Litter box trouble.

[PureElla]

HEY HEY HEY!!

Toby got neutered about two weeks ago or so. Everything has healed perfectly, but he still is acting a bit HoRNy. Here and there he will hump the toy I used to distract him while waiting for the neuter. I heard that it can take anywhere from 2 weeks to about a month or two for the hormones to settle.

Along with that, comes my concern. Before the neuter, Toby has never had issues with his litter box. Here and there he would dig but it would stop after a day. At first, we used these paper pellets. These worked well for the first 2-ish months, but after we switched to a paper ball thingy. It's like the small paper pellets, but crumbly. Toby would dig, maybe because they felt like dirt. After that, we used newspaper for the next couple of months. We have been using newspapers, lined with bedding for about 3-4 months. There have been very slight issues here and there. After the neuter, specifically, 3 days after it, Toby has been DESTROYING his litter box.

At first, I thought it was because the smaller little box had gotten annoying. (I bought a smaller one so he would have to jump high into his usual one.) I changed it back to his bigger one, which is an XL high wall cat litter box. and he still didn't stop. I've tried newspaper only, bedding only, or both. Nothing works to stop this. I have also heard that after the neuter, their hormones are all over the place for a couple of weeks. (IDK if this is true doe.) Maybe that is the issue?

I know that it is natural for rabbits to dig, and I understand. This has never been an issue, too. I heard switched to a grate litter box is better, or not using newspaper at all since it makes them want to dig/chew. I am going to the petstore tomorrow, so I can get the pellets for the litter box and I will get a hooded litter-box to reduce the mess.

It is hard to sleep at night, with school in the morning. All I hear is digging against plastic and newspaper ripping. This also happens ONLY at night.

ANY TIPS WILL HELP SO MUCH, THANK YOU!!! <3

 

[Lucas the Bun 💕🐇]

I would hide the toy I’ve heard that it can remind them of their actions.

About the litter box I would discourage hooded litter-box,
it does’nt allow proper air flow, and has the possibility of making them feel trapped.

Does he have a hidey (2 holes) he may be trying to dig a hidey
(Tunnels work great).

If nothing works you could get some ear muffs for while you sleep.

It likely could be the hormones.

You could try puppy pads in only the litter box area (be sure to cut of the plastic off) and put wood stove pellets on top.

 

[JBun]

Hormones don't really start to slow down until 3-4 weeks. So you have a few more weeks until you should start seeing gradual improvement. And yes, after a neuter they can also get a surge of hormones, which can explain increased activity, hormonal behavior, and sexual frustration.

I would suggest wood pellets as litter. They are better at absorption and odor control. Then I would put a thick layer of hay over it to discourage digging. Soiled hay needs to be cleaned out every few days to prevent mold growth. Or make a screen to cover the pellet litter to prevent digging. I made mine out of plastic pet window screening.

Another thing that might be contributing to the increased digging behavior is how you feed him before bed. If you feed pellets before bed you may want to consider changing this. Pellets fill them up quickly then they have lots of time and energy to get up to other mischief(like digging). I would suggest saving pellet feeding for morning and maybe a light snack of greens before bed, then just hay eating during the night. Hay eating takes longer for them to fill up on, therefore they will expend more energy and time eating their hay.

 

[PureElla]

Ah, thank you. I feed Toby at night, with the pellets and veggies. I will switch that to the morning for sure!

He doesn't have a hidey with two holes. We got this cat/rabbit bed from IKEA. It can be put into 3 positions, but at the moment it is at the position for a hole, so he can go inside. (Image inserted below)

Is there a different that can affect how the rabbit acts with the wood and paper pellets?

 

[Lucas the Bun 💕🐇]

Its said it is best to get a 2+ hole hidey house as their instincts tell them they would be trapped if a predator comes,
cardboard box could work (as long as there’s no ink).

I don’t think so, other than they tend to pee on soft things and paper is easier to kick out than wood stove.

 

[JBun]

Some rabbits don't like the feel of hard pelleted litter on their feet. But if he is used to the paper pellet litter, the wood shouldn't be any different to him. Paper is fine, I just found the wood pellet litter to work better for my buns.

 

[PureElla]

Alright, I got a big cardboard box. Should I just open the ends, so there are 2 holes?

 

[PureElla]

Hormones don't really start to slow down until 3-4 weeks. So you have a few more weeks until you should start seeing gradual improvement. And yes, after a neuter they can also get a surge of hormones, which can explain increased activity, hormonal behavior, and sexual frustration.

I would suggest wood pellets as litter. They are better at absorption and odor control. Then I would put a thick layer of hay over it to discourage digging. Soiled hay needs to be cleaned out every few days to prevent mold growth. Or make a screen to cover the pellet litter to prevent digging. I made mine out of plastic pet window screening.

Another thing that might be contributing to the increased digging behavior is how you feed him before bed. If you feed pellets before bed you may want to consider changing this. Pellets fill them up quickly then they have lots of time and energy to get up to other mischief(like digging). I would suggest saving pellet feeding for morning and maybe a light snack of greens before bed, then just hay eating during the night. Hay eating takes longer for them to fill up on, therefore they will expend more energy and time eating their hay.

In the morning, Toby tends to sleep and then he is active at night. I will be switching the feeding times to mornings, but is there any way to make him be active during the day rather than the night?

 

[Lucas the Bun 💕🐇]

You can cut the 2 flaps or just leave them, but cut 2 holes through the sides

More complicated Cardboard Box Tunnel Castle

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=hAF7LZKf9mc&usg=AOvVaw0yJag5-y-BtDiKfqOTK1Nb

 

[zuppa]

Can you post a pic of his toilet box?
I've used recycled paper pellets as well and wood pellets are much much better, I refill toilets once a week with one rabbit and twice a week with two. I also have some diggers, I find that sometimes it helps when I mix a handful of wood shavings with wood pellets because otherwise they sounds interesting and my buns are curious to see what is there and start digging. For diggers who won't stop anyways I use a grate placed over pellets. I just took a kitchen tray for spoons and forks and removed inner parts and it fits perfectly into their toilets and works well, the wire is thick enough so not bad for their feet. But there are many other methods you can make your grate, use plastic sheets for fish tank lightening etc. I also have a little toilet for training it could be a bit bigger but surprisingly all my rabbits like it and use precisely. I don't know why, because it's much smaller than any standard rabbit toilet.

Here's some pics. Red toilet is after one week use by my Fred (old photo, he was intact then but was always good with his toilet, now I use grate on it because he is neutered and share toilet with Bernie who is a big fat digger, so this grate is only for her but both using comfortably)

Here's that small yellow toilet box as you can see everything goes there and they love sitting in the corner even it is very small.

I will take a pic of Fred+Bernie toilet now and will post here so you can see with grate

 

[zuppa]

Okay here is their toilet now, I've actually refilled it yesterday so about 20 hrs of use. I usually clean twice a week









Hello

 

[zuppa]

I don't know why it posted every photo twice sorry!

 

[PureElla]

I don't know why it posted every photo twice sorry!

Ah, I see what you did. I have a tray like that in my kitchen. If the digging doesn't stop with the different feeding schedules, I will do this!
I don't know why he started doing it after he was neutered, but I think it is just the surge of hormones before he calms down soon.

 

[zuppa]

Ah, I see what you did. I have a tray like that in my kitchen. If the digging doesn't stop with the different feeding schedules, I will do this!
I don't know why he started doing it after he was neutered, but I think it is just the surge of hormones before he calms down soon.

I think he just needs more time after neutering, my recently neutered boys were still hormonal 6-8 weeks after, this should stop soon. But it won't hurt if you improve your toilet, I imagine if you use just newspaper you need to clean it very often and it doesn't absorb urine so it will stink. Wood pellets absorb very well and also it doesn't smell at all because of pine wood is naturally great deodorizer. If you try them you will fall in love with them it makes cleaning so easy

I wouldn't use puppy pads because rabbits sometimes can chew on plastic parts and can get blockage from that it is very dangerous

 

[Happy Hollands]

I would add a litter box grate like THIS, so he is less tempted to dig.

Also, hormones should calm down within 4-6 weeks of neuter. He should hopefully go back to his good potty habits and stop humping!!

 

[Happy Hollands]

View attachment 50578

WOW your bunnies are stunning! Is that a cream VM Holland / Mini Lop?

 

[zuppa]

WOW your bunnies are stunning! Is that a cream VM Holland / Mini Lop?

Thanks! Yes this is Bernie and Fred is a lionhead, Bernie is a blue-eyed beauty broken cream I think

 

[Happy Hollands]

Thanks! Yes this is Bernie and Fred is a lionhead, Bernie is a blue-eyed beauty broken cream I think

Stunning! Does Bernie have blue eyes? If so, he could be Vienna Marked, not broken patterned

I have been on the search for that color for a really long time now, I am beyond jealous

 

[PureElla]

I would add a litter box grate like THIS, so he is less tempted to dig.

Also, hormones should calm down within 4-6 weeks of neuter. He should hopefully go back to his good potty habits and stop humping!!

I have something similar to that. The only thing is, is that the tiles are a bit bigger. Will that still work?

 

[PureElla]

I think he just needs more time after neutering, my recently neutered boys were still hormonal 6-8 weeks after, this should stop soon. But it won't hurt if you improve your toilet, I imagine if you use just newspaper you need to clean it very often and it doesn't absorb urine so it will stink. Wood pellets absorb very well and also it doesn't smell at all because of pine wood is naturally great deodorizer. If you try them you will fall in love with them it makes cleaning so easy

I wouldn't use puppy pads because rabbits sometimes can chew on plastic parts and can get blockage from that it is very dangerous

Yea, kinda like that. I do newspaper, followed by a layer of bedding, and another layer of newspaper. I just got paper pellets for the litter box, as my petstore doesn't have wood pellets. I lined it with newspaper, followed by a layer of those pellets. Hay on top!