very aggressive behavior

[bumpybunny]

my rabbit is almost 11 months old and about a month ago she started to circle me and became a lot more destructive. i made her an appointment to be spayed which is in a week. but these past few days shes gotten very very aggressive to the point where i can’t let her out of her cage to play because she immediately attacks me and wont quit. today she has attacked me several times, i have bad bites (for a rabbit bite) all over my hands and arms. this morning i tried to pet her like i always do, and she scratched and bit me instead of licking me like she usually does. this has happened everytime i’ve tried to go in her cage to give her more hay or water today, or just to say hi. she tries to lunge at me and scratch me through her cage bars when i walk by her cage too. i just tried to give her her supper and she bit my hand hard, made a grunting noise and started digging at my arms. i tried to pull my hand away but she wouldnt let go and when i pulled my hand up from her cage she just hung there refusing to let go. could hormones really make it this bad? she is usually so sweet and always licks me and sits in my lap everytime i go in her cage. i haven’t done anything to upset her and in the past when i did make her mad she’d never get aggressive. any advice? will she stop this after being spayed? is it possible that some rabbits grow up to be aggressive without a reason? i really dont know what to do but i can barely even get near her anymore. (i also forgot to mention that she only does this to me, when my family comes in to see her she licks them and acts really happy to see them)

[GlennTheLionhead]

It is normal for rabbits to show territorial aggression when they hit puberty. She may see you as invading her territory. The good news is this behaviour should settle down a lot a few weeks post spay. I don’t believe there is such this as a mean bunny.

You mentioned cage a few times in your post, what is her set up like? Cages alone aren’t suitable homes for rabbits, this is also something known to cause aggression in rabbits due to frustration from not being able to exercise. Unlimited access to an X-pen would likely help if she hasn’t already got this.

Other things to consider could be, illness or smells from other animals. My bunnies runny away from me if I’ve been cooking with strong smelling spices.

I wouldn’t panic, puberty in rabbits is usually a stressful time for everyone involved but it’s just a phase! Luckily there’s lots of knowlageable bunny owners on this forum that will likely have more too add!

[bumpybunny]

she has an xpen with toys and room to run, but her cage door is usually open almost all day for her to play in my room.

 

thank you! hopefully getting her spayed will help : )

[GlennTheLionhead]

Aww that sounds like she has plenty of space to play!

The time between hormones kicking in and waiting for a spay can be a really tough time for us humans but behaviour almost always settles back down a few weeks post spay.

Not sure what to say about the increase in attacking over the last couple days or her only attacking you… Bunnies can be very sensitive to little things that we barely notice sometimes.

[DanaNM]

That must be so upsetting. 🙁 Hormones can make this happen, so spaying should help a lot. It can take several weeks for things to improve though, so be patient with her. For now, wear thick gloves and move slowly and calmly when you do things around her cage. If she bites you, just stay put and don’t with draw your hand, but do make a loud squealing noise to let her know she’s hurting you. If possible, wait to clean and fill hay and water until she’s out of her pen.

Rabbits can also be really sensitive to scents. Could you perhaps be wearing a new lotion or using a new soap?

 

. . . 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.  

[bumpybunny]

thank you! i’ll use gloves until she seems to calm down.

i dont think so, i make sure not to pet her when wearing a strong lotion or perfume, the soap i use doesnt have much smell at all and she’s never really seemed to mind it before. i also wash my hands before petting her if i’ve been with another animal.

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