change in behaviour

Question
Hi Dana, Im worried that if i brought Rosie indoors that she would urinate on my carpets.What is the best way to get her to adjust to a new enviroment indoors?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
hi thank you for replying so quickly. Do you think that if i had her spayed she would become tamer? I try to spend alot of time with her but she always jumps away and wont come near me. If ever i try to lift her i feel it stresses her out so i dont unless nessesary.I also have a 14week kitten who will be going outside in the future, would it still be possible to house Rosie indoors?-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I have a lop eared rabbit aprox 5 months old. She was doing the toilet in the corner of her hutch but she recently got attacked by a cat when she was out of her hutch and had to have stitches in her back legs. Since that she has done all her toilet in her nesting part of the hutch. I am concerned because i thought they always done it furthest away from their bed and food. Any advice?
Answer -
Dear Claire,

The trauma from the attack may have left her unwilling to go to an exposed area.  I'd recommend that you have her spayed and bring her inside to live with you so that she will never be at risk from attack again.  Rabbits are much safer indoors, even if they have a hutch outside. There's no such thing as a predator-proof hutch (and I'll spare you the gruesome stories I've heard...)

You can read more about spay/neuter here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

and litterbox training here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/training

For a good rabbit vet, please use the referral list linked here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

I hope that helps.  Please write back if you have any other questions.

Dana
Answer -
Dear Claire,

Yes, spaying might help calm her.  But part of the reason she's shy might also be because she's outside and doesn't have enough interaction with you to learn to trust you.  Also, most rabbits don't like to be handled, so that makes her even more nervous.  I think the following article will help:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/shybun.html

And I do think she could and should come inside to live with you, no matter what the cats do.  Cats can defend themselves better than rabbits can.

And now I'm going home to take care of my own herd of wiggling noses!  :)  Have a great weekend!

Dana

Answer
Hi, Claire,

First step is to have her spayed:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

and then confine her to a room where there's tile or linoleum (something easy to mop) but equipped with rubber-backed, 100% cotton mats for traction.  Put a litterbox in a quiet corner.  She should start to use it naturally.  As she becomes accustomed to her personal toilet, you can gradually let her out for supervised time.  Complete instructions for litterbox training can be found here:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/training.html

Hope that helps.

Dana