Olaf Becoming Pretty Distant

[pinknfwuffy]

Over the past 3-4 months I’ve noticed Olaf becoming less and less interested in spending time with me. I know people usually complain about these things with new rabbits, hoping to rush the bonding process, but we’ve spent the last year and a half getting to know one another. He is two years old and I’ve had him since 6 months. He has always hopped up on the couch with me voluntarily and loved to cuddle in the mornings and flop on the back of the couch or at my feet in the evenings.

Recently, he seems more interested in being by himself. Sometimes he’ll just play with his baby keys in his cage or sit on the love seat on the other side of the room alone. He is eating plenty, no change in diet or bathroom habits. No symptoms of any other illness or ailment. I don’t mind if he is just feeling independent, even chalking it up to the spring crazies, but he seems more and more distant every day. He’s even started shunning nose rubs and will only settle for a few pets if he’s feeling particularly lazy (i.e. it’s not so much for enjoyment but merely because he can’t be bothered to move away, especially after he’s had his pellets).

No major changes recently. Diet is the same, schedule, environment. I let him out every morning from 6-9, come home for lunch to visit and offer some parsley, and he’s out from 5-11 every evening. I do clicker training with him and he was always so excited to play but even now he’s kind of reluctant to learn anything new. I plan to get him a full vet check next week but, other than a health problem, have I done something wrong? Genuinely, if he just prefers to be on his own I can live with it but it worries me sometimes if there is something I can do to help him.

[Muchelle]

If the weather’s been hot, that’s pretty much summer bunny in action!

[Luna]

I was thinking the same as Muchelle. Since you’ve eliminated other possibilities, his behavior is probably just due to molt and heat. Olaf still loves and needs you .

[pinknfwuffy]

Thanks, guys. I know it’s such a selfish thing but, like I said, it was more about the change that was concerning me. If he wants to lounge alone on the love seat all day and be happy, I’m okay with that! ;] You’re probably right. It hasn’t been super warm here yet but he has been through a rather long molt. I’ll keep a respectful distance and see what happens. Absence makes the heart grow fonder? :]

[stephkhani]

I’m actually going through almost the exact same thing with our four month old Netherland Dwarf… up until this week he’s always been pretty active (er, crazy) but now he’s very chill and not wanting to be fussed with too much. The good old Virginia summer heat did cross my mind as being an issue since he’s still eating/drinking/pooping.

He’s also lost his potty training habits, but I’m putting it down to it being about time to be neutered.

I’m glad I found your post–we lost a bun earlier this year to gi stasis and I’m terrified of going through that again (he passed in my lap, poor thing). I’m overly neurotic about anything being different with Tig!

[Muchelle]

These days that’s hot and K doesn’t give a toss about me I periodically go “bother” him. Little scratch here, boop on the nose here at least he knows I still exist

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