tied up the cords I could have we had a play pen and I broke it down and use the panels to block areas that have cords I can’t tie up. The vet said the would prefer him to be older before getting him neutered… They said around 5months

[kurottabun]

Oh just realised you did mention he is 9 weeks. In that case then yes he is too young to be neutered. Boy buns can be neutered as soon as their testicles drop. 5 months sounds about right but it depends on the individual bunny as well. A rabbit savvy vet would know best

Since he isn’t neutered yet, the behaviour you mentioned in the first post is most likely due to hormones then. It’s not that you’re doing anything wrong; it’s just the bunny getting a bit hormonal. Does he have any chewing/digging toys that you can redirect him to?

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