I think we need a bunny marriage counsellor

[littlegreenfairy]

The bunnies are on the edge of a divorce. After Treacle came back from the vet (having taken both of them to not split them up) Coco has taken it upon herself to be a proper cow bag and chasing him, nipping him and not letting him in the living room.

I've had him under the bed now for 3 nights including having a litter tray by my bedside (which is NOT pleasant) as she wont even let him pee! The relief on his little face when I brought in the poopy tray was quite something.

What on earth can we do? We are leaving them to it (under supervision) but if we have another night like last night (constant chasing around) we will eat them as we're so tired.

Could it be because he smells of medication? Does she think he's sick and is no longer top bunny?

We've shut them both in each others spaces to even out the smells but this hasn't helped either. We don't want unhappy rabbits and we want some sleep!!

Has anyone got any suggestions?

[Defcon5]

Cant assist in any way but this is a brilliant thread

[littlegreenfairy]

Cheers Defcon

My husband had to sit on the bed all day yesterday to referee between them and I've been on bunwatch all afternoon (I napped until the thumping woke me up) but we're running out of patience!

[bexVN]

Is she spayed (I'm thinking she is)

I don't know what to suggest, it may be worth checking rabbit welfare association web site and house rabbit society.

She could just need a few more days to settle. What are they like in the garden together?

[Defcon5]

Are they housetrained then? Do they just potter around the house as they please?

[littlegreenfairy]

They don't have a garden at the mo (we send them on holiday for that!) Yes both spayed - perhaps we've taught her too well to stand up for herself as she was such a timid scaredy cat when we first got her.

They usually play so well and snuggle up. We thought we had a bit of a breakthrough earlier when they ate together and sat together. Then one moved a bit too quickly for the other and the house descended into chaos.

The welfare website suggests that they are rebonding a bit now (perhaps due to him smelling funny, and omg does his pee stink from the meds he's had...and don't talk about the last 2 doses of the painkillers as he's got so much stronger now he wont have them anywhere near him..I thought he was going to eat us when we had the last lot) The suggestion seems to be to leave them to it so long as they aren't drawing blood.

I take it we're having another noisy night. Goodness only knows what the flat below us are thinking!

[Defcon5]

Give them weapons, make it interesting.

[Sheets Tabuer]

Defcon5 said:

Give them weapons, make it interesting.

OT I know but our rabbit has started to pick up his loo rolls and runs about with them flicking his head up and down, then he'll run up and throw them at me, bizarre behaviour as he only does it to me.

[Defcon5]

Started to pick up his what?

[Sheets Tabuer]

loo roll tubes, we give him the cardboard tubes to play with.

Ok just us then.

[littlegreenfairy]

Sheets Tabuer said:

loo roll tubes, we give him the cardboard tubes to play with.

Ok just us then.

We do it too. Kitchen roll tubes with a couple of treats in and stuffed with hay at both ends are great cheap destroyable toys.

[littlegreenfairy]

Defcon5 said:

Are they housetrained then? Do they just potter around the house as they please?

They are housetrained and use litter trays. When they aren't trying to rip each other to shreds and st everywhere to mark their territory (thank goodness it's not pee) they are lovely housemates and very cuddly and friendly.

At the moment it's like living with Satan's very own pets.

[omgus]

I love PH, there is a Macunian sitting in a RangeRover waiting to attack a Yorkshireman giving us ujpdates on one thread and now i get War Of The Bunnies.

<proper answer>
Can you have them separated by something like a baby gate so they can get used to each other again whilst still being able to back away. In the same way you introduce Cats to dogs?

</proper answer>

[littlegreenfairy]

We put one in the cage and it only made things worse as it gave the other chance to mark more territory.

I think we'll just have to let them sit it out.

Does the chap in the RR want one very angry rabbit to do his dirty work for him?

[Thom987]

Show this to the offending rabbit.

[SmokinV8]

More than likely it is the strange vet smell that is making one arsy with the other one, time will be the deciding factor in whether they will bond again

[Turn7]

If its a smell thing, can you bath both of them so they then smell the same ?

[bexVN]

SmokinV8 said:

More than likely it is the strange vet smell that is making one arsy with the other one, time will be the deciding factor in whether they will bond again

Ashame though as they both went to the vets to try and avoid this reaction.

[Mubby]

how strange that they used to get on well and now they don't, my two often squabble with each other but nothing more than a quick chase, I have a male and female both neutered, lived together for 5 years now.

I would just leave them to it, get a water squirter on hand and spray them when they squabble!

[littlegreenfairy]

It seems to be a little better and has gone from all out biting and war to a bit of chasing. They managed a little mutual grooming before going nuts again. Currently they are asleep under the be at opposite ends.

Stoopid animals I think they might be scared of each other now and when one moves a bit too quickly the other panics, which causes the first one to panic an so it escalates.