A young rabbit can be a perfect pet for a family. Soft and cuddly, as well as smart enough to be trained to use a litter box, a rabbit can be a pet that your entire family will enjoy. If you've bought a young female rabbit that hasn't been spayed, you'll definitely want to have this procedure done. While you might not be concerned about the rabbit mating and having babies if you keep it in the house and don't have a male rabbit anywhere, what you might not know is that your furry friend may soon begin to exhibit some bothersome behaviors. The good news is that in addition to preventing breeding, spaying your rabbit can also curb these unwanted behaviors.

Spraying Urine

Many people know that dogs will spray their urine on fire hydrants, signs, and even other animals' droppings to mark their territory, but you might not realize that rabbits will also spray. As your rabbit ages, you may notice that it's leaving its urine in several places throughout your home — and this is more of a concern if your rabbit spends a lot of time roaming free. The urine smells strongly, and the speed at which it comes out means that it can easily get on walls and furniture, not just your floors. After the rabbit is spayed, it will be less interested in spraying.

Being Territorial

Spraying urine is only part of the territorial behavior that many young rabbits will exhibit. For example, if you have a designated area in your home for the rabbit, you'll need to regularly change the water, provide food, and remove the towels or blankets to wash them. A rabbit that hasn't been spayed can be territorial when you enter its space. At the very least, it may make your tasks difficult because it refuses to get out of the way when you're trying to work. Upon being spayed, the rabbit should exhibit fewer signs of being territorial.

Aggression

People don't often associate rabbits with being aggressive, but the reality is that these usually gentle creatures will stand up for themselves. As animals of prey, their usual instinct is to flee, but they may also give you a bite or even attempt to kick you with their powerful hind feet. Aggressive rabbits will commonly head butt you, too. You can expect to notice a marked decrease in any aggressive behavior after you've spayed your pet rabbit.

Contact a vet, such as at Southwest Animal Hospital, for more help.