Bunny’s Sudden Shift in Behavior is Driving me Nuts

[Zhitera]

Greyson has suddenly decided that he will only chew on his litter box and none of his toys, take the grate off of the litter box every 5-10 minuets, pee and poop in front of his potty but not use it, try to eat the litter every single time I put it in there, and dump his food out of the bowl. I’ve tried three different pet foods and purchased a new litter box with a scatter prof lock and he chewed the lock off within hours of me purchasing it. This has been going on for almost a month.

This is hugely irritating and it keeps me up all night since his bunny condo is about 2 feet from my bed. He didn’t used to do any of this. I don’t know what to do. I love him dearly, but he’s really starting to drive me crazy.

Please… help me!

[Wick & Fable]

I’m sorry you’re going through this! Sudden behavior changes can be indicative of multiple things, so can you share some more detail about Greyson?

1) How old is he?
2) Has he been neutered?
3) How long have you had him?
4) Has anything in the environment changed?
5) Is he pooping, peeing, and eating normally?

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[sarahthegemini]

Sometimes behaviour changes can be indicative of a health issue but they can also be due to frustration, boredom and just wanting attention. What do you do when he goes on a bit of a rampage? He might have learned that’s how to get your attention. I really feel for you, I wake up multiple times with my bunnies being in the room next door, let alone just 2ft away from the bed!

[Zhitera]

He’s about 11 months old. I’m going to have him neutered in Jan. I’ve had him since march. I purchased him some new toys but that’s about all I can think of. Yes, he’s pooping just fine and he loves to eat. In fact, he literally just dumped his food all over the place again just now.

It’s so odd. I let him basically run free in my house when I’m home until he starts eating the walls and tearing up my carpet. Then I put him back in his cage for about an hour and let him back out.

[Wick & Fable]

He’s at a good age to be neutered, so this is most likely his hormones getting to him. This is natural and the neuter will help.

In terms of putting him back in his cage, this is an OK tactic if you’re doing it with his health in mind (i.e. you don’t want him eating bad fibers/ingesting something bad). If you’re doing it as a punishment, I would stop that mentality because rabbits do not understand punishment. Rabbits aren’t fore-seeing enough, especially when this is a hormonal driven act. It kind of equates someone punishing a human for burping— you can’t help it, it just happens, so if someone punishes you, there’s really nothing you can change, so it may just make you depressed or frustrated as you wonder why you’re being punished.

For now, let him free roam in areas that he won’t be able to destroy as much, or designate times for free-roam where you’ve prepped the area so it cannot be destroyed as easily (cover carpet with cardboard).

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Luna]

When he started chewing on his litter box, had it been moved from where it was before he started chewing on it? Some buns are particular about where their litter box and other things are in their cage.

[Zhitera]

Oddly enough I didn’t move the litter box. On a side not, I think it’s important to mention that I live in an apartment so I can’t really designate a space for him. I try though. I really do.

[Deleted User]

Hmmm.

To me, it really just sounds like he is bored. The peeing/pooping outside of litter tray likely has something to do with the fact that he isn’t neutered yet, but it could also be another sign of frustration.

I had a mini lop named Quincy, and I kept him free roam in my room. Granted, the room wasn’t huge because it’s an apartment, but it was definitely big enough. He chewed the absolute hell out of the baseboards in that room. and ripped up carpet. On the wood I tried bitter spray, lime wedge (worked temporarily) and hot sauce… but he wouldn’t stop chewing. I have another rabbit who I had first and she got to roam free in the rest of the apartment. I was working on bonding the two so I would switch them every day or two and have her in the room and him in the rest of the apartment. I found that when he was able to roam a larger space, he really didn’t chew up the rest of the house.

So, I think its important for a bunny to have enough space that they don’t get bored, because that’s when they get destructive. They pick up these bad habits cause they have nothing else to do. I know you say that he’s allowed out when you’re home, but maybe he’s still got all this tension and frustration built up that when you let him out he just starts doing as much as he can before he gets put back in a cage? If it’s possible, I would say try and bunny proof your room, work on improving litter habits and try to make him free roam of the room 24/7 if you can.

[Mikey]

I agree with the others. He sounds bored and hormonal.

You mentioned that you live in an apartment so he doesnt get much space. How much space does he get to roam around? How often do you have him out and roaming?

[Zhitera]

I let him out every day. He has free access to my living room, dining room, and my grandmother’s room. That space combined is about 700sqft of the 1100sqft in my apt. He can’t go in my mom’s room because he tries to eat her curtains. He can’t really run around in my room because the last time I let him do that he ate the storage cubes under my bed and chewed some of my cloths up and well as tearing a huge hole in my clothing hamper. I’m trying to talk my mother into letting me buy a second bunny after I get him fixed so he won’t be so lonely. He took very well to my friend’s bunny when she was over to visit.

[Zhitera]

I let him out every day. He has free access to my living room, dining room, and my grandmother’s room. That space combined is about 700sqft of the 1100sqft in my apt. He can’t go in my mom’s room because he tries to eat her curtains. He can’t really run around in my room because the last time I let him do that he ate the storage cubes under my bed and chewed some of my cloths up and well as tearing a huge hole in my clothing hamper. I’m trying to talk my mother into letting me buy a second bunny after I get him fixed so he won’t be so lonely. He took very well to my friend’s bunny when she was over to visit.

[Zhitera]

I let him out every day. He has free access to my living room, dining room, and my grandmother’s room. That space combined is about 700sqft of the 1100sqft in my apt. He can’t go in my mom’s room because he tries to eat her curtains. He can’t really run around in my room because the last time I let him do that he ate the storage cubes under my bed and chewed some of my cloths up and well as tearing a huge hole in my clothing hamper. I’m trying to talk my mother into letting me buy a second bunny after I get him fixed so he won’t be so lonely. He took very well to my friend’s bunny when she was over to visit.

[Zhitera]

I’m not sure how that posted three times or how to delete it. I’m sorry.

[Deleted User]

are you aware of the bonding process? Both of the rabbits will need to be spayed/neutered and you will have to do at least a month of prebonding, meaning they will need separate cages for a few months until they are fully bonded. Then, if they are to share a cage you will need a huge one for the both of them.

Bonding is a long and stressful process, two rabbits cannot just be put together. They can fight to the death so rabbits should never be introduced unless they have been associated already through prebonding.

It’s a bad idea to have play dates with your friends rabbit. They may not fight if they are meeting on neutral territory, but I’m telling you, the second that you witness a bunny fight you will NEVER want to see one again. It is not pleasant to see them turn so aggressive.

Please do consider these things before you opt for a second rabbit. For the safety of both buns you need to be very informed on the bonding process and understand that it takes months of prebonding and separate living until they can live together in harmony. And there is no gaurantee that two rabbits will get along… I recently had a bonding that failed and it’s the worst feeling!

[Mikey]

I wouldnt suggest a second rabbit, personally. It doesnt sound like you have the time, space, or money for a second rabbit. The bonding process is hard and stressful, and isnt promised to work out. If the two hate one another, youre now stuck with two separate single rabbits who cannot go near one another. Although you have great space, it can get very cramped very quickly when two animals are not allowed near one another.

I suggest, instead, that you spend more time with him. Lay on the floor with him and roll around. Hide treats around the room under little baby cups (you can buy baby stacked cups for a few dollars at almost any store that sells baby stuff). Talk to him often. Get willow stick balls to roll around the room (safe to chew). Consider a diggy box (shredded paper in a large box). Consider a fleece forest (DIY cubes with strips of fleece tied to the top hanging down). Add more hidey spots. Make DIY treat balls out of cardboard.

[Zhitera]

Okay thank you very much! I’ll try some of these things and let you know what happens.

[Zhitera]

I was able to combat this by taking his litter out of the pan. We have to change it 2-3 times a day now, but at least I can sleep. Also, I found out I has Asthma, so that was part of what was making the problem so awful.

On a side note, I called the local vet and they quoted me $600-700 to get Greyson neutered. It that really the going price?!

[Rio and Buns]

I guess it might depend on the area and of course the vet but gosh that price is insane. Spays and neuters only cost a little over $100 at mine. If there are any other bunny-savvy vets in your area you should definitely call around for different prices. I personally would never pay that much.

[Zhitera]

I just called the local 24/7 Animal Hospital and they said $125. That is MUCH more doable. I can’t help but be horrified by the drastic difference in prices. Yikes.

[Author]

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