Newlyweds- and now Bella’s litter habits have gone to heck!

[Jolaedana]

Hey everyone!
I know I haven’t been around much, and when I have been I’ve been lurking. 

Bella is doing great- we’ve since bought a house and moved into it, and she’s become a very happy bun, and exceedingly well trained, too. A couple of weekends ago, we took her up to the COHRS, and got her paired with a boy bunny! 

I was expecting trouble!

Let me just say- this new rabbit, who we’ve named Wash, is a delightful little bun. He’s got marvelous manners, and he’s a climber- it’s been a lot of fun watching him find new spots to explore (and for us to bunny proof, lol!) He had a few issues with the litterbox the first few days moving in, but now he’s almost 100% with his poo, and is 100% with pee.

Unfortunately, Bella, who used to be 100% ALL THE TIME- (no, really, not kidding, she NEVER pooed outside her box!) has come back from her week of bonding at the shelter an absolute wreck. This isn’t just a few stray poos, this is an avalanche consisting of every poo she makes, all over her cage.

Somewhat amusing is that she absolutely hates her cage dirty, and she’s very uncomfortable when she’s locked up with all that poo in her cage overnight. She sits hunched in a little ball like she may not have to touch it that way, and doesn’t flop.

They had litterboxes she wasn’t used to during the week of bonding at the shelter, I’d bet money they had their hands too full to clean everything up right away. The shelter folks also mentioned that she might pick a way to “rebel” at me, in an attempt to move them up the ladder in social status, which is her job in the pair.

Is that what this is? I’ve been picking up her messes, and nudging her towards her litterbox while she’s eating. I’ve also been praising her whenever she DOES use it. Trying to start from scratch, so to speak. Is there anything else I should try? Something I’m missing here? Feel free to ask questions.

THANKS in advance!

As a reward for the lengthy read, pictures of the pair!

 

[4Lily]

Don’t know anything about bonding, just wanted to say, you have two of the most beautiful buns! Thanks for the pics! I read these bonding & such threads cause one day I want to get a female freind for Lily & like all of the info there is!

[Jolaedana]

Thank you so much, 4Lily! We picked him because he was so friendly, and not because they’re so color coordinated, but the fact that they match so well is definitely a fun bonus. You should definitely consider it! I was very happy that the HRS was willing to do the pairing- not only did I get to help one of their single buns, but they handled the tricky introduction and getting to know each other phase. They’re so happy and adorable together, especially when they get to snuggling.

[Balefulregards]

Oh, the poo wars. This brought me right back to this time last year when My Coco was introduced to Jackson.

I thought it would never end – seriously.

Here is my thread:

https://binkybunny.com/FORUM/tabid/54/aff/3/aft/106892/afv/topic/afpgj/1/Default.aspx#130728

On the up side, it DID end, eventually. It just took about a month of very consistent human cleaning and reinforcing and some night caging once I knew they weren’t going to kill each other.

Now, Coco will only pee when I have annoyed her ( and it is a very, very deliberate thing) which will still lead to Jackson marking with poos everywhere he can think of.

The shelter is very right – they are working out their dominance, who is who in the ladder of rabbitude. Unfortunately for we humans, they do that in urine and poo. Coco was 100% before jackson – and is nearly 100% again now, but during their bonding phase? Ack. Like she had never seen a litter box! I would wake up some mornings before they were caged and just want to cry because there was SO much – EVERYWHERE.

It does get better…then it regresses, then gets better again.

It sounds like a great bonding start!

[4Lily]

I am considering it, and checking out the local humane society for a female! But I am going to wait til I have vacation time & then talk my boyfreind in to letting me get her! LOL! He knows, cause everytime Lily starts acting up & chewing stuff, he asks him if he`s bored & needs a freind! The humane society has a few from a litter or family! We will see! & Lily trys to get Boo`s to groom & cuddle with him, so I am sure he`d be a great freind!
Good luck with the little poo dispenser, LOL! Not looking forward to that!

[Jolaedana]

@balefulregards – Interesting thread!

So you mean it’s actually an issue with HIM being in her space, huh? They seem to get along so well, otherwise! I guess maybe it’s just an adjustment period, like you said. I will continue to fight the good fight, I guess! At least she’s not doing it anywhere but in/right around the cage. She’s definitely peeing exclusively in the box- they’re both great about that.

They seem great otherwise, which I’m thankful for!! They are grooming each other, and love to cuddle/flop together.

They are always caged at night- we just can’t trust Bella alone downstairs. So far, so good on that front. She does run away from him if she’s let out during the day to hide in their little maze though!

The shelter had said that she might try to challenge ME to assert that they’re the top pair in the household, rather than myself and my husband. I was wondering if she was just doing it to make me mad! Lol. Could still be the case, I suppose!

I’m really glad to hear that persistence paid off, I guess I just need to stick with things!

@4Lily- good luck with your search! And thanks for the well wishing.

[jerseygirl]

Congrats on your new bunny and new bonded pair!

So you mean it’s actually an issue with HIM being in her space, huh?

Very likely, very typical. Females are really territiorial and since she was there first she’s probably making it known.  Sometimes you can do an overhaul of the habitat before you bring the newly bonded into it.  Since you’ve already got them home and in their space it might be just a case of waiting until the territorial littering wanes. Fingers crossed! 

[Jolaedana]

Thanks, JerseyGirl! You guys are always such a wonderful network of confirmation/information. Love it. I’m feeling a lot better now, knowing she has a reason for it (and isn’t just a degenerate! lol), and that it’s likely to stop someday, eventually. lol.

He’s worth all the trouble- such a wonderful little guy!

[Balefulregards]

I think it is exactly that – She likes him. She wants him to be her bonded guy…but she was still there FIRST.

even after a year of togetherness, I still see Coco occasionally assert her “Place” of ownership with Jackson (and me). About 90% of the time, she is very relaxed and laid back with him, and then all of a sudden, she will decide to urinate in Front of the litter box.

I was just away for 2 days and sure enough, she had peed in front of the litter box (I just got done cleaning it up!). Jackson has never asserted with me, really – but she will. I always chalked it up to her being the Queen Bun.

On the whole, your bonding sounds really super smooth – the territorial poo is annoying, but in the scheme of things, easily swept up and put back into the box. MUCH better than 2 rabbits deciding to do a cage match/wounding!

[jerseygirl]

ha! Baleful and I speak from experience. Both have opinionated girls and brought a male into their domain. My girls littering unfortunately didn’t improve so I strongly encourage you to keep on top of Bellas habits.

[Jolaedana]

Definitely better, Baleful!

It was funny, when they were getting paired at the shelter, it was the most anticlimatic thing the shelter had ever seen. They went up to each other, went “oh, hey” and then promptly ignored each other after that. lol. Apparently they were chill from the start!

Good to know about your girl, Jerseygirl- I will definitely be keeping on it.

Bella shows signs of knowing I’m unhappy- when I come near the cage, she hops on the litterbox. She obviously knows better. Things are lessening a bit, and I’m staying very on top of it. Hopefully things will get better~

Thanks everyone!

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