Changes for Rabbit-1st time poster

[Robyn M.]

Hi all !

Our rabbit is named ‘Henry (after Henry Hudson the explorer)/Bun-bun/Bunners’ .

This is my first post.  The search is unavailable, so excuse the repeat if so.  Our rabbit is almost 7 months old and I’m about to get him neutered in the next couple weeks due to his aggressiveness and territorial manners.

He is indoor/outdoor.  He started peeing all over specific area of bathroom (where we keep litterbox and him to sleep indoors) but never did this before.  I researched possibilities he could be doing this so suddenly, and came to the conclusion that  he has grown too big for his indoor litter box.  I just switched out the box for the bigger one, but in doing so, I had to get rid of his soft carrier ( which we used for his bed and litter container from 2-6 months).  

In doing so, I can tell he was ‘sour’ about it!  However, he hasn’t peed outside his box, and this is the 2nd day so far…Pooping still outside 20-30 balls overnight, but I figure that is a given due to ‘marking’. (but hoping he won’t do this as much after neutered?!)

Now that the carrier is obsolete, all his ‘stuff’ is out in the open. Food, water bowls, litter box, temporary bed mat (from carrier, and yes, all of this stuff fit inside his soft carrier, but was left open for him to run about).  I plan on getting him a new bed soon,but I notice that he sits away from his ‘area’ now.  

From reading that Rabbits despise change, I’m afraid of which indoor bed to buy him and he won’t like it!  Open bed (which he has in his outdoor area), tent-style bed (worried about him having to go OUTSIDE of his ‘house’ to use litter box. and will just pee in his bed?) or matte style?   AND should I face bed and litter box opening toward each other to mimic his carrier arrangement??!

I know this may sound so minor, but it’s all so stressful, and Henry isn’t one to hide his disapproval!!!  

[Rain]

A month after the neuter, the rabbit will be at his highest point of horrible. Then, he will cool down and get better and then finally be a lovable, non hormonal pet who will most likely go back to good litter habits. For the accidents, I suggest getting a dog pen and attaching it to his cage, and keeping him in there until he is finally litter trained again. I stretch it out as big as possible for mine. It should be at least twelve sq ft if you can fit it in your house. I also give my bun one hour of free roam a day so that he isn’t feeling TOO trapped. I’m in the same situation with the hormonal bun and all.
I would agree on arranging his bed and litter box the same way it was in his carrier since it is less of a change.Maybe it’s best to get an open bed since he already has one and it won’t be as big a change? Rabbits don’t like change, but these aren’t big ones, and usually they like new beds and toys to sniff out. Buuuuut, with my bun, he chins every new bed he gets, and then poops on it repeatedly for a day even after I clean it, until he’s convinced that no one’s going to take it from him. He’s extremely territorial. Yours may be like that too.

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