Rabbits have some unique habits which are often not understood or deciphered by their owners. One such habit is spraying the urine. This habit irritates the owners as that makes the whole area dirty. Also, the strong smell of ammonia makes the place smell awful. It needs hard labor on the part of the owner to get rid of this problem and the effect.
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Why does the rabbit spray urine?
Rabbits want to mark their territory and that is why they keep spraying urine in the border area, or so they think to be the border of their room or house. When in the jungle they do this marking to ensure that no other rabbits enter their area for food gathering or other purposes. They may not be able to make a wall to segregate. But in their own way, they are able to mark the area which they think to be their own.
Do the male rabbit’s spray?
Usually, the spraying is done by the male rabbits but it has been seen among the non-spayed female rabbits too. Male rabbits also mark the females that they think are in possession of them. They want to choose the female rabbits as well as the area where they would live and do not like other male rabbits to enter this territory.
When the female rabbits do the spraying they also kind of mark their territory but it is a rather uncommon habit among them. However, spaying or neutering them makes them stop this behavior.
How do I stop my rabbit from spraying urine?
Rabbits should be spayed or neutered as that is the best way of keeping the rabbits away from this behavior. The reproductive system of the rabbits is taken out by operation and thus they stop behaving the odd way. The spraying is actually an extension of their sexual maturity and that comes when they get adults.
When their hormones are removed by the process of neutering, which drives them for sexual actions, they do not spray anymore, as they do not feel the need to mark the territory and prevent other male rabbits to come into their area.
Why did my rabbit just spray at me?
As we have earlier mentioned that they like to mark the territory. When they get attached to their owners they also need to or wish to mark them. For the rabbits, the people around them and the family around them are their families. The way it marks the female rabbits after getting sexually mature they spray on their owners in the same way and for the same purpose.
Rabbits leave their scent on their hutch, on their partners, and on their owners too. It may be a yucky experience for the rabbit owners but that phase would surpass when the rabbits will grow up and the owners will be further experienced. Do not feel panicked when your rabbit sprays on you as that is a shower of love and affection and some amount of possession from the part of the rabbit.
Do female bunnies spray urine?
Yes, female rabbits can also spray on their owners, but the ratio is much lower. However, the female pet rabbits which have a territorial streak in their character can actually spray urine on their owner. But most of this habit is being seen among male pet rabbits.
Is rabbit pee harmful to humans?
Rabbit urine is not harmful to human owners unless the rabbit is sick and the urine contains any kind of germs. The urine can smell awful but it does not contain any harm to any living being unless it goes into the system. If the human is also healthy then the urine will only cause him or her to smell bad, and that can be removed by washing the cloth and bathing.
But if the rabbit is ill and its urine contains any kind of germs then it will be harmful to the humans as they will also fall sick by getting affected by the same disease.
The urine contains ammonia and that can be harmful to the wooden furniture and the flooring. So it should be immediately cleaned or a mark will remain on the surface of the wooden items.
At what age does the rabbit start spraying?
Though for human kids, urinating randomly is done only by the infants and later they learn to use the proper area and the proper time for that, among the rabbits spraying happens only when they get adults. The adult rabbit can be at age of 3 to 6 months as it depends upon the individual rabbits. They can get mature within this time period and then they can start spraying urine.
Male rabbits start spraying when they are ready for courtship as that indicates their sexual maturity. They will also mark their territory and will not let other adult male rabbits enter there. Rabbits also urinate or spray when they are in need of mating. The mating habit of the male rabbit includes spraying on the female ones. This is at the same time sign of adoration as well as marking the female one to be its own partner so no other male rabbit comes near it.
How will you clean rabbit spray?
An easy homemade solution will be useful when you need to clean the rabbit spray. The experienced rabbit owners have found that a solution of one cup of white vinegar along with a cup of water can be taken in a spray bottle and given a good shake. This concentration is just perfect for cleaning the stain of the urine. You can easily remove the smell as well as the stain caused by the urine with this solution.
Will neutering rabbits stop their spraying?
Spaying or neutering is done among the male and female pet rabbits to get them free from the reproductive system and that also prevents them from getting reproductive cancer. Male rabbits also do not suffer the chance of getting tumors when they are neutered at adult age.
Along with the sexual desire and wish for breeding the rabbits also get rid of the aggressive behaviors, territorial gestures like spraying, and so on. As we have discussed that spraying the urine is a kind of territorial marking for the rabbits, they lose that interest and do not feel aggressive enough to spray and mark their area or protect their human from other pets.
Do rabbits only spray due to their territorial nature?
Though spraying is related to only the territorial habit of the male rabbits and their show of possession for their owners, the rabbit can pee on their owners for various other reasons. Spraying means the particular type of urination when the urine is splattered all over the area, and it mostly is done to mark as much area as possible.
However, if your rabbit urinates on your hand or any body part when you are sitting beside it or just holding it, then there can be some serious problems with its mood and mental condition. Rabbits are many vulnerable creatures and they get stressed, anxious, afraid, or depressed due to some odd reasons.
A scared rabbit may urinate on its owner whenever it will be held. This happens because the stress that it is going through gets released in form of urination and also it wants to let the owner know the problem that it is facing. There are also certain conditions that can make it nervous and if you find that the pet is urinating whenever you are holding it, then you may need to give it some space and time. A vet can suggest you best way help the rabbit recover from that condition.
Litter training is a part of the rabbit’s grooming process. If the rabbit has not learned to pee in the proper place then it may not be able to hold the urine and may soil your dress or body when you come near it for playing or holding. The rabbit may not know where it should pee, and as it depends upon you for its food, shelter, and comfort, it may think it is right to depend upon you for peeing and pooping too.
If the rabbit is unwell or it is suffering from some kind of kidney problem then it may not be able to control its urination and it can pee on you unknowingly. There are severe health issues like urinary infection or stones in the kidney which can lead to such difficulties. If you find that the rabbit’s urine is too dark yellow in color and it contains a strong odor then you should get the pet, as well as its urine, checked so you get to know what is wrong with its health.
Conclusion:
Spraying is a natural habit of rabbits and you cannot stop a rabbit from acting naturally. Only when it gets increased to a certain amount, it cause difficulty for the owners. For that purpose, you should keep a check on such behaviors and get the rabbit spayed or neutered at the right time.
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