Destructive Rabbit Destroying Rental

[RavenSun]

Hey there! I’m currently the proud momma of a one and a half year old, female Holland Lop rabbit and I love her to pieces. Ever since taking her about a year ago at the age of 6 months, though, she’s been exhibiting obsessive/destructive behavior and is subsequently destroying the rental home that we live in. 

We originally came about getting our rabbit, because my boyfriend’s mom (who at the time owned 3 rabbits, and has been a rabbit owner for 30 years) adopted a female rabbit and it became pregnant after it was accidentally giving free time in the house at the same time as a male pet rabbit due to misinformation. The result was a litter of very well loved and adorable baby bunnies- since I’m a huge animal lover and my boyfriend grew up having rabbits, we decided that after living together for several years, a bunny would be the perfect pet for us while he attends college. 

From day one I’ve done my absolute best to give Ottie everything that she needs to be happy and healthy. She has a large xpen home in our living room with a litter box, a hide, and a large variety of toys. She has constant access to fresh water and hay, and I give her plain pellets along with varied fresh vegetables every day, along with the occasional treat. She’s in excellent health. 

However, since bringing her home, we’ve had almost incessant problems with her behavior that I’m at my wit’s end over. Ottie is a very friendly bunny, and I’ve had no problems whatsoever with nipping or aggression. When I interact with her inside of her xpen or within a small contained area, she enjoys head rubs and petting, gently sniffs my hand, and will even climb up on my lap. But when she’s released from her pen- she immediately goes CRAZY and will start running all over the place and obsessively digging and destroying our flooring. Our entire single-wide trailer, that we rent, is carpeted aside from our small kitchen. There are bare spots all over the living room from Ottie aggressively digging up the carpet when she’s released, even with close supervision. It’s gotten to the point where I’m terrified to let her out, because anytime I do she instantly runs off to find something she can destroy. I’ve tried to provide with her with toys that she can chew, destroy, and rip up and rewarding her for paying attention to those, but nothing seems to help. 

Lately she’s taken to trying to escape her xpen enclosure anytime she’s in there, especially overnight when my bf and I are asleep. She’ll dig the floor, chew aggressively at the bars, and push at the walls to try to escape excessively until she’s scolded. My fear is that after being kept for the first 6 months of her life in an enclosure with her mother and siblings, she’s used to being kept with a colony of rabbits and is lonesome for another rabbit. No matter how much free time I give her, she just seems bored. With the experience I’ve had keeping one rabbit though, I’m terrified to get a second rabbit, especially at the risk of her not bonding with it. Living in a rental with this rabbit has been an absolute nightmare, and I get more frustrated every single day, which breaks my heart. I’m looking forward to the day when my bf finishes college so that we can move into a rental without carpet or look into purchasing our own home, but at this rate I’m not sure I can survive that long. 

If anyone has been in a similar situation and has any advice, I’d be grateful for it- I’m committed to this bunny, and would like to do anything I can to make her a good fit for my home. 

[joea64]

First of all: Has Ottie been spayed? Unspayed/unneutered rabbits can be very prone to behavioral problems of the sort you describe.

[pinknfwuffy]

I agree with Joea64 – if your rabbit isn’t spayed, that should be first priority. Not only with it protect her from reproductive disease but the hormones in her system could be causing territorial/nesting urges, which can include digging, etc.

If she is already fixed, great. Now it’s a matter of assessing why she’s acting this way and what can be done to stop it. You’re right, it is possible that she is having trouble being an only bun. Some rabbits do better as singletons than others. If you are not in the market for another rabbit (understandably, for your sanity) then she may need more stimulation. Some other members give their rabbits stuffed animals to see if they want a little friend to groom and take care of.

I have a single rabbit and clicker training has been as great way for us to bond and for me to keep his brain occupied – i.e. away from eating all the baseboards. There are plenty of resources online about how to get started.

You mention lots of toys and an xpen, but definitely try mixing up the toys and the items in her pen space. Every time it is in a different setup is a new opportunity for her to explore and not get too used to the way things are. As a digger, you may want to make her a few diggy boxes. Cardboard box filled with torn up paper or the kind of crinkly strips used for filling gift baskets. Cater her toys and activities to the habits she has so, if she is going to dig, it will be in those areas (and hopefully not your rug).

Because you’re in a rental it may also be worth getting a few cheap throw rugs to put in the areas she is ruining. It is hard to get them to stop but at least she won’t be ruining your deposit any further.

[DanaNM]

good advice so far!

How big is her space? Does she have run of the trailer when you’re home? Honestly even that might be a bit small for her.. Is she able to run at full speed in the space?

In terms of destructo-bunnies, you have to take two approaches: blocking the trouble areas and providing alternatives. My girl is a digger, and what works for me is large ceramic tiles to cover the problem spots on the carpet, plus cardboard cat scratchers for her to destroy instead. She also loves shredding phone books. Try to provide toys that exercise that digging instinct. A cardboard box stuffed with paper is also good. An old towel can also be good. Things that allow her to “tunnel” might also help.

Bertha (my girl), also got wayyyyy more obsessed with digging when her bonded mate passed away (it was quite heartbreaking for all of us, and I think this was how she was grieving), and now that she is rebonded, she has gotten much better and barely digs at all. Not to say that bonding her is the answer (as then you might just have two destructo-bunnies on your hands), but that your instinct that she is bored and frustrated is probably spot on.

. . . 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.  

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