Marking territory or just being cantankerous?

Smitty52 · Mar 16, 2012

Hi Everyone,
I'm new here, but already enjoying reading through some of your posts. I am a new bunny owner, I've had Gracie the Holland Lop for almost two weeks now. Right now she is living in an xpen with a litter box, with hops of eventually someday being a house bunny with no pen at all. Right now she stays in the pen till I get home, and I've been letting her out to play and explore for a few hours every night.

So my problem is, that when I let her out she has gone up on the couch and poops and peas there, and the same with the futon in the other room. I've tried to catch her in the act, but she does it so quick I can't even tell until after she hops away. I don't understand this behaviour because she only uses the litter box when she's in her pen. I've read in certain places online that it could be marking territory, but I find a lot of information online is contradictory. Is there a way to correct this behaviour?

I would really appreciate any help I can get, because so far my experience with her has been great and I'm really loving her, except for this.

Samara · Mar 16, 2012

Sounds like it could be a few things...let's try some digging.

How old is she? Had she ever used a litter box in the past before you brought her home?

Do you have other pets that frequent the areas she weeing on?

Is she spayed?

When she's out and about, how many rooms does she have access to?

What's her pee look like? Color?

Has she had any recent vet trips?

Smitty52 · Mar 16, 2012

I was told she is about 6 months old. She gave birth to 8 babies 1 week and half ago (1 day after I got her...pretty much a surprise). I have been feeding her more so she has enough to feed the babies, so I'm wondering if that's why shes pooping a lot.

She really only has access to the living room and a small office area that comes off of it.

Her pee is yellow but has been a little cloudy. I was also wondering about that, is that bad?

Since I've had her for less than two weeks, she hasn't been to the vet.

Samara · Mar 16, 2012

It sounds like her pee is normal. Sometimes when they've established a long while of good box habits then start going elsewhere they have a UTI and need a vet trip. Your girl doesn't sound like that's the issue.

It sounds like to me that she is still getting used to her new freedom and your home. Sometimes when bunnies are learning to use the litter box and they have a ton of space to explore they don't always A) make it back to the box or B) realize that's the only place they should go.

I would restrict her to one room for now, whichever room her pen/cage is in. Or switch her to the smaller office if that's preferable for your household.

I would also add a second and even third litter box to the area in various parts of the room. When she sprinkles droppings pick them up and toss them in the various boxes as a reminder that this is the spot to go in. You can also add some hay to each litter box to encourage her to go there. (Bunnies often pee/poop while they're eating).

When I was training my Bailey I had 3 boxes and he had one room. As the training progressed I removed one box, then the second. When I wanted him to have access to additional rooms I took down the gate and added the 2 old litter boxes to just beyond the doorway to "his" room. Eventually the process worked and he would make it all the way back to his original box.

Sometimes buns need the extra boxes around to keep up the habit. C'est la vie.

Wash where she has peed (furniture, etc) with a diluted vinegar mix or a cleaner from the store. The sooner you get the smell out the better. Now that she's marked it, she'll return most likely.

Hope this helps!

Samara · Mar 16, 2012

Also, if she still wees outside the added boxes, blot it up with a tissue or toilet paper and toss those in the litter boxes as well. The smell of her urine is also a reminder, like the droppings.

MiniLopHop · Mar 16, 2012

I agree with everything Sammy said. She is also probably being territorial since she is not spayed. I would highly recommend getting that done after the babies are weaned. It is almost impossible to break an unaltered rabbit from marking with poo.