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BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately!  Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES 

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet.  It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

Forum BEHAVIOR Grumpy and Thumping

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    • MiNinoJack
      Participant
      226 posts Send Private Message

        So I don’t know if my boy woke up on the wrong side of his twigloo this morning but while he was having his morning pellet snack I thought I would stretch a bit on my living room rug where he normally plays and lounges during the day. He was in his cage and he didn’t like my movement AT ALL and started thumping at me.  I stopped and eventually left the room so he would calm down since that seemed to be what he wanted. 

        I am really sensitive to his anger. I worry when he gets upset because he has freaked out and hurt himself in the past when he’s reached his limit. When I move his maze haven he either gets scared or pissed. I never move anything when he’s out, I always wait until he’s back in his cage to minimize the trauma.

        I understand that he thinks the rug is his, but I want to be able to live my life with him tolerant of me in “his” space.

        Any advice on how to calm him down when he gets going? Is the a way to teach a rabbit to share? Or is that the impossible? 

        I’m a new bunny parent and maybe overly sensitive. We are both happy and relaxed 95% of the time. 


      • Mikey
        Participant
        3186 posts Send Private Message

          Lay on the rug and pet him if he comes near you. Bribe him to come near you with treats. Is he neutered? Neutering can help a lot with territory issues


        • jerseygirl
          Moderator
          22338 posts Send Private Message

            Thumping is usually triggered by their perceiving danger. Be it real or not.

            They don’t see that well. We look like can look like a blob to them. So I’m guessing he caught your movement and maybe thought it was something else? He’s probably used to seeing your outline upright. So down low on the floor, he may have thought it was an unknown predator. It’s hard to think like this because we want them to feel safe and secure, but they are hard-wired to react like this, being a prey animal. Sometimes it’s the slightest thing can set them off and we can’t figure out why. Even when we’ve had them for years.

            Don’t take it personally. He’s not angry at you.


          • MiNinoJack
            Participant
            226 posts Send Private Message

              Yes he’s neutered. He’s actually never very territorial except about his twigloo. But I can’t fit in there anyway. So he’s happy haha.

              Thanks Jerseygirl. That’s an excellent point I haven’t thought of. I should learn more about their eyesight to get a better understanding.


            • jerseygirl
              Moderator
              22338 posts Send Private Message

                This fun guide doesn’t go into eyesight, but it does help to understand our rabbits a little better.

                The Language of Lagomorphs


              • MiNinoJack
                Participant
                226 posts Send Private Message

                  I love that website! I’ve tried a few of their suggestions out and I think Jack thinks I’m nuts. Haha. Thanks and congrats on becoming forum leader!


                • jerseygirl
                  Moderator
                  22338 posts Send Private Message

                    Thank You


                  • Booplesnoot
                    Participant
                    50 posts Send Private Message

                      That site is great. I had no idea how pissed off my bun was when I first brought him here, haha. It was all my fault for not following proper bun protocol. I made my bunny amends using that site’s info. My SO thought I was stark raving mad. He now calls me the crazy bunny lady.

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                  Forum BEHAVIOR Grumpy and Thumping