Rabbits are cute, cuddly creatures that many think would make great pets. However, before you run out and buy a rabbit for your home, it’s essential to know that rabbits can be quite territorial and may not always get along with other pets in your home.
Rabbits are territorial animals that like to have their own space. If you have more than one rabbit, it is essential to provide each with its area to feel safe. This means having enough room for them to run around and explore, as well as places to hide. Putting your rabbits in different house parts will help them avoid conflict.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at why rabbits can be territorial and what you can do to help them get along with other animals in your home. Stay tuned!
Are rabbits territorial? And if they are, how territorial are they?
Rabbits are pretty territorial creatures. They have an innate need to live in a particular area or territory and defend this territory against potential intruders. This is why rabbits tend to be unhappy when sharing their habitat with other animals. They can become violent and very aggressive towards the other animal, mark out their territory more intensively, damage the walls of their hutch or cage or even start attacking each other.
The closer you come to the mating season, the more likely it becomes that your rabbit will react aggressively towards another male rabbit (e.g., during fights for dominance). As soon as the female has been bred successfully, she will show her partner who’s the boss by becoming more dominant and aggressive. She will become intolerant towards him, and he will try to keep out of her way as much as possible. This behavior continues until the young rabbits reach four weeks or wean at 5-6 weeks. After this, your female rabbit’s attitude will suddenly change, and she will start bonding with her partner again.
At least that is what you hope for, A pregnant rabbit can come into season as early as four weeks old (by which time she would need to be separated from the male anyway), but they are usually not mature enough before they are six months old. So you mustn’t forget about them once the babies have been weaned: they could start mating again!
Why are rabbits so territorial?
There are many reasons like:
1. A rabbits’ territory helps them to gather foods, mark out their area for eating, rest, and feces/urine marking
2. Rabbits are naturally territorial creatures, so they do not like sharing their space with another rabbit, especially if it is the opposite sex
3. The presence of another rabbit can cause stress which leads to aggression
4. Sometimes, a bunny will be aggressive because they were not given enough attention or socialization as a baby. As a result, they may feel isolated and become aggressive to other bunnies (usually the other gender) around them. This may also be necessary when separating babies from mothers if cagemates; otherwise, fighting between siblings may occur at weaning time. But some bunnies become aggressive because they were not housed with other rabbits when young. They are used to being alone and do not know how to live “in a herd.”
5. The more rabbits you have, the more territorial and individual rabbits. A single rabbit will probably feel less threatened than if two or three rabbits live together.
Some factors can influence whether your bunny will become territorial, the most important being the sex of the new arrival. If it is another female, that may help calm things down, but adding a male into the mix could lead to trouble!
What does rabbits’ territorial behavior look like?
Some of the common signs are
1. Rabbits will usually become very dominant and aggressive towards other rabbits (usually opposite sex)
2. Rabbit may behave normally, then suddenly attack or bite another rabbit without warning
3. Your bunny litter may start fighting with each other (over resources like food, water, space, etc.)
4. Rabbits engaged in hierarchical disputes lay their ears flat onto their necks and pull back their lips horizontally, exposing the teeth (a sign of submission is to yawn)
How do I prevent my rabbit from becoming territorial?
1. The most effective way to prevent a rabbit from being territorial is by neutering/spaying, bonding, and keeping them as an only-rabbit household.
2. Other ways include keeping rabbits in separate cages or rooms or separating rabbits with barriers such as baby gates or fences that block tunnels.
3. Keeping your rabbits in high places can also help as they might associate this area with dominant.
4. When introducing rabbits, attempt to hold them together and allow them to get used to each other for at least an hour or two before putting them in the same space together. This will help your rabbit(s) bond with one another more easily.
5. Regularly playing with your rabbit can also help as they associate this as a joyous time spent with you rather than an aggressive interaction.
6. Speaking softly and calmly to your bunny when you are not attempting to pick them up or move them will help the rabbit feel more secure around humans and establish a bond between human and bun, which could result in less fighting.
Note: it is useless to use repellants such as sprays or other household items to try and stop your rabbit(s) from fighting. The only way to ‘cure’ this behavior is bonding and separation.
What should I do if my rabbit becomes territorial towards me?
1. Do not let your bunny come into contact with other bunnies unless supervised.
2. Try not to stress your rabbit out by making sudden movements or loud noises that could trigger an attack. Instead, let them approach you at their own pace and speak quietly until they calm down.
3. If your rabbit does attack, let them do it without resisting the attack (though keep yourself safe by avoiding hands and feet). Once they have stopped shooting, gently push them away with your hand so that you can create a space between you and your bunny. They won’t hurt you once they are finished since their purpose is to establish dominance over the other party.
4. Avoid punishing or disciplining your rabbit following an aggressive episode, as this could lead to further attacks, significantly if you disturb them when sleeping, which would mean they would perceive any attention as aggression.
5. You should switch off all heating and avoid hoarding food as this could be seen as an act of aggression by your rabbit.
How do rabbits stake their claim?
Rabbits show threatening someone else using their eyes, ears, and body posture.
1. One way of communication involves flattening their ears back against the head and curving their backs.
2. Rabbits will turn to face each other with mouths open but teeth concealed, push tails up vertically, begin grooming themselves, or go off somewhere alone (this is usually a sign of submission).
3. Rabbits might do ritualized behaviors like circle one another while sniffing the air, thumping the ground with their front paws, or becoming defensive by turning side-on, allowing bunnies to see exactly how big they are.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How do rabbits establish dominance?
A. One way is by fighting with another rabbit or attacking humans when they feel threatened.
Q. How long does the process take to show results?
A. Even after being separated, bunnies can still fight if there are no barriers in place, so monitor their behavior closely and separate them again for further bonding sessions if necessary.
Q. What if my rabbit has never been exposed to other rabbits?
A. If your rabbit has not been exposed to other rabbits at any point in its life, there is a chance they might be aggressive towards other animals. However, if you take your rabbit to the vet and get them checked out and are in good health and free from infection, it is entirely possible to introduce them into a new environment. Take things slow and allow them to get used to their surroundings before trying to raise another rabbit.
Q. How do I stop my rabbit from becoming territorial towards me?
A. You can try not to stress your rabbit out by making sudden movements or loud noises that could trigger an attack instead, let them approach you at their own pace and speak quietly until they calm down. It is useless to use repellants such as sprays or other household items to try and stop your rabbit from being territorial towards you. The only way to ‘cure’ this behavior is bonding and separation.
Q. Are male rabbits more territorial?
A. Males and females can be territorial however males tend to exhibit territorial behavior more often. On the other hand, females will rarely attack you but may become aggressive towards other rabbits in their area. Female territorial behavior mostly occurs when they are nesting and feeding their young.
Q. Are wild rabbits territorial as well?
A. Wild rabbits play more of a role of prey than predator so they are not territorial in the wild. Domesticated rabbits, however, can become territorial when confined to small spaces or when they feel threatened.
Conclusion
Rabbits are territorial by nature; however, they can often establish their dominance through bonding with other rabbits or humans. By neutering your rabbit(s), introducing them at a young age, and keeping them in an only-rabbit household, you can prevent unwanted aggressive behaviors associated with establishing dominance in rabbits.
Dr. Elly Cameron is a veterinarian who has always loved animals. She grew up with cats and rabbits, and knew from a young age that she wanted to help animals in whatever way she could. After completing veterinary school in New Zealand, she and her husband moved to North Carolina in 2009. There, she worked as a small animal veterinarian, seeing cats, dogs, and of course her favorite patients – rabbits! In the last few years, Dr. Cameron has been working as a locum vet while she concentrates on raising her two young daughters. She also started writing this blog to help other rabbit lovers out there.