Litterbox Training

[jleo3]

Newglarus isa4 1/2 month old lionheadand keeps messing up his cage. I know that neutering him will help, but I was honestly thinking that we'd at least be making some progress by now. Needless to say, I have a couple of questions.

I have read a couple articles that suggested putting soiled litter in the litterbox so the rabbit recognizes the smell and is encouraged to keep it in the litterbox. I have also read that litterboxes should be cleaned daily, because rabbits will only use them if they are clean.

I have also read that putting hay in the litterbox encourages them to "hang out" there, but that rabbits will not eliminate where they eat, sleep or drink.

These claims seem to contradict themselves, what do you think? Also, has anyone used Critter Litter (Potty Training Litter) by Superpet?

I am moving in the next month or two, so he will be neutered shortly thereafter. I'm just trying to not use so much litter! I bought 50lbs of it in the beginning of January and have already passed the halfway mark on my supply. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SweetSassy]

I wouldn't keep the litter box too clean and I wouldn't clean it everyday. If he pees outside his box i would soak it up with a paper towel and put it in the litter box, and put the poo's in there too.

Also I would put hay in his litter box cause they go potty where they eat. So when he's eating his hay he will use the bathroom.

Hope this helps April

 

[funnybunnymummy]

Yes, that information does seem to be contradictory, but when you understand a rabbit's instincts, then it doesn't seem so contradictory anymore.

WildEuropean rabbits (the ones domestic rabbits descend from)will choose a communal litter areaaway from thewarren where all the rabbits go to urinate.This is done to protect the warren from predators. So, knowing this, if you deduce where Newglarus has chosen as his potty area (usually one corner of the cage),place the litter box in that spot and put some soiled bedding or litteror whatever he's been peeing on into it, he should start to get the idea what it's for.

Rabbits also tend to eat and poop. (Kinda like horses!) So putting hay at one end of his box will encourage him to use it too. (In one end, out the other!)Because he's not neutered, you mayhave some difficulty getting him to poop exclusively in the litter box. But some poops in the litter box is better than none!

I wouldn't clean a rabbit's litter box every day (unless they are a particularly fastidious rabbit!). It's true, rabbit's will stop using a potty area if it gets too dirty. But cleaning his box everyfew days should be enough. Also, when you clean it, leave a few poops in it. (You don't want it so clean he forgets what it's there for!)

ETA: Also, be sure you are using a litter box that's big enough. Some rabbits won't use a litter box if it's too small for them.

Hope that helps!

Rue

 

[elrohwen]

Do you have litter in the rest of his cage? He should only have litter in his litter box - otherwise he won't understand why some litter is for peeing and some isn't. I would take all bedding out of the cage and put litter only in his litter box. Putting hay in the box will help as well.

Also look at the size of his box. No matter how small the bunny, they really do best in a cat sized litter box, not those corner litter boxes sold for bunnies. They need enough room to turn around and pee in any direction.

eta: My personal litter recommendation is wood stove pellets that you can buy at a feed store or hardware store (or pelleted pine bedding for horses, which is the same thing). It's about $5 for a 40lb bag and controls odor very well. I also like Yesterday's News, but for the price I just can't beat wood stove pellets.

 

[slavetoabunny]

As you already know, neutering will help immensely. In the meantime....1) do you have the litterbox in the correct place. Rabbits usually choose a corner that they want to use for their potty and that is where the litterbox should be place. 2) I've had good luck with sopping up their pee with a paper towel and then putting it in the litterbox. 3) I agree with using wood pellets. I get a $40 bag for $8 at the feed store. This lasts me almost 1 month with 4 rabbits. I change the bonded pairs box every other day and the 2 singles every 4 days. 4) Hay in the litterbox is definately the way to go. I serve all mine that way. Having a grate in the litterbox helps a lot to keep the hay from getting mixed in with the litter.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jleo3]

elrohwen wrote:

Do you have litter in the rest of his cage? He should only have litter in his litter box - otherwise he won't understand why some litter is for peeing and some isn't. I would take all bedding out of the cage and put litter only in his litter box. Putting hay in the box will help as well.

Also look at the size of his box. No matter how small the bunny, they really do best in a cat sized litter box, not those corner litter boxes sold for bunnies. They need enough room to turn around and pee in any direction.

eta: My personal litter recommendation is wood stove pellets that you can buy at a feed store or hardware store (or pelleted pine bedding for horses, which is the same thing). It's about $5 for a 40lb bag and controls odor very well. I also like Yesterday's News, but for the price I just can't beat wood stove pellets.

I have litter in all of the cage and after looking at some pictures of other RO setups, I see that a lot of them do not have any bedding. I have read, however, that rabbits like some bedding in their cage to satisfy the natural desire to dig. Mine LOVES to.

He has already messed up his cage to the point where elbow grease won't even get some of the "gunk" off. It is rather unsightly if not covered.Is there something else I can line the cage with that would be more effective in the litter training process?

In an unrelated subject, I have him running around on my couch right nowand he justran accross my laptop and typed this (between the quotation marks)! Translation, anyone???:rabbithop

"bhjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj;;;;;;;;;;'

p]=op"

 

[elrohwen]

Honestly, I would take out all cage lining for now. Anything absorbant on the bottom of the cage may make him want to pee there. If his pee lands on a hard surface and doesn't absorb, he'll understand that's not a good place to go. Once he's effectively using the litter box, you can line the bottom with a towel or a fleece blanket if you'd like. These are easily washable if he has an accident, but won't confuse him the way the current bedding is. I think right now he really just doesn't realize that you want him to go in the litter box - in his mind, there's bedding all over the cage, so going all over is ok. He doesn't see the distinction that some bedding is in a box and some isn't.

To clean the bottom of his cage, I would use 100% white vinegar and let it soak for a while, then clean and rinse the vinegar off well. Once it's clean, you can use a 50/50 vinegar/water mix to clean the litter box.

If you want to make him a place to dig, I'd get a box, put a hole or two in it so he can get in, and fill it with shredded newspaper or something. He'll be able to dig to his heart's content, just make sure he's not using it as a bathroom.

 

[bengal77]

jleo3 wrote:

I have also read that putting hay in the litterbox encourages them to "hang out" there, but that rabbits will not eliminate where they eat, sleep or drink.

These claims seem to contradict themselves, what do you think? Also, has anyone used Critter Litter (Potty Training Litter) by Superpet?

Rabbits like to poop where they eat to claim their territory and say "hey, this food is mine so go find your own!" They generally will poop or pee on a bit of their litter box hay but they won't eat the soiled bits. And even if they do it won't hurt them. Lily occasionally eats one of her dry fecal pellets. I don't know why she does it, and she doesn't do it often, but I've seen her hop up to a fecal pellet and munch on it so I know she is doing it on purpose. It doesn't seem to harm them at all.

Have you thought about building a litter box using the sifting method or the fluorescent lighting panel method? I have the latter one and I like it a lot. I put fresh yesterday's news in the litter box, put in the fluorescent lighting grid, and pile the hay on top on one side or hang up a hay rack. Lily sits on it, her poop and pee falls down to the litter, and she can munch on hay while maintaining clean litter habits.

Sifting Litter Tray
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=54170&forum_id=93

Fluorescent Lighting Panel Litter Tray
http://www.rabbitsonline.net/view_topic.php?id=53690&forum_id=93

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

You've gotten the utmost advice here, same as I would suggest. Gosh, this forum rules!

But, yeah, cheapest thing to do to train, if there is an accident, wipe it up with a paper towel and place the towel in the litter.

Something I always do to, is when I change the litter, I add a few poops and sometimes a tad of hair/hay...it helps when training and helps when they're aging, lol.

 

[jleo3]

Thank you for all of the helpful tips! :bunnydance:

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Of course, but keep us posted, let us know if this info has helped you and your bun. It's always nice to hear that.

 

[jleo3]

I was really excited when I got back from work today and saw that Newglarus FINALLY used his litterbox! I took all of the litter out, except for what was in the actual litter box and topped it off with some hay. His cage was totally clean today aside from a few "poops" scattered about. I decided to line it with newspaper (for shredding purposes) and he has urinated on the newspaper since I put it in there. I'm still very excited about the progress I've made. I think the rest will be based on how he prefers to be trained. They are all different, afterall. Right?

 

[elrohwen]

That's great news! It really is all about figuring out your individual bunny and what works for him. He's lucky to have an owner who takes the time to figure out his preferences.

Since he peed on the newspaper, it seems like he might pee on anything absorbant you put down. I'd give it a week or so with nothing else on the floor, then put some newspaper back in and see how he does. Maybe if you can get him using the litter box for a long enough time it'll be habit enough that he won't think to pee on other surfaces.

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

That's progress! Congrats! Now, see what part of the cage he prefers. If he's doing well where your putting the paper, then that's a great place to start with litter box. The first time though, put the paper that was used and line it in the litter pan. That will help him to go there as well.

 

[jleo3]

**UPDATE**

It seems that I still have some issues that I need to work out with him! I had a corner box that was big enough for him to fit in, but he still had quite a few accidents which, oddly enough, where smack dab in the middle of his cage! I took elrohwen's advice and bought a small cat sized litter box that takes up nearly 1/4 of his cage floor and he hasn't used that one at all. He continues to pee in the middle of the cageand sleeps in the new litter box. Today, I decided to move the box he likes to sleep in under the shelf on the opposite side of the cage and set up the corner box opposite his hay wheel. Both have litter in them.