Bunny attacking cats and peeing on beds!!!!!

[jbrule]

He used to get along great with the cats, even play with them but when his hormones kicked in he started attacking them, he draws blood! He also pees on our beds! He was neutered last Friday, I know the hormones are still hanging around but what can I do in the mean time? If this doesn't stop he is going to have to stay in his cage!

 

[Pipp]

Five months old or so, right? LOL!

It will seem funny in a few months. They go through the most horrendous 'teen' phase. I looked at the title and went: "Pipp at six months". She's lucky she made it to seven. :grumpy:

She terrorized the cats (she'd circle around them, get underneath and look like she was trying to rip their stomachs out) and she constantly peed on my bed. I finally put a litter box on my bed, banned the cats and got her spayed. A month later she was back to her sweet little self. Except for the cats part. She's still VERY jealous.

A few of my rabbits have been like that, especially my mini-rexes. Dill and Sherry (mini-rex and dwarf respectively) would lie in wait and jump out and scare the h*ll out of the cats as they walked by. But they wouldn't bite.

My mini-rex Mister is starting to chase the cat now too, although he's trying to play. (The cat's trying to play as well, they're just not sure how to do it).

Sherry will always lunge at a cat if I'm petting it. Pipp still gets totally bent out of shape. She honks, grunts and bites ME if she sees me socializing. Its a dwarf thing.

My others ignore the cats completely. The cats are very grateful.


sas

 

[jbrule]

Now he bit me and broke the skin. What can I do? He started lunging at me a few days ago and i was hoping that I was imagining it. I can't put up with this kind of behavior and he unfortunately has to be locked up. I don't want to be one of those people that gets rid of a rabbit without trying to fix the problem. I really hope he improves when his hormones settle down. I'm really sad about this right now.

 

[Pipp]

Do you have a cage that you have to lift him out of? Aside from being hormonal, he could be cage aggressive.

You have to build trust by allowing them to come out on their own and just be gentle and patient.

But he will calm down after he's over this 'phase'.


sas :expressionless

 

[jbrule]

No, his cage has a side door. When I can't watch him I lock him in our bathroom and that's where he lunged at me in the past couple days. Today I was giving him parsley when he charged and bit.

 

[Maureen Las]

I had one that bit me so bad thatI was really afraid of him. (was not neutered yet) . I wore gloves, long pants and shoes and socks whenI dealt with him.
he was fineafter the neuter so just be patient ; just like night and day
butI still have a scar on my hand from him.

 

[jbrule]

What I don't understand is he didn't act like this before he was neutered (the biting me part, he did attack the cats before.) He likes to be pet, doesn't mind being picked up but just has gotten this mean streak. I will be patient, hopefully a few more weeks and everything will be ok.

He looks just like the lop in your pic angieluv.

 

[l.lai]

Pipp wrote:

Five months old or so, right? LOL!

It will seem funny in a few months. They go through the most horrendous 'teen' phase. I looked at the title and went: "Pipp at six months". She's lucky she made it to seven. :grumpy:

She terrorized the cats (she'd circle around them, get underneath and look like she was trying to rip their stomachs out) and she constantly peed on my bed. I finally put a litter box on my bed, banned the cats and got her spayed. A month later she was back to her sweet little self. Except for the cats part. She's still VERY jealous.

A few of my rabbits have been like that, especially my mini-rexes. Dill and Sherry (mini-rex and dwarf respectively) would lie in wait and jump out and scare the h*ll out of the cats as they walked by. But they wouldn't bite.

My mini-rex Mister is starting to chase the cat now too, although he's trying to play. (The cat's trying to play as well, they're just not sure how to do it).

Sherry will always lunge at a cat if I'm petting it. Pipp still gets totally bent out of shape. She honks, grunts and bites ME if she sees me socializing. Its a dwarf thing.

My others ignore the cats completely. The cats are very grateful.


sas

Aside from the Dwarf getting angry at you petting the cat, is it affectionate towards oyu in general?

 

[Pipp]

l.lai wrote:

Aside from the Dwarf getting angry at you petting the cat, is it affectionate towards oyu in general?

Pipp waits for me to wake up every morning and grooms my eyes and licks my nose. She jumps on my lap for petting sessions. She almost always comes running when she's called. She will always lick my nose when I pick her up and hold her close enough.

But she'll honk, charge and try and grab my leg or nip me if I try to leave *our* room if she knows there's another bunny on the other side of the gate.

My other dwarf, Sherry, has been called 'that emotionally disturbed rabbit' by my neighbour because she's always grunting and charging if you invade *her* space, but she's also very very friendly, she hangs around my feet waiting for pets. She also comes when she's called. Took about six months to a year to get that friendly, though. She was deemed unadoptable at the shelter.


sas :bunnydance:

 

[Pipp]

PS: Some bunnies who don't like being picked up are 'hand shy'. I can 'nuzzle' my Flemish boy and my mini-lop, but they dodge my hand if I go to reach for them or pet them.

They have to learn that you (and your hands) are friends, but not just by getting used to it. Grabbing and holding a struggling rabbit can still torture for them because of their instincts, and forcing the issue doesn't help, at least not for a long time -- years.

I try and stay on the ground with them, give them lots of 'face time', and put them briefly on my lap for pets and treats but let them go as soon as they struggle.

I give them a lot of little treats, not all the time but often enough to get their constant interest. The treats are tiny -- single flakes of oats, bits of apple skin, etc, designed for long sessions without ending up with a fat rabbit.

And I'm very patient.

sas