Need bunny whisperer Los angeles

[Rose]

Hi all! New here. Need some advice regarding a negative
Behavioral change:

Background- my rabbit is very independent he’s almost 4 yrs old. Neutered.
We live in a two story apartment and he has free range of the downstairs.

He used to have free range up to the top of the stairs (gate between top of stairs and bedrooms) with a second litter box at the top of the stairs.

I had to put the second litter box up there because he was peeing up there and I knew he wanted to be close to us during the night. However, a few months ago he started peeing and pooping outside of his litter box up there- all over the stairs and ruining the hardwood floors. I put down vinyl marble flooring to protect the wood and give more nail friendly area for him to rest but he was still peeing on the non-covered areas.

Last week I restricted his area to downstairs only (no stair access). Now he is throwing his litterbox around and is much more aggressive (chewing where he knows he shouldn’t, begging for extra snacks etc). I’m really not sure what to do.
Trying to give him extra affection but as I said he is very independent. He is not a lap bunny and likes to be close but not too close. I think it’s obvious I’m doing something wrong but I don’t know what.
He has his own area with a 2 floor hutch where his food and bed is, a litter box next to it, and as I mentioned free reign of the apartment. He has always been a bit reserved but he has always been compliant to a degree (smart, litter trained, does binky’s regularly). Not sure what I can do to make him happy again.
Thanks in advance!!

[Wick & Fable]

It sounds territorial. Very reminiscent of my duels with Wick.

I find for Wick, not having access to something he thinks he should/sees other people do but he doesn’t is a big point of contention for him. He’ll pee and poop all over the obstacle. Some areas in my old apartment would take longer for him to realize. He realized it quickly with the closet door in the bedroom, so he started peeing there, but it took him longest with the office. It was his way of saying “I want in. Give me.”

Based on this, it makes sense that your rabbit expressed frustration at getting limited to downstairs. He was initially frustrated that he couldn’t go very far upstairs, but now you’ve taken away territory he had already established was his (the stairs). You’re asserting a control of his environment and that can be frustrating for him.

To this end, I would say you have a decision to make. “Give in” and return the stair territory and give him more upstairs space, or work through reinforcing that he cannot pee and poop outside that litterbox. I ended up letting Wick have access to the office occasionally to satiate his need.

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]

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