Pooping on bed

[Anis]

I recently flew from CO where I got my bunny and spent the last few months there to my NYC apartment. The flight went really well and she’s adjusting quite well. She is 5 months and is litter trained – didn’t have a problem at all in her new space. However, she is constantly pooping on my bed when she is on it. She hasn’t peed on it at all, just pooping! How can I make her stop?! She isn’t neutered yet.

 

Thanks in advance!

[HipHopBunny]

Hi @Anis

I’m so sorry you are going through this problem. 🙁 Spaying will definitely help, this could be her way of showing that this is her territory, since you moved, she might feel as though she needs to establish that. What could help is to pick up her poop and put it in her litter box so that she gets the message that that’s where she should go. Alas though, she is young, and youth in rabbits can sometimes blind you to the message that is being sent.

You said that her litter habits were good before this, so I don’t think that going through the litter training process will do anything, or teach her something she hasn’t already learned. How soon until her spay? Spaying will take away the sharp edges – but not right away, 4-6 weeks after spaying, they will go through a post-spay craze, where they have even stronger hormones than before. Afterwards, though, it leaves you with the most lovable bun you could ever ask for. 🙂 She is also adjusting to the new space, it is all foreign to her, so after she adjusts, and is spayed, it should come to an end, and she should resume her good litter habits.

It will be hard and require a LOT of patience, so I am wishing you strength as you endure it all! Wishing you a calm bun! 🙂

[Anis]

@HipHopBunny, thanks so much for your response! I have been picking up the poop and placing them in the litter box – I will continue to do so, and try to keep my patience! I am looking into rabbit savvy vets and trying to get her neutered within the next 2 months. I hope it will help! Thanks again!!

[Wick & Fable]

The bed is a very soft and scent-latent place, and this is really potent for rabbits who have such a great sense of smell and a lot of their survival instincts are dependent on whether things smell like them or not. There are a lot of rabbits that are litterbox adherent every but the bed it seems. In those cases, having a litter box on the bed may help, or just enforcing a rule that you will not let your rabbit roam on your bed at all/for elongated periods of time would be most effective.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Author]

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