I think my rabbit just got his revenge…

[Battie]

Hello.

I’m a new bunny mom, and I’m still trying to figure things out.

Quincy has only been with me a few weeks and he is my first rabbit.  He’s a friendly, curious boy and we get along well for the most part, but if I am understanding his behavior correctly, he is trying very hard to show me that my entire home is *his* home.

From day one he never has pooped anywhere except in his litter box, with one exception–my bed!  I’m very certain this is a territory thing.  I live in a single room and I’ve seen him staring at me from his crate while I’m in bed.  The pills are usually scattered, which if I’ve learned right also indicates a territory thing.

I could tolerate the pills because they are easy to clean, but things got worse tonight.  I think he was mad at me because I dismantled his crate today to give it a thorough cleaning  (He’s thrown his litter box a few times this week and is also a very messy eater).  While that was happening I ruined his fun because I wouldn’t let him chew on my trash bag.  So just a few minute ago I found a *huge* puddle on my bed.  Really, I didn’t think it was possible for a rabbit bladder to hold so much.

So now I must stay up late while I wait for my bed stuff to go through the laundry.  Is there anything I can do to teach him not to do that?  Laundry is expensive here!

Thanks!

[Beka27]

there were some good suggestions about this very topic not long ago. here’s the link:

https://binkybunny.com/Default.aspx?tabid=54&forumid=2&postid=57668&view=topic

i hope this helps. welcome here by the way!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Oh no!! When I first brought my bunny Olivia home she did that for several weeks. She peed on the carpet and my bed several times during a run. When she would do this, I immediately picked her up and put her in her litter box. She eventually stopped and hardly ever poops on the floor/bed either, although there is the occasionaly couple. I think she assumes everything is “hers” now and she doesn’t need to mark it so much.

Is your bunny fixed? If not, getting him fixed would definetly help reduce the territorial marking.

[MooBunnay]

It sounds from your description that you have given your bunny free-roam of the house right from the beginning, which can definitely lead to this wide-spread territorial marking. For awhile, you need to create a room, or better yet, an area of a room that is “his” and fence it off for him. This way, he can see that the house is YOURS, and that his condo is HIS Once he can control his territorial marking in that space, then you can slowly give him some free time out of the area to run around the house.

Ways to fence of a small area for him include baby gates to fence off rooms, or build a wall out of NIC cubes, or doggie ex-pens which are great. In addition to this teaching him that there is a certain space that is HIS, it will also help you perfect his litter training.

Since he has free run from the beginning, he probably doesn’t understand that the whole house is not just for him, so giving him a confined space for awhile will help teach him that he doesn’t actually own the whole house!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Good advice-I won’t add anything

Welcome here!!

[Battie]

Thank you for the advice and the welcome!

Is it considered free-range if I keep him in his crate while I’m away? I will consider trying to make a pen for him. My condo is *so* tiny (the room is something like 11×12) that I hadn’t imagined it would be a problem.

I’m glad to know it’s not just me with the problem, though. I’m going to try a few of the suggestions like keeping a spray bottle for when I catch him up there. I’ve also ordered the much-praised House Rabbit Handbook and a clicker-training book (just for kicks).

[Beka27]

with a new bunny, they still have to have a place of their own. some people do eventually do away with any kind of cage, but that is after a long time when they know the bun can be trusted. if you were to build a NIC condo, you can build UP rather than out. it’s a nice option for a small place. check out the bunny info section at the top of the page, look at the cool habitats condo gallery and you will see examples of condos people have built, some low and wide, some tall and narrow.

[Battie]

Oh, yes! I saw some pictures of the NIC condos the other day and they are a wonderful idea. I think I may do that. I also hope some more room will help a problem he has with peeing around the outside of his crate (I’m SO glad I put a shower curtain under it). Maybe if he has more turf and after he settles in he won’t be so messy.

[Beka27]

is he neutered? if not, his bathroom habits may continue to be iffy until afterwards.

[Battie]

He is neutered. I think he is just very assertive. I’m working the NIC condo into my budget now. I think he needs more cage time, and I won’t feel right about that unless I have something bigger to keep him in.

I assume the spraying around the crate *is* territorial, right? If he were sick or untrained he’d pee all over the place, not just around it. Orange rabbit pee is gross. 🙁

[Author]

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