How to stop my rabbit from being aggressive when I reach in her cage?

Question

My rabbit is very defensive, she will grunt at me and will attempt to scratch my hands when I put my hands in her cage for anything. Is there anything I can do to help lessen her fear or defensiveness? Pet's info: Small Animal | Rabbit | Female | spayed | 3 years and 4 months old | 9 lbs

Bobbi Musgrove, DVM · Accepted Answer

It sounds as though you are described territorial behavior. Female rabbits that have been spayed usually don't develop this type of behavior once they get to be several years old. She may be becoming defensive or fearful if she has an illness she is trying to hide and therefore protect herself. Some illnesses to consider in this case are dental diseases, urinary tract diseases or sometimes skin issues. If she has not had a recent (3-4 months or less) veterinary examination, I recommend starting with an examination to ensure there are no health issues involved. Beyond that, you could consider placing her in a new cage or hutch, feeding her directly from your hands (if possible to do safely) and giving more social interaction time outside of the cage.

How to stop my rabbit from being aggressive when I reach in her cage?

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