Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I just recently adoped an adult lop from the humane society. She was a stray that someone dumped, so they don't know her exact age, just that she is an adult. She has not been spayed. I have had her for one week, and the first week, she was a complete angel! She had some chewing problems with cords, but with a little training, she had pretty much stopped chewing on them. A couple days ago, I cleaned her cage completely, for the first time. When I did this, I switched from a recycled paper bedding to a wood-chip-type bedding that they had been using with her at the humane society (no pine or cedar though). Since I cleaned her cage, she has been a complete terror. When she is let out of her cage, she tries to pull up the carpet and tries to dig the carpet up where it meets the wall. I have a particular area that she is allowed to be in, and this has not changed at all, but I don't know why suddenly she is acting so strangely. Not only that, but she has completely torn up the inside of her cage. She tips her bowls over, overturns her litterbox, and somehow removes her hay rack from the side of the cage and throws the hay around everywhere. Like I said, this behavior has only been exhibited since I cleaned the cage. I am wondering if they new bedding has anything to do with it, or if that is just a completely off the wall guess. Also, she has not been drinking a very large amount of water. I don't know what is a normal amount to drink, but I have noticed she's not drinking much. Could she be sick, or is she just being tempermental? Do you think this behavior is because she isn't spayed? But if so, why has she only been a little devil in the past few days? Any help anyone has would be greatly appreciated! I want my good little bunny back!

Welcome to the world of rabbits. Nothing you listed was in any way strange or a "behavior problem." Those are normal characteristic of a rabbit, especially if the rabbit is bored. I highly suggest you get her spayed, since that can calm rabbits down a LOT. Along with that, female rabbits over the age of 3 years old have an 85% chance of getting uterine cancer. Spaying is a necessity. Make sure the vet is rabbit-savvy. Here's a list of House Rabbit Society-recommended vets, I'm sure there's one near you: Click.

Ripping up carpet and rearranging their cage is just what rabbits do. Bedding isn't going to change how she acts. Though, I suggest you use CareFresh or Yesterday's News instead of any kind of wood chips -- they absorb more and are better all around.

Rabbits can be very calm and introverted the first few days they're in a home, and will take a while before exhibiting their true personality. So, most likely, you won't be having your angel bunny back anytime soon.

Make sure she gets adequate time out of her cage everyday, with room to run, jump, and play. Bunny proof the room she's in by covering wires with wire wrap, removing things you don't want ripped up, etc. If the ripping up carpet bothers you a lot, buy an area rug that covers the ground where she's allowed out.

Sounds like you have a bored bunny. Give her toys to chew on and toss around. Give her time outside the cage to play and get attention. The more playtime they have, the less likely they are to be destructive. Spaying also often helps a lot, but it is not always a 100% cure. Depending on her nature, she may want a companion as well. You might see about trying to find a rabbit rescue near you and see if they have an available rabbit that will get along with her. Make sure she is spayed and healed from the spay before you get another, though, as unspayed females are usually very territorial and can fight to the death.