newly neutered rabbit sprayed on me!?

[bananabun]

so about three weeks ago i adopted chauncey.  at the shelter i was told that he was born in late may and should be neutered soon.  so last thursday i took chauncey in for his operation, and he’s been on painkillers until today.  he was sitting on my bed with me, and he was letting me pet him and seemingly enjoying it.  then he did something he’s never done before:  after i was done petting him and went back to my book, he turned around, raised his tail & sprayed brownish-yellow urine on me/my bed!!  what was that for??  did he not want me petting him?  he’s been pretty shy & i’ve been patient with him (laying on the ground with him, letting him approach me, bribing him w/ veggies, etc.), so maybe he was just letting me know to back off?  or was this a sign of affection?  i’ve been looking online for answers and have found some conflicting results.  i thought territoriality/spraying was supposed to be one of the character traits that disappeared after a rabbit’s neuter surgery?  can anyone tell me why he did this?  i’m afraid to bring him on my bed again (he stained my white sheets… had to run to the mall to get new ones today and i can’t really afford to keep doing that!).  thanks!!!!

[Furface]

It can take a little time for his hormones to completely dissipate. He may never do this again or he may do it for a week or two – until the hormones settle down.

[Deleted User]

It has been only recently that he was neutered. At this point, he may even still be able to get a female rabbit pregnant. This behavior of spraying will cease in due course of time. Wait until a month is up before letting him on your bed again, I’d say. I had one rabbit here that took very long after his neuter to act like a neutered bunny. He kept stinking and humping but then it ceased. His hormones were way up but it can only last for so long! Generally 1 month is enough.

[MooBunnay]

Beds are a very popular place for bunnies to mark, because the sheets smell like you, they have the urge to mark it for their own. I would definitely give Chauncey a few more weeks before his hormones completely calm down. Even after his hormones do calm down, supervise him closely when he is on your bed because it is a popular marking spot, even for fixed rabbits.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

It takes a while for their horomones to go away. And spraying is a ‘your mine’ thing-so don’t be offended. Also like Moobunny said-they like to pee on beds. I think they like how soft and cushy they are and then they decide ‘hmmmml-MINE!!” and pee on them Generally it’s best if they are marking the bed or the couch the best is to just not let the up there. You might just not put him up there for a few weeks and then see if marks again (if you don’t mind the cleaning involved if he does) and then if he doesn’t -it may just have been a horomonal bloop and he’ll let up.

Congrats on adopting!

[kralspace]

I think he claimed you as his or got revenge for the neutering…..

[bananabun]

thanks for all the helpful responses! i guess that makes sense that it’d take a while for his hormones to die down a bit after being neutered. i am a little bummed that beds are such a target for bun spraying, bc he really seemed to enjoy being up there with me. oh well.

[kralspace]

This is going to sound gross, I have one girl who was obsessed about peeing on the bed. I finally got a cheap plastic tablecloth with flannel on the back and left it on there every time I wasn’t on it and let her pee away. It got really disgusting, but after a couple of days, Pringles was satisfied and never did it again, even though it’s just my regular bedspread on it now.

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