i got him over 4 months ago as a baby. but i cannot get him to stop scratching and freaking out when we pick him up. also, we've been trying to litter box train him and all he wants to do is kick the litter out of the pan.
he is a mini-rex, by the way. and i have heard they are one of the best types of rabbits to have as a pet.
what's his deal?
2006-11-13 15:31:10 · 9 answers · asked by leperxcore 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
about 4 months old is about the time they should be neutered or spayed as the aggression displayed during litter training is typical of rabbit puberty. they also do fun things like spray urine and the females can go absolutely insane with false pregnancies. be sure to choose a vet that specializes in small or exotic animals to avoid anesthesia complications.
also rabbits do freak out when they are young when you pick them up because they are prey animals and that's how a predator would snatch them. instead of bending over and grabbing him, get down to his level and cradel him in your arms securely and pet and talk to him. make him feel safe. he should not be restrained. if we wants to run, let him run. but getting him fixed will calm him down considerably and will lead to a happier, healthier life.
make sure he spends plently of time out of his cage at play. rabbits that spend too much time locked up get territorial and aggressive when people enter "their space" and try to handle them. best resource is www.rabbit.org. good luck! mini-rexes are great!
2006-11-14 22:42:43 · answer #1 · answered by Aeryn Sun 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He needs to be handled more often. Try with small steps first, you can pet him while he is in the cage and offer him some treats from your hand. You can continue this until you gradually start taking him out of the cage and holding him. Make sure you don't move around too much when your holding him, this might be another reason why he gets scared.
As for the litter box training it is a very difficult thing to do, I have a rabbit that is 3 years old and it took me about 1 year and a half to get him to even try it.
2006-11-14 09:42:22 · answer #2 · answered by ceci_garcia21 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Several things come to mind. One is, you have to remember that rabbits are the bottom of the food chain; they are prey animals. So whenever you reach for a rabbit, their natural instinct will be to flee.
Your rabbit needs to have a place to call his own. It would be best to try and coax your rabbit to you, using treats such as banana chips (my rabbits used to be gaga for banana chips). You have to be VERRRY patient with bunnies, because of their fear issues.
It would have been best if your rabbit had been socialized to humans early in his life. Since, apprently he wasn't, you need to earn your bunny's trust.
If the only way you can work with your rabbit is to just get him, then do it with confidence. Try pick him up from the top of the cage, rather than invading his space and coming at him like a predator. Pick him up confidently... DO NOT let him flail once you've picked him up, as he could kick his legs out and break his own back.
Coddly him, while holding him... you might put a sheet over him while he is on your lap, and while you massage his ears. He needs to learn that you mean only good to him.
As you gain his trust, it will be very important that you allow his cage to be HIS space. As he accepts that as his home, he will learn where his poo goes.
Here is a wonderful site that is all about having rabbits as housepets: http://www.rabbit.org/
2006-11-13 15:42:52 · answer #3 · answered by scruffycat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, IMO, Mini Rex aren't one of the better breeds to have as a pet. Of course, all rabbits are different and you need to handle your rabbit regularly to desensitize it to being touched and picked up. In general though, I find them to be more timid and would recommend Dutch over Mini Rex as a pet any day.
2006-11-14 01:22:26 · answer #4 · answered by akakarmamg 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As for him getting scared when you pick him up you just need to handle him a little more often. Handle him ever day for about five minuets a day. He will soon become more relaxed. I have never had any luck with rabbit litter box training.
2006-11-13 15:38:13 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
initially, is she spayed? lady rabbits can get very aggressive if not. Rabbits don't get menstrual/hormonal cycles, they are actually not getting into "warmth". Having infants won't help. it is likewise available that she misses her significant different. take a seat together with her, talk over together with her, permit her get used to you being around. at last you're in a position to get her yet another chum, yet be certain you bypass "bunny relationship" first.
2016-10-17 06:14:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rabbits are Ground Animals and do not like to be picked up for it makes them very scared and they feel very unsafe. I have 2 rabbits-a albino and a brown lop- eard rabbit, 1 female and a male but both fixed for they havae very large litters. I found them both easy to littertrain- got a litterbox and put enough litter -enough to cover the bottom and also spread a bit of hay over the litter and kind of bunch hay on the sides so when they go in the litterbox they will munch on the hay---the hay is necessary for it moves all they eat through the system and they poop also the hair they swallow when they groom themselves-rabbits cannot throw up hair like cats do and if they swallow too much will eventually get to be a big ball in their stomach which is very dangerous and difficult to remove for dangerous surgery and why I also brush them every day with a very soft bristle hairbrush for rabbits also have ensitive skin. Also use recycled paper litter for to use any other kind including pine will eventually cause great harm to the rabbit for they lick,chew litter and even the odor of cat litter can be very unhealthy. Petsmart.petco all petfood stores sell the recylced paper litter. I you are using regular cat litter Stop-the smell alone will not want him to stay in the litterbox and you also need to put hay in the litterbox. I do not pick my rabbits up at all but get on the floor with them and they come snuggle up against me,tug at my clothes and try to groom me. Precious the lop eard male loves to snuggle they come to you and put their head flat on the ground -and in rabbit language that means I'm yours-pet me. always pet a rabbit the way the hair grows and not against it-irritates the rabbit. Rabbits also love toys-the keys you give babies to play with-pich them up in their mouths and toss them around. they also like empty toilet paper spools and empty paper tpwel spools(make sure all the paper is off and glue so they can't swallow) They also chew it which is important for their teeth always grow so need to have things to chew-again why hay is important. Hay can be TIMOTHY HAY and ALFALFA HAY(not too much and after 1year mostly TIMOTHY but can mix in ALFALFA-rabbits love alfalfa and its also very healthy for them) Again PETSMART
2006-11-13 16:07:45
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answer #7
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answered by Anonymous
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Get to know him by spending time
2006-11-13 15:52:16 · answer #8 · answered by clownsguts 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
tranquilize that mother f*cker
2006-11-13 15:35:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋