Rabbit Fights; advisable to get bunny a companion?
- Apr 21, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Rabbits are known to be social animals and often live in groups in the wild. However, when kept as pets, they can sometimes accustom to being alone. They may fight with another rabbit at any point in their lives, especially if they are not spayed or neutered. Some rabbits just prefer to be the only child at home.. and there's nothing wrong with that. If you're thinking that ur rabbit looks bored at home and need a friend, read on before u run to adopt/buy another rabbit for your rabbit as companion.
Why Rabbits Fight
1. Territorial Reasons: Rabbits are territorial animals and may fight to defend their space and resources. This happens with both genders, usually fuelled by hormones, but can become a habit overtime. To guard their space, rabbits will chase or bite.
2. Dominance: Rabbits may fight to establish dominance over each other regardless of gender. It is an individual rabbit thing, and can happen irregardless whether they are male, female, sterilised or unsterilised. However domineering behaviours are more displayed when rabbits are not sterilised.
3. Mating: Unspayed or un-neutered rabbits may fight over mating opportunities. Mostly males fighting with males, or females fighting with males cos they don't want to mate.
4. Fear and Stress: Rabbits may fight if they feel scared or stressed, such as during a change in their environment. When rabbit’s senses are heightened due to fear, they may go into fight or flight, if they feel that they can’t escape a situation, the only way to protect themselves is to attack.
How Rabbits Fight
Rabbits may exhibit aggressive behavior such as:
1. Growling and snorting (noise)
2. Swatting their hands and nipping
3. Chasing and hiding
4. Actual fighting with teeth (they bite really hard and if they bite and pull…. They can inflict serious damage)
Will add more gory pictures of injured rabbits later on ha ha ha ha be prepared
Precautions to Take When Introducing 2 Rabbits
1. Spay or Neuter: Spaying or neutering your rabbits can reduce aggression and territorial behavior cos the hormones factor dont affect the rabbit anymore. It is rare to have unsterilised adult rabbits living together.
2. Introduce Slowly: When introducing new rabbits to each other, do it gradually and under close supervision. There is no rush to it, and more often, they should not simply be thrown together and expected to get along immediately. Bonding can take 1 day to a few months or even years. Patience is key.
3. Provide Enough Space: Make sure each rabbit has enough space and resources, such as food, water and hiding places if required.
4. Monitor Behavior: Watch for signs of aggression and separate rabbits if necessary. Slight nipping at the fur once in awhile is okay, as long as the less-dominant one is not too stressed out. I would separate if the less-dominant rabbit is hiding constantly/ running away on and becoming very wary- to prevent unnecessary stress. If the 2 rabbits bite n hold onto each other without letting go, that’s serious. I would separate them. But a word of caution, do not pull them apart, as this may tear their skin if the rabbits’ teeth are still tightly sunk into the other’s flesh. You may use a broom to thrust
5. Consider Getting Only One Rabbit: If you're not experienced in caring for multiple rabbits, it may be best to start with just one.
Reconsider Getting More Than One Rabbit:
While having multiple rabbits can be fun, and it seems to fit their social instincts, it's essential to consider the potential risks and challenges. Rabbits may fight, and even if they don't now, there is no guarantee they wont fight for the rest of their lives.
There is no guarantee that any rabbits will get along in future, even if they are best friends or even littermates when younger.
We have seen sibling rabbits fight till past age 8.. sometimes even after trying all sorts of bonding methods, the rabbit may still prefer to be alone.
Some bonded pairs may also fight randomly after years, though occurrence is low.
Also, all rabbits may still require separate attention, space, and resources when the need arises, such as 1 rabbit needing isolation for medical care. If you're not prepared to provide this, it may be best to stick with just one rabbit.
Featured: Scruffiez' Xmas & Scruffiez' Charlie
At the end of the day..
Rabbits make wonderful pets, but it's crucial to understand their behavior and take necessary precautions to prevent fighting. By spaying or neutering, introducing slowly, providing enough space, monitoring behavior, and considering the potential risks, you can help encourage a harmonious and safer environment for your rabbit. But there is never a guarantee, as long as you have more than 1 rabbit, you must be prepared to house them separately if ever the need arises. As a general advise, the new incoming rabbit (regardless of age) should be given at least the 1st week in his own private enclosure away from disturbance of other rabbits/animals to adapt to your new home and ensure the rabbit is stable, adapted well before beginning any form of introduction to other rabbits or pets. Stable as in- eating well, pooing well, no soft stool, looks curious bright and alert and confident to move around and eat. Start slow, dont cause unnecesarry additional stress to them. Being in a new home is already stressful enough for their bodies to handle.
FAQ / questions i’v received and here’s my reply
Hi, can I seek advice from you regarding of buying a new rabbit that is unneutered? Currently I do have a male rabbit and it’s unneutered. I am planning to get a new male bunny, so must I get the two rabbits sterilised before putting them together or it’s not needed?
If your current rabbit is above 4months old, there is good chance he is sexually mature, if not sterilised.
When they meet other rabbits, they may hump/chase/fight for dominance. Regardless whether the other rabbit is young old male or female. And if the other rabbit is a female, ur boy may have the instinct to want to mate. I dont advise putting an unsterilised adult male with any other rabbits as it can get quite stressful for the new kid if he chases the bunny constantly. There is a possibility a fight may occur. Torn ears, torn penis and other body parts may require surgery to fix.
Even if your sterilised male may not attack the new one, if he is currently toilet trained now, he may start to mark his territory by pee/poo. Sometimes they can jump and turn their body and spray pee across the wall..
So u need to be prepared for some mess and also prepare to house them separately most importantly
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