Hello!
Newbie here! Desperate for some advice for my situation!
I have a grumpy neutered female. Had her about a year and thought she would be happier with a mate, after reading lots of rabbit advice online. Yesterday I brought home a sweet neutered male about the same age.
As per a website I'd read, I put them in the bath together today. He initially tried to hump her and she was not happy. She bit him on the rump and latched on. There were a few more scuffles. SO much of his fur all over the place! I did intervene with the bites but put them side by side and petted, stroked and talked to them both. She calmed down a lot, really relaxed and lay flat on the bath. He was still more upright. I did this to them for about 10-15 minutes. If I stopped stroking, he sniffed her and I was worried she'd bite him, so I kept on. He eventually nuzzled right into her side, it was so sweet! I then briefly separated them (he went into a pet carrier) as my baby woke up from his nap. When i went back I reopened the pet carrier. He was reluctant to come out and when he did she bit him on the face! Latched on for a few seconds whilst I eeked and banged a saucepan. God, it was so stressful!
I have now read lots of websites and am panicking that it is all going wrong and I am a terrible rabbit owner and they will never be friends. She is so bloody grumpy (she has bitten me before) and territorial. What do you all think? I am planning on trying the bath again tomorrow (I have swapped over soiled litter tray overnight, but she is in an outdoor hutch/run and he is in an indoor cage). What should I do?
Many, many thanks in advance, Laura
Newbie here! Desperate for some advice for my situation!
I have a grumpy neutered female. Had her about a year and thought she would be happier with a mate, after reading lots of rabbit advice online. Yesterday I brought home a sweet neutered male about the same age.
As per a website I'd read, I put them in the bath together today. He initially tried to hump her and she was not happy. She bit him on the rump and latched on. There were a few more scuffles. SO much of his fur all over the place! I did intervene with the bites but put them side by side and petted, stroked and talked to them both. She calmed down a lot, really relaxed and lay flat on the bath. He was still more upright. I did this to them for about 10-15 minutes. If I stopped stroking, he sniffed her and I was worried she'd bite him, so I kept on. He eventually nuzzled right into her side, it was so sweet! I then briefly separated them (he went into a pet carrier) as my baby woke up from his nap. When i went back I reopened the pet carrier. He was reluctant to come out and when he did she bit him on the face! Latched on for a few seconds whilst I eeked and banged a saucepan. God, it was so stressful!
I have now read lots of websites and am panicking that it is all going wrong and I am a terrible rabbit owner and they will never be friends. She is so bloody grumpy (she has bitten me before) and territorial. What do you all think? I am planning on trying the bath again tomorrow (I have swapped over soiled litter tray overnight, but she is in an outdoor hutch/run and he is in an indoor cage). What should I do?
Many, many thanks in advance, Laura