Everything seems fine but strange habit developed over the last week

[Yossah]

I’ll try to keep it short and sweet, if you would like more details of the history of this rabbit, just ask and I will be glad to tell.

 

I found this rabbit in my driveway about 2 years ago and no one claimed him so I decided to give him a loving home.

I’m guessing he just a little over 2 years old because he grew maybe 50% in size in a few months after obtaining him and has not grew since that I can tell. I believe he is a mini lop eared, maybe 2lbs, ears always down unless alert and is about 95% white other than a brown hue to his hind quarters. I am actually not even sure of the gender, I just refer to him as a male because “Dude” has become his name over time, but I think is either a female or has been neutered because he has never humped anything or been sexually aggressive.

 

Anyways, just over the past few days “Dude” has started to chill out under my computer chair a lot and he will begin to vigorously sniff my legs then after a while he will stand on his hind legs and place his front ones on my legs, and they begin to scratch me. He doesn’t seem to be digging or acting aggressively/intentionally trying to scratch, but its rather unpleasant when he inadvertently scratches my legs. I’ve read a lot about this this morning but have not read anything similar.

The only thing I can think of is that he is a little startled because there have been a lot of fireworks going off recently and he doesn’t like them, but he doesn’t seem frightened or anything. I brought him onto my lap while he was doing this earlier and was just very nervous the whole time from being picked up, which he doesn’t like.

 

Other than that he is very happy all the time from what I can tell. Any insight on this is very much appreciated. Thank you!

[Bam]

Could he be wanting sth, like a treat or pets? My Yohio scratches at my feet and legs when I sit at my desk, so I rarely put my feet on the floor when I sit there =) Yohio likes to lounge under the desk but if I put my feet down, he tries to get under them to be pet or he demands treats by scratching me. It’s not particularly enjoyable.

That a bunny doesn’t hump is not a sign of the bunny being a girl. Girl bunnies hump too =) Can you see any kind of testicular sacks on him? (They can suck them in, so they are not always on display).

If she is a girl you should look into having her spayed, unspayed does have a high risk of getting cancer of the reproductive organs (like 80%).

[Eepster]

Sound like he wants your attention.

About the gender. You can take him to an exotics vet for a well bunny check up and they can tell you if he is indeed a neutered male or something else.

[Bam]

You could try sexing him/her using this guide: http://www.rabbitnetwork.org/articles/sexing.shtml The reproductive organs don’t look exactly the same in boys and girls even when the testes are gone.

You would need another person to hold the bunny in his lap, supporting the bunny’s back properly while you do the examination.

[Eepster]

Forgot to mention. If he is actually in the 2lb range, he is probably a holland lop, not a mini lop. Contrary to what the name suggest, hollands are smaller than minis.

[Caroline]

Both of my buns have done that too! My first, an awesome lop ear/mini rex mix who i really miss would do it on my clothes, and my bunny baby who i love with now loves to do it to my hair when i am in bed.
My theories are:
Trying to groom you, especially if your bunny is a kisser. Kissing is usually bunny grooming you, and light digging may be an extension of this, because he thinks you have crazy fur that needs it.
Trying to build a nest or burrow in your clothes
Trying to get your attention. My bun digs in my hair especially when she wants me to wake up!
Or maybe playing.
P.s. my first bunny baby came to me when an acquaintance bought him and decided she could not take care of him shortly after. We bonded very closely, and i never had him neutered. He almost never displayed sexual agressive attitudes (until he met a female cat!)

[Caroline]

Also, i think its awesome that you took him in like that and gave him a good home!

[Yossah]

Thank you all very much for the information. I’ll look into getting him a check up soon. I think he is just wanting some attention, I’ll give him a quick pet when he does this and then he goes about his business for a while. Was just a little concerned is all =b once again thanks a bunch!

[Samara87]

My bun is just about a year old, and unfixed, and he doesnt do ANY of the normal behaviors of adult, unfixed males. Except the occasional foot humping episode. So, there’s definitely a chance its an unfixed boy.

[Author]

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