Rabbit Attacking Me????

[makingcake101]

Hi everyone, 

Has anyone ever experienced a rabbit attacking you because you smell like another rabbit? 

Snickers is 3 years old, neutered, super cuddly and well mannered…but just today he’s gone after me twice! Im talking darting across the room and laying his teeth into me for no reason. One second he’s fine and happy, and then he just snaps. I was over taking care of my Grandmas rabbit today because she’s too sick to care for him, and the only thing I can think is that Snickers smells that rabbit’s scent on my skin and is reacting to that? Has anyone heard of this before? Im not sure why he would bite me just for smelling another animal on me. Im worried that the alternative is that he’s sick and going crazy or something  Thanks!

[Bam]

I haven’t experienced this, but I have heard of it. Rabbits are SUPER-territorial. It’s because of the way they live in nature, they make these whole elaborate system of tunnels (the warren), which is a big investment of energy and time of course, so they loose a lot if they have to move from their spot.

I hope more people will see this and reply, it’s very interesting. Sick rabbits don’t tend to attack. They tend to hide, and might react with defensive biting if they are in pain, but most often they just hide and stay still.

[MiNinoJack]

Has he attacked you again since you showered and changed clothes? If he’s still attacking you after you have removed the scent then something else may be going on. I’ve heard of rabbits getting prepped for the bonding process attacking items that smelled like their soon to be mate when the items are being introduced to them for the first time.

[DetectiveandSeñor]

I’m having the same issue. I took home a new rabbit, he’s been staying in another room. I was petting him, then petting my oldest, Detective. Señor started to attack Detective and me.

[Boston's Mama]

Detective and señor : yes another rabbits scent can throw off a existing bond ( I’m assuming here señor and dectective were bonded before the third rabbit arrived??)

Makingcake101: rabbits are territorial – and some more than others. I had two males – wouldn’t bond – kept seperate – yet the territorialness from one of them was extremely stressful. Even when I moved them completely out of sight of each other for almost 2 weeks he still managed to terrorise the other by stomping , ramming his own cage , and genuinely showing him he’s boss.
With territorial bunnies Some can live fine together – some can not live together due to this but can happily live side by side – some can’t do that and have to be in different rooms – some can’t even do that as the smell sets them off.
Each bunny is so different
How long has the other bunny been in your bunnies house? Are they in seperate rooms ?
Is this a permanent set up?

[Deleted User]

I have been through this exact problem with my bun, a spayed female.

When I brought home the male and set him up in a separate room, she would just go nuts. Seeming to be fine, but when I got up and walked away she came darting between my feet, scratching at me. She was never like this until he came into the picture. I have been switching them into each others rooms and most of the time she is fine. It had been 5 days since they were switched (he was healing from neuter) and so last night I switched them and she was a little bothered at first and scratched me when I went to add more hay to her pile. But she calmed down and when they were switched back she didn’t freak out all around her space because it smelled like him. She used to just absolutely freak when she was put back in her area with it smelling like him lol. So I think it’s totally normal. Although it can definitely be scary if you have never seen that side of your bun before.

Detective and Senor, I’m a little unclear on your situation. Do you have two bonded buns and you brought a third home? Or did you just have one bunny (Detective) and brought home a new bun (Senor) ? If that is the case, you can’t let them be together. They can fight and injure each other. You have to go through a bonding process before letting your rabbits out together.

[kirstyol]

The minute I brought Ron into our house Bramble went bonkers. I have honestly never met a bun as mild mannered as Bramble, nothing bothers him at all he is so friendly and not bothered by noise or people or anything at all. I had never heard him thump in the year we had him before Ron came home. I swear within seconds of me closing the door behind me and Ron, Bramble started going bonkers and thumping he had never physically seen Ron. He could definitely smell Ron and I thought I had made a terrible mistake. Its all good now, they love each other dearly but Bramble is the boss that’s for sure!

[Author]

Messages