Poe likes to pee…on ME!

[BazziBun]

Poe is my second bunny, and unlike Bubba (3 year old female) litter training has been a PAIN! 

As a baby there was just no way, he would pee pretty much anywhere, I’ve tried many methods of discipline, mostly positive reinforcement but nothing would really take. Not only would he pee all over his enclosure but he would also lay in it…ick! Thankfully, he doesn’t seem to mind me cleaning him after…Even when I would let him out of his enclosure he would pick a spot and just go even though he had access to his litter box. 

He got fixed back in late July and things got a little better. He became more selective and began to pee in the litter box and its surroundings…But once he is out and roaming, he’ll disregard his litter box and just jump on my bed or the couch (usually the spot I sit on) and relieve himself. 

I’m not sure what I can do! He’s a dirty little boy! 

A few extra facts: 

He only pees on my bed/couch when I’m in the house. I’ve had my partner look after him a weekend and he did not engage in this behavior. He also didn’t do it when my brother was looking after him. 

He and Bubba are not yet bonded. I’m slowly introducing them and they both seem alright seeing each other and smelling each other at a distance. I suspect Bubba may be more dominant, but I not yet certain. 

I want to know why he behaves this way. Is he “marking” me? What about the fact that he doesn’t seem to be bothered by his filth and just likes being a dirty bunny? He’s soo loving and attention seeking, I am conflicted when he does this because it’s soo frustrating! 

PLEASE ANY OBSERVATIONS/ADVICE IS APPRECIATED! 

THANKS!  

[Hobo Floof]

My rabbit Peppermint had the same problem with my bed. I just don’t let her on my bed anymore, although, if you might want to let Poe on the bed and couch I don’t have a lot for you. I did read that they do it to claim both you and the comfortable area. As for peeing on you, maybe you could try a squirt bottle.

[Q8bunny]

Hm… tough nut to crack.

One option would be restricting access to bed and sofa or covering them with slippery crinkly plastic shower curtain or tarp until he stops jumping up on them (buns seem to hate that kind of noisy slippy surface).

Other thing you could try is when he’s up on bed or sofa, push his bum down with your hand and then his head and just gently hold him down like that for a few moments. Sometimes that teaches buns that you’re top rabbit and that space is your exclusive space and the buns stop marking it.

Don’t know what else to tell you – it sounds clearly territorial. Does he have a space that’s all his own like a pen or a hidey of some kind?

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