Bonding Lupe and Buffy

[Sasha]

Hi guys, my female rabbit Lupe has been a solo bunny for 2 years.  A week ago a friend of mine gave up her female holland lop Buffy to me. Buffy is a lot younger than Lupe, but all of them are fixed. Lupe is living in a room which used to be shared with my foster cats but now the room is all to herself. The first  bonding went well in the bathroom, there is no scuffles or agression.  Nowadays the bonding session is in the blocked hallway just out side Lupe’s room. So far they eat together, sleep a few  feet away from each other and Buffy grooms Lupe. Lupe most of the time just ignore Buffy but sometimes sniffs her, and chins her. I don’t know if chinning is a good sign or not. Just yesterday I tried the bonding sessions in Lupe’s room but Lupe suddenly acted aggressively. She chased Buffy when she was running pass her and tried to lunge into Buffy. I broke the fight and let them together again in the blocked hallway. Lupe acted out like nothing happened and ignored Buffy when she was running around her. So I am wondering what is next step I should do. Please please give me your opinions.

[jerseygirl]

Hi Sasha

That you had the 2 girls together without much fuss is very promising. Continue to do bonding sessions in the hallway and places that are neutral. It seems the fireworks happen when Lupe feels her territory is being invaded which is typical of Does. So keep up sessions and extend the time they are together. The more they do normal activities together the better. You will then want to move onto them being together 24/7 also in a neutral space to really tighten the bond. Only then would I allow them into Lupes room (well what she thinks is her room). You will probably have to do an overhaul of the space to make it seem new to both of them.

That’s cute that she chinned Buffy. Chinning is marking out zones & staking claims on things. Maybe she thinks of Buffy as an object. lol Well, that’s better than an adversary.

Slightly off topic, I’m interested how Lupe was towards your foster cats? Was she a resident before you had them? How did she act around them (ie were they play mates, she ignored them, was maternal….etc)?

[Sasha]

thanks jerseygirl for the response. I sure will extend their bonding sessions together in the hallway. When they are ready to move in together, that means I should try to remove the scent in the room by rubbing vinegar? The flooring is made of laminated wood, I hope vinegar still do the trick.

I live together with some housemates, they fostered few kittens and older cats before, but Lupe is the first pet in the apartment. Lupe most of the time would just hang out with the cats and slept together, but didn’t snuggle though. But a few times she tried to mount the younger cats. And some kittens can be curious with Lupe’s fluffy tail. But no fighting, biting or clawing ever happened. Elderly cats tends to avoid messing with Lupe but they just hang out together. However, my housemates stop taking in foster cats since a half year ago after all found new homes. So I figured out its time to add a rabbit in the house. If only rabbit bonding is an easy breezy type of deal…lol

[Sasha]

yesterday setup a play pen inside Lupe’s room, everything is just fine. but im wondering when is it acceptable for Buffy to live together with Lupe in the room without the pen setup. so far in the small setup they are okay.

[Sasha]

so today i changed the rabbits setup put Buffy’s pen in a corner where Lupe’s favorit spot is. This area was where Lupe started chasing Buffy when she got near to it. So after cleaning most of the scent of the space, I let them both in the pen, force them to snuggle. Lupe started grooming Buffy but I think she might have nipped or groomed too hard it made Buffy jumped and got away a from Lupe. I don’t know if this is an accident or agression. I pet Lupe let them hang out a bit and ended the session there. Any suggestion guys?

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