Food Dish Location

[aeposten]

I know this question may be a bit ridiculous, but as someone who is new to rabbit ownership I want to know if this is ok . . .

My rabbit Oswald seems to enjoy sitting in/using his litter box while he eats. At one point I had his dish on the opposite side of the cage (near his water bottle) but he moved the dish next to the litter box. If I put his dish anywhere else, he moves it next to the litter box. Is this ok. Part of me thinks "Sure, why wouldn't it be?" but part of me worries about sanitation issues.

I'm sorry if I sound like a worry wort; it's just at times I feel like a new mother! Oswald is my first rabbit, and my first pet since moving out of my parents' house and I just want him to be happy and healthy.

Thank you,
Amy

 

[Jess_sully]

I know what you mean about feeling like a new mother Yes, leaving the food bowl by the litterbox will be fine. Just check to make sure it's clean and not getting dirty. Many bunny owners put hay directly into the litterbox, and the bunnies are smart enough to know not to eat the soiled hay. Eating and going to the bathroom at one time is a natural instinct for them because in the wild, it means they don't have to be standing still out in the open for as long. It all goes back to their prey roots I don't think you can put his hay in his litterbox though, because you have one of those little corner ones. If I were you, I'd go buy one from Wal-Mart for $2.00... the small size should work fine for him! He'll likely outgrow the one he has now.

 

[naturestee]

Smart bunny! He's just trying to littertrain himself. My rabbits love eating while sitting in their litterbox. Since they poop at the same time, I'm happy to oblige.

 

[canela_2004]

hehehe, Kahlua does the same thing. She moves her bowl right next to the box every day. I already put hay in there (i have a large cat box from walmart $4) and she is about 95% trained with poops and 100% trained with pee. i see no issue with his bowl being there as long as his pellets arent getting peed on.

 

[aurora369]

I always set my cage up so that hay and food are only accesible from the litter boxes. Exspecially with babies or rabbits I'm trying to litter train.

I'll post some pictures when I get home from work.

 

[Bassetluv]

I wouldn't worry about it too much, unless he winds up getting his food contaminated all the time. It seems a lot of bunnies liken their litter boxes to their bath/bedroom/dining area all in one. (Imagine if they could have a tv in there too...they'd be all set! ) If you find that you don't care for him redesignating his dish's location, you could always get one of these:

It attaches to the side of a wire cage with two clamps, and the dish itself twists off for easy cleaning or refilling. I got one for Raph when his ears kept falling into his water dish...they work great!

 

[aeposten]

Thank you to everyone for the reassurance. Oswald is doing VERY well with his litter training and it seems to help that his dish is right next to his litter pan. I just wanted to make sure it was healthy for him.

I'm going to get him a larger litter box as soon as my boyfriend and I start building his NIC cage. We've come up with a nice design, now all we have to do is head down to Bed Bath and Beyond to pick up the necessary materials.

I'm having such a wonderful time learning about and caring for Oswald!

-Amy