Fur Pulling

[Muj Mom N Bun]

Hi all, I’ve been sort of avoiding asking about this partly out of feeling shy to admit that BunBun is not yet spayed. I guess I can admit that I wanted to avoid a partial firestorm of messages telling me the already known fact that I need to get her spayed… so, firstly, I’m working on it. Now, several months ago, about when Bun turned 1 year old, she went into full on nesting mode. A pseudo pregnancy. That was when I first saw her pulling her fur from her tummy and her dewlap. Since then, I have seen her pull her fur from time to time, stuffing her mouth with it. What is different about these times from when she was having a pseudo pregnancy is that she isn’t doing any of the other activities that come with nesting, such as stashing every thing I her sight in her mouth and building a nest. All of these other times, she is just periodically pulling her fur.

I have tried to do research but the only answer that really gets reinforced is that she is Nesting, but I’ve seen her Nesting and this is completely different. She isn’t scratching furiously all of the time, so I feel like it really isn’t mites, fleas, or other skin maladies. The only other thing I can think of is if she is doing this because she is bored or anxious. I have only read 1 article saying that fur pulling can be due to anxious or bored bunnies, so I don’t have any kind of reinforcement to back up this theory.

BunBun doesn’t do her fur plucking all the time, just from time to time. She also doesn’t always pull out the same quantities… she does pull from the same spot though. Either her dewlap or her under belly by the junction of her legs. She shows no sign of pain in doing so. I know that this does not cause female rabbits pain but I get very worried and sad to see my girl pulling out her hair. I also get worried that she may ingest a big wad of it! I’ve been pretty shocked with how much I’ve gotten from her mouth a few times!

Does anyone have any ideas as to why she is doing this? Any experience with your own buns doing this?

Again, I know that she still needs to be spayed. I know. I am working on it, but it is very sad that the national average for the cost of a spay for a rabbit is 3times less than what is charged in my locale. And I’m not even talking about nearby areas! I’m a single mom on disability so it is going to take time. Plus, I would like to wait for the spring and summer to pass, since I don’t want her having open wounds during seasons when bugs are out and about.

[DanaNM]

The only thing I can really think of is the one you already know… so I would just keep saving up for her spay. I can imagine as she gets older and goes through hormonal fluctuations that the exact behavior would change.

You might try giving her a digging box and some mats to shred so she can get some of that energy out. My girl loves to chew cardboard cat scratchers.

. . . 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.  

[Muj Mom N Bun]

Yes, thank you for the reply. She has cardboard boxes and toys and I’m home most of the time so she gets plenty of attention from me as well. It’s very unusual because only that one first time did she show all signs of real Nesting Bunny behavior. From then on, it’s just been the occasional fur pulling… and after she pulls that time, she doesn’t continue to do more pulling at all. So she doesn’t even collect fur for days… she also doesn’t collect her hay and gather all sorts of materials to stuff into making a nest. I’m actually very glad that she doesn’t do those behaviors because by the third day of them (which is typically abt the last day) I was beginning to worry that she wasn’t eating enough because she was too bent on stashing it all! So glad she hasn’t done that since.

[Muj Mom N Bun]

There are cardboard cat scratchers?

[DanaNM]

I’m wondering if that first really nesting was maybe when she hit puberty? And now she’s more mature so it’s just an occasional pull now and then?

Sometimes rotating toys and rearranging things can help buns stay interested and curious in their toys.

The cat scratchers I’m thinking of are similar to this:
https://www.amazon.com/SmartyKat-Super-Scratcher-Corrugated-Catnip/dp/B00062B84O/ref=br_lf_m_zvn8x9p2emj57zo_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&s=pet-supplies

I just remove them from the glossy cardboard box and the buns love chewing on them. Sometimes I’ll even hide pellets in the little holes, then they really go nuts.

. . . 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.  

[Gordo and Janice]

@DanaNM – “I just remove them from the glossy cardboard box and the buns love chewing on them. Sometimes I’ll even hide pellets in the little holes, then they really go nuts.”……

Genius! Wish we would have thought of that. Icey would only use it as a litter box. But I bet pellet treats in the holes and taken out of the glossy cardboard would have given us the desired result as well.

[DanaNM]

Posted By Gordo and Janice on 5/08/2018 1:09 PM

@DanaNM – “I just remove them from the glossy cardboard box and the buns love chewing on them. Sometimes I’ll even hide pellets in the little holes, then they really go nuts.”……

Genius! Wish we would have thought of that. Icey would only use it as a litter box. But I bet pellet treats in the holes and taken out of the glossy cardboard would have given us the desired result as well.

Oh Icey, so sassy! I do remember one of my buns peeing on them once in a while, but I think it was during bonding, when they just peed on everything. 

. . . 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.  

[Muj Mom N Bun]

I am so going to do this! It’s been so hard keeping her interest… pellets always keep her interest!!!! Lol! At least until her dish is empty! And I have been trying to encourage a little more foraging behavior from her (aka exercise!) she loves doing her zoomies but a little more mental stimulation is always a good thing!

[Muj Mom N Bun]

I do also agree that that first full blown nesting was when she really hit that “ I’m now a mature bunny” dial although she was what I wld guesstimate 1 year old. A little late but she also wasn’t given a proper start for the first 9 months of her life so I’m guessing everything for her cldve been a little delayed.

[Muj Mom N Bun]

And… back to these cat scratchers… can they be found without the catnip? Or do you just shake em out when you take them apart?

[DanaNM]

Usually the catnip comes in a separate little packet, so you just don’t add it 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.  

[Author]

Messages