4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Beccy and Niki]

Wonder if anybody can help.

 

A friend of mine has a female rabbit which until last Friday was very affectionate, friendly and loved cuddles and strokes.

 

Apparently since Saturday, she has been really aggressive, biting the children, doesn't want anybody to go near her and has started grunting.

 

He can't understand what is wrong with her as nothing has changed. The only thing that he can put it down to, is that he has started having a visit from some rats from the fields at the back and wondered if these would have scared her.

 

Any advice anybody.

[hils78]

how old is the rabbit? We had one who was a horror & continuley had false pregnancies. I can't remember if rabbits come on heat but she does sound hormonal.

I'm terrified of grumpy rabbits - give me a snarling rottweiler any day!

[Beccy and Niki]

She's two and apparently hasn't been spayed.

 

Could be a potential?

[catherinee99]

Getting her spayed may be an idea. It also reduces the risk of ovarian cancer and may make her happier and less aggressive. Its a big op for a girl but at 2 she is still young enough.

 

Perhaps have a chat with your vet.

 

The main thing is don't push attention on her- be gentle and very quiet with her so she doesn't feel threatened and perhaps not touch her until she initiates it. Speaking softly to her should reassure her.

[bethany]

my rabbit was fine just a few hours after being spayed and after months of worrying about the operation it was a great relief and now she is so affectionate and contented it's like two different rabbits! she just needed a lot of tlc after the operation and I think that too made her feel more safe and closer to me because now she seems to think she's my 'special little friend' haha.

[swalka]

we have a rabbit who is lovely until she feels otherwise. It can be quite random.

 

We've narrowed it down to having a hand put in her cage to fill her bowl - she snarls and rears but unless you really upset her she rarely does anything about it. holding her by her back everytime while we pick up the bowl helps.

 

Shes been moody since we got her, neutering her did not in all honesty help much, she likes affention on her own terms, but we've been relentless with the handling and she will tolerate being picked up for the odd grooming and nail clipping.

 

Shes a black and white dwarf. I think expectation that all rabbits are fluffy and cuddly is somewhat misplaced butit doesn't mean we love her any less.

 

hope that helps!