Yes it's true, you can litter train your rabbit! It's a tedious process, but if you are persistent and patient your bunny will be ready to use its litter box on its own. Okay, so let's get started!
1) Just like the picture, you need to get a litter box for your bun (if you haven't done so already from the "making a home" post). I prefer to have a box like the one shown because it shields urine from spraying up. If you can't find one like that, don't worry, there are many shapes and sizes of litter boxes that you'll most likely find in the cat aisle of a pet store. I like to find something that my rabbit can hop in and out of with ease, make sure the height is no more than 3 inches, you don't want to deter your rabbit from going to the bathroom.
2) Let your bunny decide where it wants to pee! Your bun is going to have a preference on which corner or section it wants to do its business. Once it decides where it wants to excrete, place the litter box there.
3) Once you place the litter box down, I would suggest lining the bottom of the litter box with either newspaper, recycled paper mulch (preferred), or both. Then, throw in some of your rabbit's poops in the box. I'm not kidding, this will help your bunny become more comfortable and familiar with using the litter box because it will smell its "markings" there.
4) Make sure your rabbit is in its cage for the most part. Before you go ahead and give your rabbit plenty of independence, your bun needs to feel safe and secure in its home. After a week or so, gradually let your bunny out and see if it will go back in its home to urinate. If your rabbit does, then you have been successful! If not, be patient!
Side Note: For the most part, your bunny is going to poop where it pees but there are times when it is going to excrete poop anywhere. Scatter poops usually means that its just marking its territory. Don't forget your rabbit also excretes cecotropes for it to eat and it might just want it separated from the other poop and urine wastes.
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Litter Training Your Rabbit
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6 Comments:
Hi there, just dropping by to say hi via Entrecard. I have a rabbit too and his name's Fattie :) He's a dwarf lop...
I take it he's a chubby little dwarf lop... I'm hoping you take him out and let him exercise, as well as not overfeeding him ;) right?
Hi Rabbit Whisperer! Great site.
I have a question for you and I'll check back to see if you've answered or if you want to email me at nycce2@yahoo.com that's great too. :)
We have had a cute little dwarf netherland for a couple of years now. We adopted him from a friend of ours and he was already an adult. He is a well-trained bunny in that he always pees in his litter box, but he will make droppings on certain parts on the living room floor, areas closest to his cage.
I am sure this is marking territory but I am wondering if there is anything we can do to change this behavior. It is quite frustrating to have to clean it up everyday and my husband is getting increasingly frustrated as time goes on because it seems to get worse. We do put him in the cage overnight which does seem to help some, but he still does it.
Is it just a behavior we will have to learn to live with or is there anything you can recommend?
Thanks!
Nicole in Ontario, Canada
Hello Nicole,
Well you're right to assume that your bunny is marking its territory. This is a behavior that is not the easiest to change. Every time you let your bunny out of the cage you need to let him know that this is your territory. PLAY with your bunny a lot when he comes out of his cage, so that it discourages him from marking with poops. If he does mark regardless, give him a firm "NO" and show him your offended (get down on your hands and knees putting your back to him). If he doesn't show signs of remorse (him coming up to you and trying to groom), then you have to put him back in his cage. Rabbits don't like being forced to go back into their homes when its not on their terms, but those are the breaks when disciplining. I hope this works out for you and that your husband keeps patient. Good Luck!
Jen ~ The Rabbit Whisperer
Hi there!
I've got a four month old english lop that since I brought her home, has flat out refused to urinate in her cage. She will "hold it" for up to two days if she has to, and immediately upon being let out, will go all over the floor, and the location isn't the same every time.
She leaves pellets like a champ in her cage, but seems to think that the tile floor of the hall way is her toilet.
Is there anything I can do to discourage this behavior?
She does have a litter box, but thinks it's a toy, rather than place to go.
Help!
Don't let your bunny out unless, he/she has determined a place to go the bathroom in their home, ie cage. Helpful tips, put half bedding and hay in litter box. Face the hay part in the corner so that your rabbit has to jump in the box to get it. Place the water bottle by the litter box as well.
When you let a rabbit out of its cage, it is important to set up boundaries, rules and limitations. Only allow your bunny to around in a little area and make sure he/she doesn't excrete outside the cage. I would either put your bunny back in its cage or spray your bunny with water so that he/she will run back in its cage to go to the bathroom. The latter is a more aggressive approach but does work!
Good Luck!
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