Spaying/Neutering a Rabbit

There are many reasons to spay/neuter your rabbit. For the BC SPCA the most obvious reason would be to help control pet overpopulation.  But spaying/neutering may reduce aggressive behaviour, marking habits (urine spraying), urine odour, certain forms of cancer and can make litterbox training much easier.

Rabbits can multiply - very quickly.  Rabbits reach sexual maturity around 4 to 6 months, depending on their breed.  Rabbits can have as many as 12 litters a year!  Each litter has an average of 10 baby rabbits which are actually called "kittens"! SPCA shelters are overwhelmed with rabbits awaiting adoption.

When rabbits reach sexual maturity, hormone levels increase and their behaviours may be altered.  Such behaviours include: spraying, aggression, digging, biting or mounting. Spaying/neutering your house rabbit may greatly decrease or even eliminate all of these behaviours.

Spaying/neutering your rabbit will also prevent various cancers from developing.  The incidence of uterine cancer in unspayed rabbits is as high as 80%.  Though less common, intact male rabbits may also develop testicular cancer or other related health problems.

If you have a more than one rabbit in your home, it's very important to spay/neuter both animals.  Even when you have two that are the same sex.  Females often become very territorial and will aggressively protect their nesting areas.  Males may try to mount each other and when they are in search of a mate, may get nippy.  Rabbit pairs that are both altered will develop a stronger bond with less aggressiveness towards each other and your family!