Diggy buns!

[floppybuns]

Hi! So I’m sure there’s already a topic on this, but I’m not able to search for anything. My spayed girl is quite the digging fanatic, however she’s never really done it on me. Recently I started to lay her on my chest in attempt to bond/ cuddle with her (because who could resist those chubby cheeks?) at first she would just rest while I pet her head and would be super calm (and maybe even purr if she got sleepy!) but she’s started picking up the habit of randomly sitting up and digging like crazy at my chest, ouch! She seems to be really scared when she does this as well for some reason. I usually just say “be nice” in a soft tone and she’ll stop…but then 5 seconds later she does it again! If she wants to hop away, I let her. But most times she’ll just dig and once I say “be nice” she lays back down. Anyone know why?! It’s adorable but it hurts, haha!

[kurottabun]

Hmm I don’t really have an explanation for this, but would just like to say that Kurotta tends to “dig” at an area before laying down – whether it’s a piece of fabric thrown on the floor, cardboard box, or even just the plain tiled floor. It’s as if he is preparing the area for himself properly before resting on it. So I’m thinking it could be the same for your bun – maybe she isn’t really feeling the most comfortable due to angle or some other reason, so she digs thinking that she will be able to get rid of whatever’s bothering her?

Edit: Just saw the other topic that you opened. Hmm there’s also a possibility that if she seems scared like you mentioned in this post, then she may not actually like to be cuddled this way. I’m linking this to your other post so I assume it’s the same bunny. Do remember to let the cuddling be on her terms and not yours – it’s better in the long term

[Deleted User]

She’s boxing you, which is a sign that she’s scared. She’s not enjoying that way of cuddling. Bond with her on her level. Go to her, not bring her to you. Most bunnies don’t enjoy being cuddled or on top of a chest. It’s a prey reaction.

[floppybuns]

Will do! I just got really confused by this because as I said, she will purr. There’s a bit of activity that goes on outside my house so I wonder if she hears something that I don’t. She otherwise appears to be very calm and happy, but it’s just recently where she randomly perks up and freaks out. I’ve always just lead to to my chest with some pellets, and when she hops up I just start petting her. Sometimes she stays, sometimes she doesn’t. Thanks for the response, guys I’ll stop doing this just in case I am scaring her.

[sarahthegemini]

Hmm, until you mentioned that she seemed scared I would have thought she was digging to get comfortable. What does she do that makes you think she’s scared?

[floppybuns]

Her eyes seem to get suddenly larger and her breathing becomes fast paced. Strange, no? As soon as I say be nice or reassure her (quietly saying “it’s okay” and gently petting her head), she calms down and lays back in her spot.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By floppybuns on 4/12/2018 8:16 AM

Her eyes seem to get suddenly larger and her breathing becomes fast paced. Strange, no? As soon as I say be nice or reassure her (quietly saying “it’s okay” and gently petting her head), she calms down and lays back in her spot.

Maybe she starts breathing fast because she is digging quite quickly? Don’t know about the larger pupils though!

[Deleted User]

Maybe she gets scared initially just at the start and then she realizes its not a danger.

[floppybuns]

These little animals sure are complicated! They don’t fail to be interesting though, haha. I’ll just stop doing this altogether just in case I am the one somehow scaring her. Thanks again, everyone

[Deleted User]

You know what actually… I think your girl might do what my boy Asriel does. He loves to be on my chest, and sometimes I’ll entice him like you do with pellets. Once the pellets are gone his eyes get wide and he frantically sniffs around my face for a bit. I wonder if she’s getting fussy at you for not giving her more pellets or if they run out.

[floppybuns]

Hah! That’s actually a great theory. She never really hops on me unless I have food so that’s probably it. How funny ?

[Deleted User]

My boys aren’t the dig, box, or nip at people type of buns (thank goodness), but he will honest to goodness stick his snoot in your face and sniff frantically all over. Your eyes, nose, ears, and it tickles. He eventually stops when he realizes the pellet tree ran dry and he’ll just nuzzle in for love.

So now that I think about it, I think it could be very much the same, just a different reaction to the lack of pellets. We know how much all bunnies are little food driven chubber nutters xD

[floppybuns]

That’s adorable, oh my gosh! And yes, they are SO food driven. Don’t even get me started on bananas. If she sees one in my hand she’ll bounce off the walls of her cage

[Deleted User]

Try the Oxbow dried banana coins. She might love them a lot. As soon as the package opens my boys know what it is and have a fit.

I think it’s safe to keep having her up there, especially cause she calms down eventually. Save some pellets and give one to her every few minutes. It might help her reaction.

[floppybuns]

Oxbow is one of my favorite brands so I’ll definitely check those out! I’ll continue to do those little sessions with her too, except with more pellets thanks!!

[Author]

Messages