smiledreamlove
Active Member
This may be a little lengthy as I wish to give a full picture!
Kuromi is a cashmere lop x bunny, and she lives indoors in my bedroom. She has her own large home and a run attached to it. She also gets out to have a good stretch - both around the house and outdoors in her harness, but I have to admit I am not as diligent as I should be, but she's always got access to her run during the day.
In the past month I have noticed a change. I guess it is since I gave her the run. I used to let her roam my entire room - and bunny proofed it to the best of my ability. She then started to chew my bed, and so I decided to make a big run so she couldn't get to the bed anymore. Sadly I think this is where I made the mistake as she has been moody for some time now.
The first sign of her mood change was that she started thumping really loudly. It's normally in the later hours of the night before I go to bed, and she's gotten to the point that it seems really rather demanding thumps. I normally top her food bins (hay and pellets) before going to bed each night and sometimes I get worried cos she acts like shes going to reach out and nip me, she just jumps at my hand. I try my best to not feel worry about her, cos I know she can pick up on it but sometimes I do it very fast to avoid her.
The other thing is that she's now nipped me. I guess I didn't take to it well and am more aware of her mouth. The first time was when I was sitting on the floor and was cleaning out her house (I always do this)... she was running about, trying to get in my way (as she always does lol) when she went behind me and just nipped my flesh on my - well rump I guess, haha! I got such a fright that I was rather stunned. I guess that's why I worry about being bitten again haha. Could she have been trying to groom me?
We do have a very good bond normally - she has always been a little braver than what I expected, she sleeps beside my feet, licks me, follows me about, sleeps in my lap, eats from my hands - the only thing, which I know not many rabbits enjoy, is that she doesn't like being picked up and kicks out. So I consider us good friends, and even with her attitude lately, I've not seen her completely shun spending company with me. But she is grumpy, and I'd really like to make her happy again. Today she's getting free run of the living room (bunny proofed)and is incredibly happy.
My summary is that:
- Romi is bored. She has toys, but she doesn't really play with them. I need to get her another cardboard box to play in.
- Romi is angry about the pen taking away her freedom.
- Romi is lonely. When I'm not in the room, she's in there alone/my dog is sleeping on the bed (she's in her house not in access of my dog). That reverts back to the bored /not having things to do. My two guinea pigs used to live in a separate house in the room, but they're now back outside cos its the warmer months and only come in over winter.
- Could this be diet related? I've noticed lately she's gone off her pellets and is eating more hay. It's summer here. She gets feed her greens and she's three months off of being a year old... so I've given her tiny slices of apple now and then (probably once a fortnight)... but could this be making her react?
I'm at a loss really... I've always tried my best to research things regarding my animals, and have tried looking at behavioural options... I truly think the thumping is her telling me off... telling me something is up and to pay attention to whatever it is... so I really want to listen and address her issues.
Thanks for reading this!
Chelle.
Kuromi is a cashmere lop x bunny, and she lives indoors in my bedroom. She has her own large home and a run attached to it. She also gets out to have a good stretch - both around the house and outdoors in her harness, but I have to admit I am not as diligent as I should be, but she's always got access to her run during the day.
In the past month I have noticed a change. I guess it is since I gave her the run. I used to let her roam my entire room - and bunny proofed it to the best of my ability. She then started to chew my bed, and so I decided to make a big run so she couldn't get to the bed anymore. Sadly I think this is where I made the mistake as she has been moody for some time now.
The first sign of her mood change was that she started thumping really loudly. It's normally in the later hours of the night before I go to bed, and she's gotten to the point that it seems really rather demanding thumps. I normally top her food bins (hay and pellets) before going to bed each night and sometimes I get worried cos she acts like shes going to reach out and nip me, she just jumps at my hand. I try my best to not feel worry about her, cos I know she can pick up on it but sometimes I do it very fast to avoid her.
The other thing is that she's now nipped me. I guess I didn't take to it well and am more aware of her mouth. The first time was when I was sitting on the floor and was cleaning out her house (I always do this)... she was running about, trying to get in my way (as she always does lol) when she went behind me and just nipped my flesh on my - well rump I guess, haha! I got such a fright that I was rather stunned. I guess that's why I worry about being bitten again haha. Could she have been trying to groom me?
We do have a very good bond normally - she has always been a little braver than what I expected, she sleeps beside my feet, licks me, follows me about, sleeps in my lap, eats from my hands - the only thing, which I know not many rabbits enjoy, is that she doesn't like being picked up and kicks out. So I consider us good friends, and even with her attitude lately, I've not seen her completely shun spending company with me. But she is grumpy, and I'd really like to make her happy again. Today she's getting free run of the living room (bunny proofed)and is incredibly happy.
My summary is that:
- Romi is bored. She has toys, but she doesn't really play with them. I need to get her another cardboard box to play in.
- Romi is angry about the pen taking away her freedom.
- Romi is lonely. When I'm not in the room, she's in there alone/my dog is sleeping on the bed (she's in her house not in access of my dog). That reverts back to the bored /not having things to do. My two guinea pigs used to live in a separate house in the room, but they're now back outside cos its the warmer months and only come in over winter.
- Could this be diet related? I've noticed lately she's gone off her pellets and is eating more hay. It's summer here. She gets feed her greens and she's three months off of being a year old... so I've given her tiny slices of apple now and then (probably once a fortnight)... but could this be making her react?
I'm at a loss really... I've always tried my best to research things regarding my animals, and have tried looking at behavioural options... I truly think the thumping is her telling me off... telling me something is up and to pay attention to whatever it is... so I really want to listen and address her issues.
Thanks for reading this!
Chelle.
