Aggressive Behaviors

Aggression that rabbits exhibit towards humans is primarily motivated by fear.⁹ As with other domestic pets, negative behaviors can be inadvertently reinforced as caregivers pull away from the pet and interact with it less in response to an adverse interaction. For instance, if a rabbit bites a human and that human stops handling the animal, it may learn that biting will keep humans away. Also, any rough handling in response to mischievous behavior can cause damage to the trust relationship that a rabbit has with its caregiver, thereby creating and/or reinforcing an adversarial relationship. Behavior modification (see “Behavioral Training Techniques for Small Mammals,” below) is recommended for rabbits that have developed fear aggression.⁹

Aggression between rabbits is usually due to defense of territory, fear, and/or the desire to establish dominance (fighting, for instance, to establish rank or priority access to resources such as food or potential mates), all of which can become worse as these animals reach sexual maturity. Aggression is particularly prevalent between males at puberty, and serious injury may follow if such rabbits are not separated. Bucks will spray urine and begin mounting objects, people, and other pets. It is best to neuter them early, before this aggression begins, to quell this behavior.

Does will often have intense mood swings, and they will also mount companions, spray urine, and begin digging and displaying nesting behaviors. They may become more aggressive toward people, other rabbits, and other pets. Groups of female rabbits that are bonded and have been grouped together from a young age tend to continue to get along despite hormonal changes associated with puberty. However, they should still be spayed to prevent medical problems often seen in intact females (see Chapter 17).

Rabbits will exhibit anger and annoyance with a grunt, growl, snort, or short barking sound. An upright stance will be assumed, with ears flat and tail stretched out. An angry, aggressive rabbit may also kick high and backwards and will often lunge and bite. If a rabbit nips or bites, the caregiver should respond with a short, high-pitched yip to indicate that the behavior is not acceptable. This mimics what a rabbit might do if bitten too hard by a conspecific and is therefore a response that the rabbit will likely understand.

Improper socialization and boredom can lead to aggression in rabbits. Providing for mental stimulation and exercise can help to decrease boredom (Box 39-1). Previous traumatic events may also create aggressive behaviors, and it takes time and patience for some rabbits to regain confidence and trust that they will not get hurt again. In general, animals that are well socialized and handled gently often recover from traumatic events more quickly, whereas rabbits that are poorly socialized are more likely to perceive everything as a traumatic event.

Aggression or other behavior changes that may be related to a medical problem should be assessed by a veterinarian skilled in rabbit medicine. These behaviors might include pain-related problems such as soft tissue trauma or osteoarthritis, urinary tract infections, and gastrointestinal stasis. Medical implications of abnormal behaviors and clinical signs associated with pain in rabbits have been previously reported.^4,6 Failure to recognize behavior changes associated with medical problems from those that occur in response to environmental stimuli may lead to misdiagnosis and continued suffering or discomfort of the rabbit.

Territorial and Destructive Behaviors

Territorial behaviors include aggression, as previously addressed, as well as chewing, digging, and marking behaviors. Marking is accomplished by scattering fecal pellets at perceived territorial boundaries and urinating on caregivers or their personal items or, again, at perceived boundaries. Chinning, another marking behavior, is done on objects, other pets, and people in order to mark them with secretions from scent glands, which have been found to contain different volatile components, depending on geographic location,¹⁶ and in the wild as a means of maintaining dominance hierarchies in a warren.^16,17

Territorial and destructive behaviors can be quelled with surgical altering, which helps to eliminate the need to be territorial and redirecting the behaviors (see “Behavioral Training Techniques for Small Mammals,” below). Increasing the number of litter boxes and moving them to the areas where they will be most used can also be helpful (see “Litter-Box Training,” below). Remember that the rabbit may be marking his favored “person” by urinating in the clothes basket or on the bed, so this is actually a “compliment.” The only way to control it may be to keep the rabbit away from these personal items.

Chewing and digging are natural rabbit behaviors; since they cannot be controlled, the caregiver should try to divert the rabbit’s attention and provide areas that are rabbit-safe as well as offering appropriate items to dig at or chew on.^9,10 Digging boxes can be created by providing a covered box with a hole in the side and filling it with shredded paper, a basket filled with hay or straw, or a cardboard box with towels in it.⁹

Female rabbits tend to be more prone to chewing even if they are spayed.¹⁹ Safe choices for chewing include apple, willow, and aspen branches, untreated pine lumber (molding, for example), and untreated straw baskets. These behaviors will also be seen when rabbits are bored and/or seeking attention.

Managing Behavior Problems

Much of the behavior exhibited by rabbits is instinctive, but it may also be learned. Behavior problems are usually a temporary function of puberty and will often diminish over time unless they are reinforced by mishandling or by not being addressed at all. It is highly recommended that rabbits be neutered and spayed early in order to help to quell the natural hormonally directed behaviors previously discussed. Decreased hormonal influence on behavior after neutering will often not be appreciated for 30 days or more after altering, and it may take up to 6 months in larger breeds for negative sexual behaviors to decrease.¹⁹

It is also important to decrease confinement and increase exercise, which will help to decrease stress and anxiety^15,19—often exhibited in rabbits as polydipsia, mutual and self-barbering, and carpet digging. The caregiver should provide interactive items that stimulate instinctive behaviors and decrease boredom. This can be as simple as offering a free choice grass hays, a high-fiber diet, and allowing for foraging behaviors by hiding food and treats for the rabbits to find; it can also be as elaborate as suggestions listed in Box 39-1, “Behavioral Enrichment,” which will help to stimulate the animals mentally.

Providing a consistent schedule—including feeding, exercise, and a day/night cycle—will also decrease stress-related behavior problems. By providing pet rabbits with twice yearly veterinary exams and exams whenever subtle or overt behavior changes are noted, medical issues can also be ruled out as a cause of behavioral problems.

As with children and all other species, it is important to divert their attention to acceptable behaviors⁹ (see “Behavioral Training Techniques for Small Mammals,” below). Rabbits are intelligent and can be very sensitive emotionally; they should be treated and respected as the individuals that they are.