Bonding Behavior, New Rabbit Mom

[Sigrunn]

I am a new rabbit mom. Elric, a velveteen lop, joined me around Thanksgiving. As of 3 months ago I moved from a house to an apartment where he has less room but still a decent amount of room. Realizing now his placement of being in the large window and the high temp the apartment gets w/o central AC maybe wasn’t the best placement for him. I recently got him a friend named Waverly from a rescue. I also switched his cage so it isn’t in the direct sun and am going to tomorrow be building more onto his cage so they can both have more shade. He spent a few days bonding with Waverly Wednesday- Monday with the owner of the shelter. First night they stayed in a neutral room where Elric has never been. They for a long great in there. In fact they are getting along quite well now. I have turned the wall unit AC on and have two fans near them which has helped them perk up. They aren’t loud fans either as I know they are sensitive to change. My friend and I built their cage out of storage grids so it has one level and is 6×6 storage grids on each side. I know I must be careful with levels as well, to prevent injury. She seems very timid but not aggressive, she has let me pet her.

The lady from the shelter suggested I move his cage to a different location then where it was before. So I did this and moved my cat tree to where his cage used to be. Currently he is laying on the base of the cat tree but has spent time in his condo on his own so it appears to me he likes the new placement as well. I had Elric for about 5 mos. before I got him a companion. He began growing more and more recluse and withdrawn. I bought him toys and fed him fruits and veggies and lots of hay but did not know what I was doing wrong. He is always free to roam when I am home and awake. I have closed the blinds half way so the sun isn’t directly on him. Maybe I am too excited and want to see them playing and bonding but he still seems a bit withdrawn. He hasn’t greeted me like he used to run to the front of his condo when I got home.

He doesn’t appear to be sick to me. He had some peeing outside of his litter box (on my rug) issues when I first moved into the apartment but I kept working with him and he seemed to get better. The vet suggested it was a behavioral problem why he was peeing outside of his litter box, she said rabbits are very sensitive to change. I feel really discouraged. My two cats and I have bonded with this animal and he still seems withdrawn. He doesn’t jump around like he used to. I wasn’t hoping his new friend would lift his spirits as I read rabbits should have a companion. It’s really brought me joy to provide for them and it hasn’t even been a week since I brought them home I realize that but his only 10 mos. old and it seems like he should have more energy. I switched his food to Oxbow as I read that was the best and he supplied with fresh hay daily and fresh water. I’ve spent hours researching raising a rabbit and can’t seem to figure out what I am doing wrong. Maybe he is just adjusting? He is such a sweet animal, I want to give him a great life and now give Waverly a great life too but I am a new rabbit mom and have made mistakes. Are there any suggestions for rabbit bonding/ rabbit behavior/ rabbit comforting?

[Bunny House]

Hi there!

I know it can be frustrating having a rabbit act different for no apparent reason. I suggest having all his teeth checked out (they love to grow points, are you seeing a rabbit savvy vet?) and then I would do some blood work, it could be a simple thing that he is low on iron or something and it is making him seem odd.

You can also try teaching him tricks with low sugar fruit ( blueberries) and that might make him get happier.
Has he continued to eat and poop normally? GI stasis will often make a bunny be more reclusive and be in pain.

I hope this helps a bit

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi!

I think there’s two separate things to address here, first your first rabbit’s lethargy, and second the bonding.

Is your vet a rabbit expert? Is the bunny eating hay and pooping normally? When did he become reclusive? Is he neutered?

Bonding: are both rabbits neutered? It sounds a bit like you’re rushing to me. I know you’re following advice from the rescue, but unfortunately sometimes rescues aren’t super knowledgeable about rabbits. I would suggest letting Waverley settle in for a couple of weeks before you start prebonding, then another month until you start bonding. This is because rabbits are often timid in a new space, and will submit to the existing rabbit as it’s new territory for them and they don’t feel confident. However, in a couple of weeks when he feels safe, he might well decide that he doesn’t like being the submissive bunny and start a fight, and suddenly you’ll have two rabbits you thought were friends fighting out of nowhere.

[Author]

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