So I’ve never been part of this forum before, but I thought it might be the perfect place to get some help!
My rabbit Lissie is 2.5 years old and is a Netherland Dwarf, Lion Head mix (that’s what the pet store said, though her coloring leads me to believe there might be something else in there?). Anywho, she’s never been the friendliest (I think it’s pretty common for her breed to not be?), but under six months old she liked to cuddle, we kept her to the main room of our house so she was around people a lot, she would binky on the carpet, always trying to sneak into rooms she’s not allowed in, sniffed feet, etc. After six months old she became very territorial and grumpy, so we got her fixed, and she became much closer to her old self again. Up until about six months ago, she wasn’t as cuddly, but seemed to enjoy it for 15 minute stretches. She has free run of the entire first floor of the house except one room, and would always try to sneak in to the forbidden room if the doors were open (to the extent of sliding through the bars of a baby gate!). She would run laps in the carpeted room, binky when people came into to spend time with her, etc. She was litter box trained for many months, but has regressed and now poops anywhere in her cage (but usually only in her cage). She has two cardboard bunny mazes, one in each room, and she would spend a fair amount of time sitting in them, but not all day, every day.
Recently though, she has stopped coming out of the cardboard mazes all together, unless forced out (by picking up the maze). She doesn’t come to investigate people, doesn’t run, doesn’t binky. She does still seem to enjoy being held on a lap and having her head rubbed, but that’s it. She’s eating and drinking and pooping perfectly well, but she just seems to really not care whether I interact with her at all! Even whether I exist!
It’s very frustrating. I’m sure I don’t interact with her as much as I should (I’m a graduate student so I’m out of the house up to 12 hours every day), but there’s people in the house all day long, etc. If I sit down on the floor with her she just runs away or nips at me. She doesn’t seem to like any toys. I’m sure she’s bored, but I can’t figure out how to entertain her! I sometimes wonder if I’ve given her too much free run of the house? It’s gotten so bad that I’ve considered finding a new home for her. That sounds terrible, and it’s something I really don’t want to do, but she doesn’t seem to even notice me, nevertheless like me! She’s chewed every baseboard in the entire living room, the corner off my parent’s leather couch, the legs of an antique table, the rocking chair feet, etc. We’ve given her cardboard tubes to run through, cardboard mazes, carpet squares, boxes, paper to tear at, etc. and she doesn’t seem interested in any of it! Is she lonely? Is she bored?
Thank you so much for your help!