Gracie's Odd Behaviour

[irishmist]

Gracie has been acting very odd. She had some newspaper inher cage that had been stuffed into a paper towel roll. Shetook it out and was carrying it in her mouth until it was sopping wetand I took it off her. Not chewing it just carrying it aroundand she seemed to be pacing her cage. Plusshe isconstantly digging. Today I was cleaning her cage and droppedthe paper towel I was using to wipe up the cleaner. I droppedit on the floor and she grabbed it and will not give it up.She is running around the room with it, trying to get in the closet,hiding under the bed, digging on my bed. All the while adirty paper towel in her mouth. Not worried about the cleanerit is vinegar based and won't hurt her. What in the heck isshe doing

the newspaper ^

The paper towel^

paper towel and pooping under the bed something she has never done before1

Any help or ideas will be appreciated

Susan

 

[naturestee]

Sounds like hormones. Maybe she's trying to nest but can't quite figure it out?

 

[Stephanie]

Is she spayed? How old is she?

I'm thinking it's hormones too. She's very beautiful, I like her white belly and the lighter bit under her chin.

 

[irishmist]

No she is not spayed yet, she is approximately 5months old. She is separated from the other rabbits becauseof bonding issues. Pez our male did get her or at least triedto (we grabbed him off) but I think that it happened well over a monthago. I do not think (hope) he has had the opportunity since.

susan

 

[Shuu]

Sounds like hormones to me. Might be coming time to make an appointment for a spay.

 

[seniorcats]

It does sound like an age and hormoneissue. Our Eugenia Victoria did that before she wasspayed. She loved to take socks out of the laundry basket,run all over the house and use them to build a nest of hay, socks andfur behind the dryer. Our other bunny, at the time, was aneutered male so we figured it was a false pregnancy issue.

 

[mygrl2k3]

Looks like she is helping tidy up the cage. haha.

Cristy

 

[LuvaBun]

I agree with everyone else, and think Gracie is getting to 'that' age. Very cute pictures though

Jan

 

[Pangster]

I agree with everyone too!
But sounds really cute and she is lovely!!

 

[bluebird]

She is making a nest.It only takes a few seconds for them to breed.bluebird

 

[sfritzp]

Don't rabbits have 'phantom' pregnancies? Act like they are - but they aren't - hormonal stuff.
One thing - by the looks of those healthy poops, she doesn't have any stasis issues at present!
And she looks adorable with those towels in her mouth! She reminds me of my Muggs of happy memory!

 

[dajeti2]

I am not trying to throw a monkey wrench in what everyone has for I too think part of it hormones.

But...she sounds as though she is also playing with it. Apolloloves pare and will so the same thing in his cage with it as Gracie is.Let him and give a sheet of newspaper and he is having a blast justdragging it around. He does dig a bit when he has paper:?buthe loves it. I actually had to get a garbage can with a lid because hewould stand up and grab the first piece of paper he could find.

I think part of it with Gracie is hormones and part of it is she is just having a blast with paper.

Tina

 

[sfritzp]

Yes - she could just like playing with paper -or she sences how much her behavior is perplexing you, Irishmist, andis just enjoying driving you nuts!
(rabbits will do that...:shock

 

[edwinf8936]

She is saying "If you cannot clean better than that, I will do it myself".

Ed

 

[dootsmom]

She has that nesting urge. Time to think about spaying her.

 

[sfritzp]

You really are quite lucky, Irishmist.
Most rabbits go into the 'attack anyone or anything that comes near me or my cage' mode when they come of age.
Your Gracie walks around with paper in her mouth...
How cute is that?

 

[irishmist]

Thanks for the replies.. Oh yeah is just toooo cute! A paper towel klepto LOL

I put her in an old crib to give her a bit more room, cuz she wastearing up everything. And just because if she was to havekits there would be easy access. She went in between everybar until she found one that she could stick her head then whole bodythru! Kind of like the raptors, in Jurassic Park, testing thefences. Had to put cutting boards all along the sides so shecould not squeeze out.

Having bunnies is as bad as having a 2 year old... sheesh!

Susan