Petting In cage Vs out of cage

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This topic has 3sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 6 months ago by BEL.

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- 10/26/2016 at 2:44 PM
  BEL
  Participant
  48 posts
  Hey guys!
  
  My bunny, Nox, likes to be pet when she is in her cage but not when she is out of it. When I let her out I pet her before she leaves her cage, (so I don’t stick my hand and arm into her cage since that’s her space) and she loves it. She flattens out and bunny purrs and seems very happy. But when she is out of her cage she doesn’t like to be pet but she loves climbing all over me if I am on the floor. She hops away when I reach to pet her.
  
  Does anyone else experience this? What does it mean? How do I get her comfortable with petting outside her cage?
  
  Also I don’t know if it matters to this issue but I don’t pick her up. I herd her back to her cage or away from an area she shouldn’t be.
  
  Thanks for any help
- 10/26/2016 at 6:54 PM
  Dface
  Participant
  1084 posts
  My rabbits do this, it’s like if you brought a dog to the park, it’s not going to want to sit down on your lap-it’s going to want to run ans play and sniff and explore. Same principle for rabbits.
  It’s not that she’s uncomfortable, just disinterested.
  Some days mine come over to me for attention when they are out, but other days they wont be bothered about it.
- 10/26/2016 at 9:42 PM
  Tru
  Participant
  2 posts
  I think it is true that your bun is probably more interested in playing than in attention. However, she also might feel safer in her cage when it comes to hands coming at her face. Present your hand and ask to pet her, and if she says no with her body language, let it go and ask again later. She will like feeling like she has the choice, and some day she might choose to allow it. All buns are different.
- 10/27/2016 at 3:25 AM
  BEL
  Participant
  48 posts
  Thanks so much for the advice! I forgot to mention she is free range during the day when I am home so she is out of her cage at least 6 hours a day and she spends a lot of it napping under the table. Does this still mean she is just not interested? Or could she not feel safe outside of her cage yet? I have had her for about a month.
  
  Edit: Would setting up a smaller play area for say an hour a day help with bonding and getting her more comfortable with petting outside of her cage? Or would it make things worse?
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