How do I stop territorial pooping?

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 4sd replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 6 months ago by Stickerbunny.

Viewing 4 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 09/27/2013 at 4:53 PM
  smbtuckma
  Participant
  7 posts
  Hi everyone,
  
  I posted last week about litter training troubles, and after more research it seems that my Marie's pooping is a territorial gesture. It's mostly scattered poops that are everywhere in the area she has access to, and a LOT of it. I tried all the options suggested in the last thread (different litter, treats in box, bare cage floor with only litter box in it with litter), but they didn't change anything. She's spayed, 2 years old, and an only bun, so none of the solutions to territory pooping I've found so far apply to us. She's also been with me a month now, which seems like enough time to get to know her new space well enough, yet there has been no decrease in territorial markings since the day I brought her home.
  
  What's my next option for trying to reduce this behavior? If it were just a few pellets I wouldn't mind too much, but there are so many that it's stressful to clean up so much and I so I have to keep her permanently in an X-pen, which I can tell she doesn't like.
- 09/27/2013 at 5:37 PM
  CheriB603
  Participant
  422 posts
  I have no answers, but wanted to wish you luck!
- 09/27/2013 at 5:41 PM
  LBJ10
  Moderator
  17237 posts
  Okay, she is 2 years old and spayed. You have only had her for a month though, so there is no way to know if this is “new” behavior. Normally there would be a concern if it was a sudden change that did not correspond with anything. Since she is in a new home though, then that would be something the behavior would correspond with leading to the conclusion that this is territorial.
  
  Hmm, this isn’t getting us anywhere. Okay, so if it is indeed territorial, then perhaps she just needs some more time. The recommendation is usually to confine the bun to a smaller area and gradually expand out.
  
  Have you taken her to the vet yet? It wouldn’t be a bad idea to have a well bunny check just to make sure nothing else is wrong.
- 09/28/2013 at 5:14 PM
  smbtuckma
  Participant
  7 posts
  I've got her in an X-pen for now, and she's still pooping everywhere in there and not just her litter box. We haven't been to the vet yet, so I'll make an appointment on Monday.
  
  Any sort of guess at what time table to look at if it is a time thing?
- 09/28/2013 at 5:26 PM
  Stickerbunny
  Participant
  4128 posts
  Stickers is 3? years old now and we got her when she was 4 months. She’s been territorial marking since we’ve had her. It used to be awful, now it’s just every so often. But, some buns (even spayed) just feel the need to mark. As she settles in to her new home and her routine doesn’t change, she should start marking less. I found a routine helped Stickers a lot. And no new scents in areas she had access to (hand lotions, perfumes, deodorants, air fresheners, no new scents at all). And cleaning up with PURE vinegar, not watered down vinegar.
Author

Messages

Viewing 4 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.