Rabbit suddenly agressive and territorial

[maddie24]

My two year old Holland Lop has started being territorial of this one specific corner of her pen. There’s currently a litter box there but she likes to move it to dig at the blankets and towels I put there. She’s spayed and has been for over a year now (she’s two years old). Today, I was trying to move the litter box back to its usual place in the corner and she growled and boxed at me. I backed off to give her space but a little bit later I tried to put a box for her to chew in her pen (not even in the favored corner) and she boxed at that too. I’m not sure why she’s doing this and why now. She used to be really aggressive and territorial of the space under my bed but has overcome that because she know’s I’m not a threat. I’m thinking of closing off underneath my bed to her to maybe help some of the territorialness but other than that I don’t know what to do. She has always been a bit of a primadonna but usually isn’t aggressive with me unless she’s really scared or bothered or something. Please help! I’m also kind of worried she might be sick but don’t want to take her to the vet if she’s healthy and she has been every time I take her for check ups. 

[BanditCamp]

Where your bunny sleeps is normally considered his or her safe space. Usually it’s not really advised to mess with a bunnies space unless they are away from it. I only clean bandits cage if he’s asleep under my bed and I can really get in there, HOWEVER he doesn’t mind me being there and knows that I clean hos cage and give him fresh water and hay

[ThorBunny]

Some people say that rabbits get the “spring crazies” where there is a surge of hormones around this time of year even though they are spayed/neutered. It could be just a seasonal thing! Is she acting normally everywhere outside of her pen?

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By maddie24 on 5/10/2017 10:06 PM

My two year old Holland Lop has started being territorial of this one specific corner of her pen. There’s currently a litter box there but she likes to move it to dig at the blankets and towels I put there. She’s spayed and has been for over a year now (she’s two years old). Today, I was trying to move the litter box back to its usual place in the corner and she growled and boxed at me. I backed off to give her space but a little bit later I tried to put a box for her to chew in her pen (not even in the favored corner) and she boxed at that too. I’m not sure why she’s doing this and why now. She used to be really aggressive and territorial of the space under my bed but has overcome that because she know’s I’m not a threat. I’m thinking of closing off underneath my bed to her to maybe help some of the territorialness but other than that I don’t know what to do. She has always been a bit of a primadonna but usually isn’t aggressive with me unless she’s really scared or bothered or something. Please help! I’m also kind of worried she might be sick but don’t want to take her to the vet if she’s healthy and she has been every time I take her for check ups. 

Simply she feels you are invading her space. I don’t understand the last part (bolded) You have nothing to lose by taking her to the vet and determining that she’s healthy. 

[maddie24]

Normally I do clean when she’s out of the pen having her excersize time around the house so that might be it. Also could be the seasonal thing! If she continues acting weird and changes her eating/drinking habits I’ll definitely take her to the vet. So far she’s eating and drinking normally though so I don’t think she is sick, I’ve just heard that rabbits can get aggressive or have behavioral changes when they’re sick so that had me worried about her.

[sarahthegemini]

Changes in behaviour can be a big indicator of sickness but the fact that she’s eating and drinking normally is great. I assume pooping as normal too?

[Author]

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