MaltytheBun
New Kit
Hello all I am new to the forum so apologies if I am posting in the wrong place or anything! I have recently adopted a lionhead bunny named Malteser (Malty for short!) and I am hoping for some advice about his changing behaviour. He is unneutered, I was told he is about 5 months old, and I have had him for just over 3 weeks. He currently lives outdoors (this is what he was used to at the rescue place but he had a smaller space) in a large hutch and attached run.
Despite having some previous experience of bunnies I am having some real trouble with Malty having territorial aggression towards me when I reach into his cage or step into his run to feed him, stroke him, give him toys to play with, or change his litter tray. As soon as I am within his "territory" he gets angry and/or excited, and lunges aggressively, grunts, digs at or jumps on my shoes and bites at my clothes (he hasn't nipped my skin yet but I think this is just by chance since I have had a long-sleeved coat on - he does seem to have quite malicious intent in him!).
I noticed early on he didn't like it when I moved anything in his cage, but the aggression has just started in the last few days since he has really settled in (at first I moved him from hutch to run each day, but now I have set it up so he can go freely as he likes and has more space). Now that he has his own space, his behaviour is getting progressively worse and I am starting to be a bit scared of him! He also digs a lot and gets unhappy and bites/lunges if I move or touch anything of his. Often if I put a new toy in (like a cardboard box) he will jump on it like a crazy thing and scrabble like mad - sometimes he does this when I change the litter box too, and chucks it everywhere!
I have owned rabbits before - having rescued a neutered adult male and a young female (who we later had spayed) a few years ago. My previous bunnies were not aggressive and never lunged, bit, or dug - the boy, Bramble, was a complete darling and very laid back, the girl bunny Clover was very grumpy (never aggressively, she just thumped and grunted a lot) but improved somewhat when spayed, and so I wondered whether neutering is the answer to Malteser's behaviour? I hope to get him a companion one day after he gets neutered, but for now I do really worry that he may be lonely... I would like to spend more time with him - but seeing as I am scared to go in his cage or even to reach in it is getting very difficult! It makes me very sad that he seems to hate my presence so much
Also just to say that (I don't know if this is relevant or not) I have had a very sick guinea pig on death's door to look after for the past week or so (who is now vastly better, thank goodness), and with all the time and stress I haven't had quite as much time to spend with Malty. Could this be a trigger for increased aggression towards me?
I would be really grateful for any advice - particularly practical ways of feeding him and giving him attention without getting attacked until I can go and get him neutered. Also, does anyone have experience of having an aggressive bun and having them neutered/spayed? Did their behaviour change and if not, are there other things you can try to overcome the problem of a territorial rabbit?
Thanks in advance! I will try to get some pictures up of Malty soon - he may be grumpy, but he looks adorable!
Despite having some previous experience of bunnies I am having some real trouble with Malty having territorial aggression towards me when I reach into his cage or step into his run to feed him, stroke him, give him toys to play with, or change his litter tray. As soon as I am within his "territory" he gets angry and/or excited, and lunges aggressively, grunts, digs at or jumps on my shoes and bites at my clothes (he hasn't nipped my skin yet but I think this is just by chance since I have had a long-sleeved coat on - he does seem to have quite malicious intent in him!).
I noticed early on he didn't like it when I moved anything in his cage, but the aggression has just started in the last few days since he has really settled in (at first I moved him from hutch to run each day, but now I have set it up so he can go freely as he likes and has more space). Now that he has his own space, his behaviour is getting progressively worse and I am starting to be a bit scared of him! He also digs a lot and gets unhappy and bites/lunges if I move or touch anything of his. Often if I put a new toy in (like a cardboard box) he will jump on it like a crazy thing and scrabble like mad - sometimes he does this when I change the litter box too, and chucks it everywhere!
I have owned rabbits before - having rescued a neutered adult male and a young female (who we later had spayed) a few years ago. My previous bunnies were not aggressive and never lunged, bit, or dug - the boy, Bramble, was a complete darling and very laid back, the girl bunny Clover was very grumpy (never aggressively, she just thumped and grunted a lot) but improved somewhat when spayed, and so I wondered whether neutering is the answer to Malteser's behaviour? I hope to get him a companion one day after he gets neutered, but for now I do really worry that he may be lonely... I would like to spend more time with him - but seeing as I am scared to go in his cage or even to reach in it is getting very difficult! It makes me very sad that he seems to hate my presence so much
Also just to say that (I don't know if this is relevant or not) I have had a very sick guinea pig on death's door to look after for the past week or so (who is now vastly better, thank goodness), and with all the time and stress I haven't had quite as much time to spend with Malty. Could this be a trigger for increased aggression towards me?
I would be really grateful for any advice - particularly practical ways of feeding him and giving him attention without getting attacked until I can go and get him neutered. Also, does anyone have experience of having an aggressive bun and having them neutered/spayed? Did their behaviour change and if not, are there other things you can try to overcome the problem of a territorial rabbit?
Thanks in advance! I will try to get some pictures up of Malty soon - he may be grumpy, but he looks adorable!