peeing on furniture out of spite?

[bpash89]

I know, I know, bunnies peeing on furniture is the most common issues and just don’t let them on the bed/couch if it’s a problem.  Well, here is the thing, she’s been 100% litter box trained for the past 6 months or so (she’s spayed).  Zero accidents in 6 months.  Zero.  She rarely even gets poos outside of her box from jumping in and out of it. She has full run of the house, the couch, the bed, none of it has been a problem for over 6 months.  

Well ever since I come home from vacation she has started peeing on the bed.  I figured she was just angry that I left her/I smelled funny from different laundry detergent ect and it was an isolated incident.  I’ve been back from vacation for over 2 months now and she’s still doing it!  I’ve cleaned everything and washed it in vinegar and it doesn’t make a bit of difference.  I have had to completely block her from the bedroom because she simply won’t stop.  But now, she’s changed to peeing on the couch since she can’t access the bed.  Her box is literally 5 feet away.  I say she is doing it out of spite because she waited until I came home from work, was sitting on the couch and she immediately jumped up and pissed right next to me.  RIGHT NEXT TO ME.  It was deliberate. 

I don’t have any way of blocking the couch and I really don’t want to have to go buy a cage when she’s been free roam for almost a year without any problems.  I haven’t been able to catch her in the act (I really wasn’t prepared for her bs today) or else I would light her fluffy little ass up with a spray bottle.  But what can I possibly do?  I can’t really call it marking because it’s been so long since she has marked anything in the apartment (free roam.  for a year.  no problems.).  I can’t call it bad litter habits because this is totally new when she used to be perfect.  The bunny sitter didn’t mention anything about her litter habits while I was away so I think it’s just since I have been back. I know bad litter habits can be health related sometimes but… spiteful little a-hole seems more likely to me.  

Help?  Anybody got ideas?  Or do I go buy a cage and put her in bunny prison until she relearns bladder control?  

[RabbitPam]

I deeply sympathize since Sammy, 5 years old, has been peeing outside of her litter pan, too. I mean, right next to it.
The first problem is that once they put their smell there, they return to it. So, you are right about the vinegar wash, and you need to spray your couch with a 50/50 mix of white vinegar and water (after cleaning it with the vinegar, of course.) Spray the bottom of the couch as well, and don’t wash it off. Believe it or not, you won’t smell it after a very short time, but it will be bad to her, and it may be just deterrent enough to make her think twice.

Next, try a second litter pan near there, such as on the floor tucked away beside the couch. If you don’t mind a new pan being out all the time, it gives her a second option when she doesn’t feel like going all the way to her main pan. I had an “outside” pan in my apt. for Spockie, and a main one in his cage. So his away time from his habitat was easy for him to be clean. It worked for him.
To entice her to it, hide a couple of treats, or just some pellets, in the litter for her to smell, dig up and find. Whenever she uses the new pan, praise her loudly. (Good girl! Good bunny!) If you want, if she goes into it, give her a pellet or a treat immediately each time for the first week or more. You are training her with positive reinforcement to use it. If she pees on the couch, clean with vinegar again and don’t say anything. Negatives don’t really work on bunnies. But if you do see that butt wiggle, tail go up, or she hunches like she’s considering it, scoop her up and put her in the new pan asap. Then praise her.

After a short time, don’t make the treat every single time, so she is never sure if that’s the time she’ll get one. That way, they do the good thing in the hope that maybe they’ll get a treat. Then give her one on occasion for another week. If all this works, you should be back to normal by then.

And yes, bunnies hold grudges. They don’t like different detergents. They get mad and pout. Shame on you, Slave!

[jerseygirl]

It really isn’t spite but I KNOW it feels like it, believe me. Jersey was notorious for peeing where she shouldn’t have. It was hard to narrow down why.
If not health related, much of it comes down to territorial habit or attention seeking IMO.
I do think stress can factor in sometimes also.
(Yes, it could be in reaction to your absence).

I smelled funny from different laundry detergent

Was this around the time you came back? She might think of you as a new person in the territory. They do use sense of smell a lot in recognition.

[BunnyLady1989]

I totally sympathize. Unfortunately if it’s a bunny grudge, which I suspect it is, I don’t think there is a definite answer on how to fix it. I’ve been through this with Lulu and it was a long battle. You already have great advice from what the others have said, and there really isn’t much for me to add. I know it will be frustrating, but it does get better

[bpash89]

My apartment is tiny.  Her box is literally 5 feet away.  It’s not about the distance.  It was very much a “Oh?  You aren’t letting me upstairs onto the bed?  Eff you human *insert bunny middle finger* I’ll just pee on the couch instead.”

I guess I can start giving her treats every time she uses her box but it just feels so silly when she is litter box trained and she’s only peeing elsewhere to annoy me.  It’s like giving a 12 year old a sticker chart for using the potty because they decided to pee off the porch that one time.  It seems so unnecessary.    

I know they can get pissy about different smells but it’s been 2 months!  All my clothes are back to being washed in the same old detergent like before.  She’s acting perfectly normal towards me, not at all like she’s confused about who I am.  Maybe she is just doing it for attention but it’s not like I can give her attention whenever she pees where she isn’t supposed to!  That will just reinforce her bad behavior.  

Ughhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

[Deleted User]

Sympathies bpash89! And sorry – I just had a chuckle when I read your last post…..
It’s like giving a 12 year old a sticker chart for using the potty because they decided to pee off the porch that one time. Agreed! Cheers.

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