singapore rabbits

rabbit still spraying after spay or neuter, what's happening

updated 13 May 2026

you spayed/neutered the rabbit. you expected the marking to stop. it didn’t. or it slowed but didn’t quite stop.

this is actually quite normal. understanding the timeline helps.

the hormone clearance timeline

after surgery:

weeks 1-2:

  • hormones still significantly present
  • behaviour usually similar to pre-surgery
  • some early reduction sometimes visible

weeks 3-6:

  • hormone levels dropping
  • behaviour beginning to moderate
  • some rabbits show notable improvement

weeks 7-12:

  • hormones largely cleared
  • most hormonal behaviour resolved
  • residual learned behaviour may persist

months 3-6:

  • final clearing of hormones
  • only learned behaviours remain
  • if marking continues, it’s usually learned rather than hormonal

what’s normal post-surgery

weeks 1-4:

  • continued occasional marking expected
  • the rabbit may still mount or chin-mark
  • spraying may continue but reducing
  • mood may be fluctuating as hormones leave

weeks 4-8:

  • noticeable reduction in marking
  • mounting and chin-marking less frequent
  • usually obvious improvement over baseline

weeks 8-12:

  • marking should be minimal or absent
  • if continuing, investigate further
  • the rabbit’s mature personality emerging

what’s not normal

if marking continues past 12 weeks post-surgery, consider:

1. incomplete surgery

rarely, ovarian or testicular tissue remains. this can be confirmed via:

  • hormone testing (specifically estrogen for females, testosterone for males)
  • ultrasound to check for remaining tissue
  • surgical exploration

if remaining tissue is found, follow-up surgery may be needed.

2. learned behaviour without hormonal driver

the rabbit learned to mark certain spots during hormonal phase, and continues even though the urge has decreased. behavioural intervention helps.

3. environmental triggers

stress, territorial perception, or environmental factors continuing to drive marking despite reduced hormones.

4. medical issues

uti, kidney issues, or other conditions causing inappropriate urination that resembles marking.

5. multi-pet household marking

if you have multiple rabbits, marking can persist if one rabbit is intact and triggering territorial response in the neutered one.

the spraying vs urinating distinction

it’s important to distinguish:

spraying (typically male, post-surgery should reduce dramatically):

  • horizontal sprays against vertical surfaces
  • the rabbit lifts the rear end
  • specific targeted areas
  • usually associated with hormonal periods

inappropriate urination:

  • puddles on the floor (not sprayed)
  • often larger volume than marking
  • can indicate medical issues (UTI, kidney)
  • can indicate behavioural issues (stress, environmental)

different causes, different troubleshooting approaches.

the intervention strategies

if marking persists past 12 weeks post-surgery:

1. environmental cleanup

  • clean all previous marking spots with enzymatic cleaner
  • this removes the scent trail that attracts re-marking
  • the rabbit doesn’t smell the previous spot and is less likely to re-mark

2. spot management

  • close off frequently marked areas if possible
  • place a litter box at frequent marking spots
  • some rabbits transition from marking to using a litter box if one is placed there

3. address triggers

  • identify what triggers each marking event
  • new pet, visitor, change in routine
  • minimise where possible

4. veterinary investigation

  • if no environmental cause identifiable
  • rule out medical issues
  • check for incomplete surgery

the SG-specific considerations

three patterns in SG owner spaces:

1. multi-rabbit households where some are not yet neutered/spayed.

the intact rabbit triggers continued marking response in others. neuter/spay all to fully resolve.

2. stress-driven marking persisting in already-fixed rabbits.

if the home environment has chronic stress factors (loud neighbours, frequent visitors, climate variability), marking can persist as stress response. environmental stability helps.

3. age-related considerations.

senior rabbits sometimes develop new marking patterns due to cognitive changes or chronic conditions. this is different from young-rabbit hormonal marking and requires different approach.

the bonded pair dynamic

in a bonded pair:

  • if both rabbits are fixed, marking shouldn’t persist long-term
  • if one is fixed and one isn’t, expect continued behaviour
  • if marking suddenly begins in a previously stable pair, investigate stress between them

supporting recovery

while waiting for hormones to fully clear and learned behaviour to fade:

  • maintain calm, consistent routines
  • reduce stress in the environment
  • provide adequate litter pan options
  • clean accidents promptly with enzymatic cleaner
  • don’t punish marking — it’s not voluntary

most cases resolve within 12-24 weeks total post-surgery.

what owners often get wrong

three patterns:

  • expecting immediate cessation. hormone clearance takes weeks. patience is required
  • assuming “the surgery didn’t work.” usually it did; either residual hormones or learned behaviour is the cause
  • punishing the rabbit for continued marking. this damages trust without solving the underlying issue

community-sourced information here is not veterinary advice. for any health concern see a licensed SG exotic vet.

community-sourced information, not veterinary advice. for medical issues, see a licensed SG exotic vet — start with our vet directory.

related