Bunny still not eating a lot of hay, but eating everything else, cleared by vet

[Raelinn & Gus]

Maintenance and Housing
Is your bunny housed indoors or outdoors?: Indoors.
Does your bunny live with other bunnies?: No.
If yes, are they bonded?
If you rabbit spends time outside, are wild rabbits around?: Never goes outside.
How much exercise does your bunny get per day?: Freeroam.
How often do you clean the litter box?: Twice a week.
How often do you groom your bunny?: Near daily.

Spay/Neuter
Is your bunny spayed/neutered?: Neutered.
If so, for how long?: 4ish years.
If not, why not?
Are you aware of reproductive cancer risk in females? If not, please read about it here.

Pooping and Diet – Very Important
What does your bunny eat normally: Pellets, spring mix, and orchard grass hay.
How much hay and what type?: Unlimited orchard grass.
How much pellets and what type?: 1/4 cup, Science Selective Adult Rabbit.
How much veggies and what types?: Organic spring mix, about 1-2 cups.
How many treats and what types?: Rarely give treats.
Anything else not listed?
When was the last time your bunny ate? (If > 12 hours ago this is an emergency, contact a vet ASAP): Around an hour ago.
What was the last thing your bunny ate?: Pellets then hay.
When was the last time your bunny pooped? (If > 12 hours ago this is an emergency, contact a vet ASAP): Unsure, but definitely recently/pooping regularly.
How did your bunny’s most recent poops look (round and firm, misshapen, small and hard, soft/mushy, runny, etc.) ?: Firm round cocoa puffs.

Illness & Symptoms
How long have you had this bunny?: 5 years.
In a few words, can you explain the symptoms?: He is eating significantly less hay than about three months ago, but is still eating his breakfast, and is still eating hay just less.
How long ago did you first notice these symptoms?: About three months ago.
Have you consulted a vet?: Yes, sort of. I forgot to bring the hay situation up, but he was given a thorough exam and given a clean bill of health.
Have you started any treatment for the symptoms?: I have tried different hay types, and he seems to enjoy meadow more as he started eating more.
Was your bunny physically ill or injured when you got them?: No.
How has its behavior and appearance changed, if at all?: No.

Explain your situation in detail. (Please explain what is going on, include details from the beginning of the illness leading up to now)

About three-ish months ago, I noticed Gus was eating less hay. I didn’t think much of it, as he has always gone through phases like that, but this one is lasting way longer.

First I consulted this forum, as I was feeding extra pellets to make up for the loss of hay, and was advised to not as he may be preferring it and not eating due to it being available. So I went back down to his recommended portion, which did seem to help a bit.

Then, I took him to a vet, who said he was in perfect condition and a very beautiful boy!

Lastly, I switched his hay. I tried 3 different types, and he liked the organic meadow from Oxbow (the most expensive, of course). He seemed to be eating hay almost as frequently as he did prior.

Recently I had to move his litterbox, because I noticed he was hanging out in the cat litter boxes and eating his hay sideways. Ever since moving it, he reverted. I am going to move it back as I feel that is clearly the answer here, but – is it safe for him to be on cat litter like that? He is now almost refusing to go in his box, exclusively the cat box. Should I put the boxes up where he cannot reach, or just let him do his thing and put cat litter in his box?

- Raelinn the Human 🫡 - Gustavo the Bunny 🐰

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