Why Does My Rabbit Pee on Me? And What to Do About It?
There’s nothing worse than picking your rabbit up for a snuggle and suddenly feeling that warm wet feeling of your rabbit peeing on you. Although accidents can happen from time to time, a rabbit constantly peeing on you is something to look into more deeply.
If you find yourself asking, “Why does my rabbit pee on me?” there isn’t a single answer. There are multiple reasons why your rabbit might pee on you, from fear to a medical issue.
The good news is that they all have solutions to help you stop the behavior. Keep reading to learn why your rabbit pees on you, how to stop it, and how to clean rabbit pee off of your clothes.
Reasons Why Your Rabbit is Peeing on You
Again, there are multiple explanations for why your rabbit pees on you. You can solve some of these reasons with training and bonding. Others will need veterinary intervention.
Not Litter Trained
If your rabbit is peeing on you, it may be because he isn’t litter trained and thinks he can just “go” wherever he wants. You can’t really do much about baby rabbits peeing on you, but rabbits should be litter trained as soon as possible. It’s vital that your rabbit knows where it is (and isn’t) appropriate to pee.
Territorial Behaviour
You may think that because your rabbit pees on you, he doesn’t like you, but it could actually be the opposite. Whether he’s spraying or peeing on you, this is your rabbit marking his territory. Even female rabbits do this. My first rabbit, Butterscotch, “claimed” my dad by marking her territory on him and his bed on multiple occasions.
Fear or Trauma
If a rabbit has experienced injury or trauma while being picked up, he might be peeing on you out of fear. It’s a common fear and trauma response for animals that can take a long time to heal. Establishing trust with your rabbit is key in this situation.
Pain
When a rabbit is in pain, it will trigger fear, which could result in your rabbit peeing on you while being picked up or held. The pain could be anything from GI Stasis to a broken rib. If this is the case, your rabbit will need to see a vet immediately.
Medical Issue
Medical issues are an uncommon reason your rabbit pees on you, but you should never rule it out. Bladder stones, kidney stones, and other UT issues can cause a rabbit to lose control of its bladder. If you’ve eliminated all the other reasons, seek veterinary help to see if there’s a medical issue.
How to Stop Your Rabbit From Peeing on You
As I said in the beginning, there’s good news. All the reasons for your rabbit peeing on you have solutions. You don’t need to keep cleaning your clothes or worrying about getting peed on all the time.
Litter Training
If lack of training is the reason for your rabbit peeing on you, or it’s too young to know better, then I highly suggest you introduce litter training to them. You should start litter training as soon as possible because it’s easier (and quicker) when rabbits are young. To learn more about litter training rabbits, read our litter training guide.
Get Your Rabbit Fixed
When an unaltered rabbit constantly pees on you, it’s usually a territorial issue. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a male or female. In this case, the most effective fix is to get your rabbit fixed. It’s also safer, as fixing rabbits prevents unwanted breeding, promotes better bonding between rabbits, and eliminates the risk of cancer in their reproductive organs.
Bonding & Trust
A rabbit that pees on you out of fear needs to feel safe, first and foremost. Your arms should be a place of comfort and security. For this, you’ll need to start establishing trust and growing your bond. When your rabbit feels safe being held, then your “pee problem” will disappear.
How to Clean Up a Pee Stain
First things first, you’re going to need to find something else to wear, because unfortunately, you can’t just blot rabbit urine off and hope for the best. You’ll need to treat the urine stain (and odor) and then wash the shirt.
It’s best to clean it as soon as possible because, in my experience, leaving it will only make the stain and odors worse. And, it’s a lot harder to remove old stains than fresh ones.
What You’ll Need
For cleaning rabbit pee stains and odors (which are pretty strong, let me tell you) you have two options:
- A DIY Vinegar/Water Solution
- Pet-safe stain remover
Personally, I just use the DIY solution because it’s easy and, in my opinion, a lot more effective in neutralizing the ammonia of rabbit urine. The vinegar smell comes out in the wash.
The Steps
- Try to soak up as much rabbit pee as you can with a towel.
- Spray on your DIY solution or stain remover. Make sure to get the inside and outside of your clothes to saturate the fibers.
- Rub it in the fibers a bit, and let it soak for 10 minutes.
- Rinse the solution off. If the stain is still there, repeat the steps with baking soda until it comes out.
- Once the stain is gone, toss your clothes in the washer. I go a step further and put detergent on the treated area too.
Other Related Questions
Here are some other questions you may have related to inappropriate urination.
Spraying is a territorial and sometimes sexual behavior that rabbits display as a means of claiming you. This is especially apparent with multiple rabbits, particularly males.
The possible reasons for your rabbit peeing on your bed are very similar to why your rabbit is peeing on you. The good thing is that you can use the same tactics to stop it (and clean your blankets too).
