My poor rabbit seems to have given up

[maplesanae]

I adopted a Rex rabbit several years back, which is the third rabbit I’ve ever adopted. I believe he was about six months old when I adopted him, which makes him just about four years old now. He has a large living area, plenty of food (hay, pellets, and greens), a soft bed, a clean litter box, lots of toys and hidey places, and plenty of social time with the family. I spend several hours with him a day, petting him and talking to him, but his primary reaction to me is to push me away, quite forcefully. He has never periscoped or binkied the entire time he’s lived with me; all he does is sleep, eat, and poop. He always seems bored and acts generally unhealthy. I’m giving him more than I gave my other two rabbits, but I have been unable to bond with him at all in about three and a half years. I’m at the point now where I have no idea what would be best for him, because he isn’t happy at all.

[Bam]

In what ways does he act generally unhealthy? How is his weight, appetite, fur quality (a poorly bun often looks dishevelled, the fur has no sheen to it) pooping and peeing habits? Has anything in his appearance or behavior changed?

Not all buns do much. Some are quite content just existing in the same room as their human. Does he hide all the time? Can he relax “out in the open” a cpl yards from you? Many rabbits can be ambivalent towards close contact with their human. They both want it (it’s nice being pet) but they’re not quite sure if it’s completely safe. So they can growl or lunge and then immediately demand pets or a treat after. Fearfulness is to an extent hereditary, as is aggression.

It is a bit weird though, since you’ve had him since he was so young. Do you know anything about his circumstances before you got him? I had a male bun who’d growl and box, then demand pets. He had been living feral, it kind of showed in his behavior, even though he cant have been more than 5-6 months max when I got him.

[Author]

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