Forum

OUR FORUM IS UP BUT WE ARE STILL IN THE MIDDLE OF UPDATING AND FIXING THINGS.  SOME THINGS WILL LOOK WEIRD AND/OR NOT BE CORRECT. YOUR PATIENCE IS APPRECIATED.  We are not fully ready to answer questions in a timely manner as we are not officially open, but we will do our best. 

You may have received a 2-factor authentication (2FA) email from us on 4/21/2020. That was from us, but was premature as the login was not working at that time. 

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.

What are we about?  Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules

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 Sudden Severe Cage Aggression

Viewing 2 reply threads
  • Author
    Messages

    • Tara
      Participant
      26 posts Send Private Message

        I’ve had my two buns Frisk and Tiddles for a while. They’re my first buns and it has been a roller coaster ride. 

        I got them both neutered about a month or two ago and everything has been rather smooth aside from a small hiccup after introducing my roommates cat. They are almost as friendly as they were as babies. Begging for pets, not running away from us, and generally showing signs of being happy. However Frisk has suddenly started showing some severe aggression. 

        He is fine with Tiddles, and he is fine when he is out of his cage. However the moment the cage door is opened to fill his bowl or clean he gets all riled up. He races up the cage and charges blindly at us, grunting and making generally unhappy noises. Most of the time if I’m just feeding he will chill out, even interact with us in a friendly way. If I’m cleaning he will keep grunting and lunge and even bite at me. (hasn’t bitten me yet but has tried). We thought maybe it was because of the cat (who ignores them for the most part and is locked up during play time so he can’t hurt them or scare them.). He would charge the cage wall and grunt when the cat first investigated the cage. Effectively scared the cat off. Frisk seems to have calmed from that behavior, but he’s still showing aggression towards us. 

        I don’t know how to deal with it since I’ve only every had larger animals. Horses taught me that you stand your ground and DO NOT back down or else they learn to keep doing it. I don’t know if it’s the same with rabbits. I just want to know how to handle this without damaging the relationship. 


      • Mikey
        Participant
        3186 posts Send Private Message

          Many rabbits are territorial of their cage. My boys have been neutered for over a year, and if I stick my hand in there to clean while theyre in there, theyll try to push me away. Theyll nudge with their heads and make little huffy noises while using their little front feet to push me out. I dont get nipped or bitten, but they do make it clear they dont like me cleaning.

          Theyve also been pretty recently neutered. For a month or two after their neuters, they can go through hormonal phases where their hormones spike causing them to act like mean little buggers for a day or few.

          I would recommend only cleaning the cage when they are not around. You can keep feeding them while theyre in the cage, so they associate you in their cage with positive things.


        • jerseygirl
          Moderator
          22338 posts Send Private Message

            I don’t know how to deal with it since I’ve only every had larger animals. Horses taught me that you stand your ground and DO NOT back down or else they learn to keep doing it. I don’t know if it’s the same with rabbits. I just want to know how to handle this without damaging the relationship.

            I believe it is the same with rabbits.
            The fact that he successfully warned the cat off could have reinforced for him that aggression works.
            So I would stand my ground with him if you’re faced with aggression, until he learns it won’t achieve anything and that you are not a threat. By that, I don’t mean baiting him into the behaviour over and over. Especially if it is fear-based because he is wary of the cat.
            We do have to be respectful of their “safe space” also, so- as Mikey suggested- try to mainly attend to the cage while they are out of it. But for those times where it can’t be avoided, maybe put on protective gloves if he does try bite and try not react to the aggressiveness.

        Viewing 2 reply threads
        • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.

        Forum BEHAVIOR Sudden Severe Cage Aggression