CHEW CHEW CHEW!!!!

[Morgan Bun]

Morgan was neutered on the 18th of December. He promptly went through several phases, including the “I don’t have to use my litterbox” phase, and the “This nice, pretty carpet in my cage must die” phase, oh, and lets not forget the “I refuse to come out of my cage, but when I do, you’ll have one HECK of a time getting me back in” phase….. that one was at least providing ME some exercise….

But now…. NOW…. he is using the litterbox faithfully, including for poops, which was hit or miss before the neuter. He is still having occasional quarrels with the carpeting in his cage, but not as bad…. he has his days whether or not he’ll cooperate during play time. But the worst, and most current “phase”, seems to be his “OMG, your woodwork is the most delicious thing I’ve ever TASTED” phase.  He’s killin’ me. It’s not just the wood trim, or the door frame, or even the big hole he chewed in the door (I wasn’t watching, my fault, please don’t tell my husband lol) but when he started chewing on METAL shelving, and the bolts on my treadmill legs, and the corner of my plastic trash can, I realized just how NOT bunny proof my room is.   He never was a chewer before. I provided him with lots of chewing appropriate toys, wood blocks, but he didn’t seem to know bunnies chewed on things…..well, he’s figured it out now, and he’s making up for lost time…. he even has a cat house/hidey in his cage that he has completely shredded from the inside out.

I read on here about Fooey, and I’m going to make a special trip to PetCo but it’s not local so I can’t just run out and get some today. Any other suggestions til I can go get something to make my wood and furniture not so delicious? Anything more chewriffic I can get him that maybe he’d prefer over my house? And I know nobody here has a crystal ball, but does this sound like just another phase he’s working through while his hormones work themselves out or what? I miss my old Morgan bunny!

[Elrohwen]

A small spray of perfume or citrus oil (sprayed on a cloth and rubbed on furniture legs, etc) often works. I have a no chew gel that’s basically just lime and the bunnies hate it.

How old is he? I assume he’s still young, so he’ll settle down as he ages. Some bad behavior is hormonal, but some is just the result of having a teenage bun with lots of energy to do naughty things.

[Morgan Bun]

Thanks, I’m going to have to try it.

I don’t know how old he is, he was a dump/stray that I trapped a couple months ago. I’m ok with some acting out, and he’s done his share since his neuter…. but I’ll be very happy to see the chewing under control. 😀

[Kai Loves Olive]

I know I rubbed a bar of ivory soap on all my base boards/ cupboard edges/anything he could reach/ and used some perfume on my woven basket that is NOT bunny safe, and Olive stopped gnawing all my baseboards down
If you already have soap or perfume it could be worth a try, I heard some bunnies love the taste of those bitter sprays =P silly rabbits

[Morgan Bun]

I had a pup years ago that also liked the taste of the bitter apple spray. Go figure. I’m going to try some of these things and see if it will stop him from chewing. I got him some more very large chewing boards, hoping they more closely resemble the wood trim he so enjoys. He’s been chewin’ the heck out of it today.

I had one email of interest in him yesterday…. A huge part of me is REALLY hoping they’re not a good fit for him, or that there is some huge red flag on their application. 😉

[Elrohwen]

You can’t keep him yourself?

[Morgan Bun]

He’s not my rabbit, he’s the result of a humane call I went on, trapped him, fostering him, etc. for the local Humane Society. If I wanted to adopt him myself, I could definitely do that. But no, I haven’t committed to him, he’s currently up for adoption, and I’m not sure I want to stand in the way of him getting a good home, if one becomes available for him. 🙂 Morgan is a big weight on my mind…. half of me wants to keep him. The other half thinks I have enough animals.

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