Starfish Slush
New Kit
Hi
So I bought Harley 7 or so years ago and had him on his own for a year when I decided he was just too lonely. He had been fixed already when I bought Miffy as a baby and as soon as she was old enough I got her fixed too. Once she was healed I started the bonding process and they took to each other really well. It was a really easy bond. However just over a month ago Harley died and Miffy was so lonely (she was trying to make friends with our ducks who she'd previously completely ignored).
So I bought Waffle from the RSPCA, he's a male and they fixed him back in March, but I don't know how old he is. I started bonding them a week ago Friday and at first he just humped her persistently. But after 2 meetings he settled down and they were getting on really well. I was leaving them for a minute or two alone together during each session. For 2 days they were fine with each other. He didn't hump her and they'd choose to sit next to each other and lie down together. However the next time I put them together he started to bite at her eyes. He isn't showing any other aggressive behaviour towards her and he hardly ever humps her, but he persistently goes to her eyes and bites. At first I thought he was trying to groom her, but it's definitely biting and if I don't pull him away soon enough she flinches away. She is very timid and hardly ever ventures out of the corner, but she seems relaxed as she lies down and washes and has even seemed to sleep. When she does venture out though Waffle starts sniffing around her and most of the time he chases her back into the corner. One occasion she humped him and it started a chase, but other than that she's very much been submissive. Occasionally one or both of them will put their heads down to be groomed, but neither will groom the other. Miffy was absolutely spoilt by Harley grooming her all the time and she hardly ever reciprocated. Now whenever she puts her head down to Waffle he sniffs and then goes to bite her eye.
I don't really know what to do. Everytime he bites I put my hand towards his face and pull him away, he nearly always flinches away, but even if I frighten him and touch his nose, he can go straight back to biting her. Then if I move him away from her he'll just go back and settle down next to her. I don't understand the behaviour because he's not showing any other signs of aggression and he only ever goes for her eyes, he's never bitten anywhere else. Anyone got any ideas? Also anyone got any suggestions as to how I stop him? And what I should do next for their bonding?
Thanks
Pippa
So I bought Harley 7 or so years ago and had him on his own for a year when I decided he was just too lonely. He had been fixed already when I bought Miffy as a baby and as soon as she was old enough I got her fixed too. Once she was healed I started the bonding process and they took to each other really well. It was a really easy bond. However just over a month ago Harley died and Miffy was so lonely (she was trying to make friends with our ducks who she'd previously completely ignored).
So I bought Waffle from the RSPCA, he's a male and they fixed him back in March, but I don't know how old he is. I started bonding them a week ago Friday and at first he just humped her persistently. But after 2 meetings he settled down and they were getting on really well. I was leaving them for a minute or two alone together during each session. For 2 days they were fine with each other. He didn't hump her and they'd choose to sit next to each other and lie down together. However the next time I put them together he started to bite at her eyes. He isn't showing any other aggressive behaviour towards her and he hardly ever humps her, but he persistently goes to her eyes and bites. At first I thought he was trying to groom her, but it's definitely biting and if I don't pull him away soon enough she flinches away. She is very timid and hardly ever ventures out of the corner, but she seems relaxed as she lies down and washes and has even seemed to sleep. When she does venture out though Waffle starts sniffing around her and most of the time he chases her back into the corner. One occasion she humped him and it started a chase, but other than that she's very much been submissive. Occasionally one or both of them will put their heads down to be groomed, but neither will groom the other. Miffy was absolutely spoilt by Harley grooming her all the time and she hardly ever reciprocated. Now whenever she puts her head down to Waffle he sniffs and then goes to bite her eye.
I don't really know what to do. Everytime he bites I put my hand towards his face and pull him away, he nearly always flinches away, but even if I frighten him and touch his nose, he can go straight back to biting her. Then if I move him away from her he'll just go back and settle down next to her. I don't understand the behaviour because he's not showing any other signs of aggression and he only ever goes for her eyes, he's never bitten anywhere else. Anyone got any ideas? Also anyone got any suggestions as to how I stop him? And what I should do next for their bonding?
Thanks
Pippa