Bonding or hormones

[Dobbythesocklessbun]

So, Marley, a 9-12 month old female mini rex has joined our household. She was rescued from a “I want a cute little bunny” home where she rarely,if ever, left her cage. She was fed pellets and Timothy hay with very few veggies offered. She is scheduled for her spay in 2 weeks. She’s currently being treated with antibiotics due to an odor that the vet said could be caused by a UTI which is a result from sitting in a cage in her waste continuously. Poor thing  never had her nails trimmed and were so long that her feet were overcompensating. We trimmed 1/4 inch total. it was so sad.

Dobby, however, has been spayed, litterbox trained and is queen of the castle and I’m thinking, spoiled rotten. She has a bunny room and also is out in the living area during the afternoon for about 5-6 hours.The only issue I have had with her is  digging and chewing. After her spay she has focused on her phone books and dig boxes and Jax’s old baby chew toys.

Now, to get both of then loose in the same area, Marley is after Dobby to the point where I swear she’s a he(vet confirmed female). They will eventually go to their own spots and just flop and either go to sleep or watch each others moves. They will sniff each other and lick each others face.  They both will have binky competitions and work hard to be the first for treats and pets. They are marking like crazy! When I let one out into the real world and leave the other in their room, I walk into little piles of poops and even sprays of pee in various places in their room including on the bed. I have sprayed repellent in hopes they will use their litterbox more. When Marley is in their room by herself, she’s fine. I close Dobby’s cage and she will go nowhere near it. However, when Doby first hops back into the room, she goes right into Marley’s cage.

Will Marley’s spay help? How can I stop all the poops and pee with all this marking? Is it really marking? Dobby,after all, still uses  her litterbox and Marley’s coming along with it as well. Ideas???

[tophdade]

Short and sweet answer: spay will likely eliminate the marking after their hormones have a few weeks to settle. Bonding should be easier then. Best of luck.

[Author]

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