Bunny prefers his cage now?

[Febreezle]

Okay, I’d like to start off I hope I posted this in the appropriate forum, sorry if I did not.

So first a little about our beloved family pet. He is a 3yr old unaltered mini lop buck. We adopted him in March of this year from a couple who had just moved into a house that was going to need remodeling and they felt that he would not get the proper attention he deserved. They had bought him when he was about 2 1/2 months old. So after bringing him home it took him only a day to get used to his new surroundings and family. He especially took to our (at the time 13 month old, now 20 month old daughter). He followed her EVERYWHERE, laid next to her or close by when she would settle down to play, if she would get up on the furniture he was quick to hop up as well. Just generally hovered over her. Which of course I thought was due to him being unaltered and feeling frisky, but he has never ever tried any funny business with her or anyone and has only ever accosted stuffed animals or throw pillows. But I digress. My point is, he was very, VERY nosey and always wanted to know what everyone was doing. 

 Anyways when we first brought him home and up until 2 weeks ago his cage was in the kitchen. But with the colder weather, the kitchen can get drafty so we brought him in the living room. Plus before when we would open his cage for him he would always make his way into the living room to hang out with everyone. So since I have brought his cage into the living room he seems to prefer to stay in it. He’ll hop out, check things out and then hop back in. He’s not at all cage aggressive. I can put my hand in there no problem and he will hop up to check it out to see if I brought treats or something and will nudge for scratches. In fact there has been two instances where my daughter has climbed into the cage and he seems to enjoy her company and will flop against her and nap. I don’t allow her to go in of course for many reasons, but she’s a smart kid and every now and then she manages to finagle the door open. (she is a surprisingly super gentle toddler and has NEVER hurt him or any other animal). He will thump his foot in the morning while at his cage door to what it seems remind me to open the cage door, but will then promptly flop belly up and snooze. 

I guess I just would like to know if anyone else has heard or witnessed a bunny that seemed to just decide he’d rather be in his cage. Did I do something wrong by moving him into the family room? Should I put his cage back as to try and coax him into coming out of his cage again? He seems very happy and content still. I did bring him to the vet last week for a checkup and all was well, no injuries or sickness. So what gives? Thank you in advance to anyone who even read my lengthy post!

[RabbitPam]

Hi, Febreezle. You’re in the right forum.
I can relate to your situation, and being mystified by it. First, I want to say that he is perfectly fine and is fine staying in the living room. He clearly prefers it, and now that you have him there he is very happy. I wouldn’t worry, especially since you did the right thing and had him checked by your vet. (btw, I encourage you to have him neutered for the sake of his health down the road. I digress.)

My last bunny, Sammykins, lived in my apt. for several years in an xpen with run of the apt. while I was at home with her.  She always would go in and out of her pen when I let her out as long as the door was open, and often she settled in there without being coaxed back. She hated walking on tile also.

When she was almost 6 we moved into my parents’ house, and she had her xpen on an area rug on tile in the family room.

Once she was in my folks’ home, she stayed in her xpen. I would leave the door open, lay down a little area rug, but she didn’t want to come out. I carried her out to a bigger rug for exercise, but she got so definite about not leaving her xpen that I stopped closing the door entirely. She simply never came out. Now I know it was not good for her exercise health, but it was helpful for keeping her away from my Dad’s wheelchair, and she was clearly happy to have everyone in the room with her. She always hated being picked up anyway.
So, yes, I have heard of this.
The best explanation I can give is that: we see it as a cage, but they see it as their safe home. They are not trapped in a cage as much as they are comfortable in their private space. You are a guest when he lets you in, and like any welcome guest, you (your daughter) can join him for some pets and nap time. He knows that you understand it’s his territory, but none of us object to someone putting food in front of us or cleaning up after us, do we? Well, bunny slave, he has trained you well, and it’s a happy set up just the way he likes it.

[Febreezle]

RabbitPam

Thank you so much for your response. We had been saving up to have him neutered (was more costly than I had anticipated) unfortunately our current housing situation kind of blew up in our faces out of nowhere and we had to use all our resources to pay move in fees for a new place. Which broke our bank. So we are back at square one with our finances at the moment :/. But we still fully intend on having him neutered and if all goes well we should be able to have enough saved in no time.

He does seem very happy and I did think that maybe because he is now around everyone that he would leave his cage to find that he just didn’t see the point in leaving his home. Regardless as long as we are home I leave the door open for him to come and go as he pleases. I only shut him in there while we are gone (which is rare since I am able to work from home) for his own safety.

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