First Time Rabbit and Humping

[judyhopps]

Hi everyone,

I am a first time rabbit owner. Last Sunday, I adopted a two year old rabbit. She isn’t spayed yet. She has a large cage that she stays in during the day while my boyfriend and I are at work. When we are home we let her roam around the kitchen and dining room. It’s pretty large and it was the only areas of our house that we could bunny-proof so far. She has toys, a salt lick, Timothy hay, good quality pellet food, and fresh veggies every feeding time. I wanted to make sure she has everything she needs.

The past three days, she has been coming up to us for pets for a little while before hopping off. She even let me brush her. Last night, she licked my boyfriends leg. He works at a pizza place, so I’m not sure if it was because he smelt like pizza or if she likes him. She hadn’t been coming up to him for long just last night, usually she comes up to me. Usually, she doesn’t come up to him and if she does, she dodges his pets. Well, when he left the room and I was laying on the floor with her, she hopped on my leg. Then she started humping me after sinking her teeth into me and making me bleed a little. I had to pull her off twice.

This morning, I let her out of her cage and hung out with her. My boyfriend soon joined us after. As soon as my boyfriend got up to make coffee, she got on to my leg and tried again. I slapped my hands and yelled No, but it didn’t faze her or anything. She tried until I stood up. Then, she tried again. So I screamed because I read somewhere that bunnies don’t like that, also because I was afraid of my 4lb rabbit. ?

Any advice on correcting that behavior until she gets spayed? Is she trying to assert dominance? Do rabbits hormones get triggered when human females menstruate?

[Deleted User]

Don’t scream because you could really scare her. If it’s that troublesome, a high pitched yelp will do. This is all hormonal behavior, so honestly you’ll have to wait until up to a month and a half after her spay for the hormonal behavior to die down. In the meantime you can get her a stuffie. It might help with the humping.

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By judyhopps on 9/24/2017 11:51 AM

Hi everyone,

I am a first time rabbit owner. Last Sunday, I adopted a two year old rabbit. She isn’t spayed yet. She has a large cage that she stays in during the day while my boyfriend and I are at work. When we are home we let her roam around the kitchen and dining room. It’s pretty large and it was the only areas of our house that we could bunny-proof so far. She has toys, a salt lick, Timothy hay, good quality pellet food, and fresh veggies every feeding time. I wanted to make sure she has everything she needs.

The past three days, she has been coming up to us for pets for a little while before hopping off. She even let me brush her. Last night, she licked my boyfriends leg. He works at a pizza place, so I’m not sure if it was because he smelt like pizza or if she likes him. She hadn’t been coming up to him for long just last night, usually she comes up to me. Usually, she doesn’t come up to him and if she does, she dodges his pets. Well, when he left the room and I was laying on the floor with her, she hopped on my leg. Then she started humping me after sinking her teeth into me and making me bleed a little. I had to pull her off twice.

This morning, I let her out of her cage and hung out with her. My boyfriend soon joined us after. As soon as my boyfriend got up to make coffee, she got on to my leg and tried again. I slapped my hands and yelled No, but it didn’t faze her or anything. She tried until I stood up. Then, she tried again. So I screamed because I read somewhere that bunnies don’t like that, also because I was afraid of my 4lb rabbit. ?

Any advice on correcting that behavior until she gets spayed? Is she trying to assert dominance? Do rabbits hormones get triggered when human females menstruate?

She’s an unspayed rabbit exhibiting hormonal behaviour. She isn’t asserting dominance, she wants to mate. Get her spayed ASAP.

Also, don’t scream. You can do a high pitched squeal but do not scream. That likely will just terrify her. Oh and she doesn’t need a salt lick

[Mikey]

Agreeing, dont scream. You dont want to terrify her. If getting up and leaving causes her to stop, thats what youll have to do. Every time she goes to hump you, just stand up and leave for a few minutes.

Shes not trying to dominate you. Rabbits dont see humans as other rabbits, and thus there is no dom/sub totem like in rabbit x rabbit bonds. Shes humping you because she wants to breed with you

[Wick & Fable]

Agreed with the stand up and leave. Wick sprayed exclusively me when he hit that phase. Once I sensed it coming, I’d just walk away from him until he got distracted by something else.

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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