Why does my rabbit urinate on me?

Author: John Stephens
Date Of Creation: 24 January 2021
Update Date: 19 May 2024
Anonim
Why does my rabbit pee on me?
Video: Why does my rabbit pee on me?

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If you're a rabbit's guardian or guardian, you've probably been through a rather uncomfortable situation: the rabbit urinating on you, something that, of course, we don't expect from our furry companions.

However, there are several reasons why this could happen. If your rabbit pees when you hold him in your lap or decide to urinate unannounced on his feet, you've come to the right item. If you ask yourself "why does my rabbit urinate on me", continue reading this article by PeritoAnimal.

The rabbit pees on me when I pick him up

if your rabbit piss on people who hold you in their arms and if this happens to you constantly, these are the causes that can explain this behavior:


1. is afraid of you

The main reason your rabbit urinates on people or you when you pick it up is most likely because it's scared. It's possible he's afraid of you because was not socialized as a puppy with people, because you haven't earned their trust yet, or because you associate people or you with a bad experience (like when you took him in your arms and hurt him unintentionally).

Peeing when you're afraid can happen even when you pet it or get close to it, if it doesn't have a chance to run away (for example, in its cage) and therefore when you feel cornered. In these circumstances, the furry one is so nervous that he loses control of his urinary sphincters, which causes him to urinate involuntarily.

2. Didn't learn to do your own thing

Another reason why a rabbit urinates on you may simply be that it hasn't learned to take care of its needs in the correct place you've indicated. This causes the rabbit to urinate on people but also in different areas of your house, such as the sofa, rug, etc.


3. not okay

Finally, it's possible that you live with a rabbit that pees on you because it doesn't have its physical and social needs met. For example, if he doesn't exercise enough, no toys or you should get out of the cage more often, if you spend a lot of time alone... If your rabbit does not have an adequate quality of life, it is possible that it is stressed and frustrated, which can lead to misdirected urination.

It is also possible that your rabbit is not doing well due to a organic problem and therefore it is necessary to take him to the vet to rule out any pathology. Consult the most common diseases in rabbits and their symptoms to gather as much information as possible.

my rabbit directs the urine to me

Rabbits, in addition to urinating as part of their physiological needs or as an emotional response to a very stressful situation, can voluntarily splash urine on objects, other rabbits or people.


When a rabbit spills urine, it emits a stronger smell than usual. Also, while normal urination is aimed at the ground when you splash or spray your urine, it is aimed at vertical surfaces and is similar to a spray. This behavior is usually performed as a territory tag. This is because, like many species, these tender animals have a highly developed sense of smell, so urine is often used as a means of communication.

Due to the above, this behavior of territory marking it is often performed to leave their scent and communicate to others of their kind that what they have marked belongs to them, be it their territory, their objects and even us, since we are the ones who provide them with sustenance and security.

Likewise, and although it may seem like odd behavior, during courtship, males often sprinkle females with urine as a sign of love. So when we incorporate a new companion to our rabbit, which could be another rabbit, a cat or a dog, it's normal for our rabbit to welcome it with a few splashes of urine to "baptize him" with the smell of the group to which the new pet belongs. As in other animal species, such as cats, this common smell conveys security, confidence, comfort and, in short, well-being and harmony.

Finally, it should be noted that although tagging is a natural behavior in these animals, excessive tagging is generally a indicator that something is wrong and is generating insecurity in your pet.

For example, if you've recently adopted another pet and the rabbit hasn't adapted properly to the change, it may show behavior like this. As for what we were saying, your rabbit urinates on furniture and objects to get the calm it needs. He suffered an imbalance, needs to retrieve it and uses the appointment to return to leave that smell that is so familiar. For this reason, it is essential to properly introduce any animal or person before fully introducing them.

What to do if the rabbit urinates on people and me

You already know what it means when your rabbit urinates on you, and you've seen that there are different causes. So let's see what to do in each case:

earn your trust

If the reason your rabbit urinates on you every time you pick it up, pet it, or get close to it is fear, you'll have to make friends or expand your social bond with it. This process will take time, as you will have to let the animal approach slowly and reward it with food when you do. This way you will get him associate with something positive. As you feel that he feels more secure beside you, you can start trying to pet him and hold him in your arms, being careful not to hurt him and for a short period of time.

Anyway, if despite gaining their trust you notice that your rabbit feel uncomfortable every time you pick it up, stop doing it. It is not advisable to force him to live situations that he fears, bothers him or simply doesn't want.

Educate him to do his needs in a suitable place

If your rabbit urinates on people, on you, and everywhere in the house because it hasn't learned how to do it correctly, it will be necessary to educate it to take care of its needs in a suitable place. The procedure to follow is as follows:

  1. Place a corner toilet in your cage with a specific substrate.
  2. Put your stool in the corner bathroom so he can associate it with that smell.
  3. If he doesn't mind being held in your arms, take him to the corner bathroom when you see he has to urinate or defecate.
  4. Reward him on the spot whenever he does it correctly.

take him to the veterinarian

If your rabbit doesn't urinate out of fear, but clearly sprays his urine as a territory marker, the best thing to do is take him to the vet. for him to be neutered. This is because this behavior is closely related to the secretion of sex hormones and for this reason, the sterilization procedure eliminates the gonads responsible for reproduction, as well as the secretion of these hormones, causing this type of urination to disappear as the hormonal changes leave to happen.

Also, if you suspect that your rabbit is suffering from any disease or condition, going to your vet is the best thing to do so he can diagnose it correctly.

Now that you know why rabbits urinate on people, don't miss this other article where we talk about rabbit care.

If you want to read more articles similar to Why does my rabbit urinate on me?, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.