Major litter box problem

[Nibbles_the_French_Lop]

As some of you know, I just got Nibbles a little over a week ago. I am litter box training him, and I must say he's been an exceptional bunny up until now. Nibbles is free to have the run of the house most hours of the day. He was not going to the bathroom anywhere in the house at all but in his cage, and even in his cage, he almost always uses the litter box.

Now, however, Nibbles has begun to both poop and urinate on my carpet right in front of his cage. I wouldn't mind the poop so much, but urinating on the carpet is definitely an issue. His cage is on the side of my bed between the bad and the wall. In front of his cage is a boxed-in like area about the size of his cage. It's the space between my bed and the wall, but when you reach the end of the bed there is a chair in the corner which which almost boxes in that bedside area.

My thoughts are that Nibbles is just thinking that area is part of his cage, too. I cannot, however, move his cage to any other area of the house for now. I live in a small apartment and also have a basset hound. By keeping Nibbles' cage in the bedroom, I am able to block the basset out through the use of a baby gate and prevent her from eating Nibbles' food.

So, any ideas on what to do? I love to let him have free roam as he mostly does, and I know he needs it, but I cannot have him urinating on the carpet, understandably.

 

[Amy27]

I try to put something on the floor that won't allow my bunny's to do that. Like a box or some toys, which make it harder but not impossible. Usually after a couple weeks they forget about the spot and I can move the box. I am not sure if you can do that though from the description of your set up. It sounds like it might block him from getting in his cage.

Another option is putting a litter box in that spot so it isn't ruining your carpet. Or putting down a piece of plastic and then putting down a throw rug so it doesn't get on your good carpet and then you can throw the throw rug in the washer or take it outside and hose it off.

My bunny's seem to find new spots they want to use as their litter box a lot. It is frustrating but usually making it hard for them to go in that spot stops it for awhile, until they claim a new spot and I start over.

 

[tonyshuman]

Amy has good suggestions. I also would recommend putting down a garbage bag or old shower curtain, with aluminum foil on top. That way the carpet is protected, and it makes a lot of bad noise if he walks there.

Off topic, my bf has always wanted a Basset. How do your bunnies and dog get along?

 

[Nibbles_the_French_Lop]

Thanks guys. Great ideas I didn't think of. I'll just put a flattened cardboard box down and see if that does the trick. Hopefully it will.

Regarding the basset tonyshuman, they are the most stubborn breed of dog, so be prepared to train one. Mine doesn't listen to a thing I say, and she's four, but I love her, and she's housebroken and doesn't chew on anything, so she gets her way. Nibbles is the only bunny I have. Prudence, my basset, and Nibbles get along just fine. They take turns running around each other and sniffing each other. (Usually one does it to the other at a time.) I did have to remind Prudence a few times at first to play "easy," but now she's used to Nibbles hopping around and just fine. Prudence doesn't have a mean bone in her body, so I really don't have any aggression or prey issues to worry about.

 

[tonyshuman]

Aw. That's good to hear. I worry because they're a hunting dog and are scent driven they'd be impossible to keep off a rabbit.

 

[elrohwen]

Is your bun neutered? Often unneutered rabbits will try to mark their territory by going to the bathroom in various places. Neutering might fix your problem.

 

[Orchid]

Just some random ideas that may or may not help.

Simon had a thing about carpet, towels, blankets...he would pee on them if they were on, near his cage. I guess they would annoy him. He was fine when we went to hard wood floors, but he couldn't really jump up...pain...

Someone offered the idea to me about one of those big heavy pieces of plastic that people will use as mats outside. To put that down so cleaning pee wouldn't be a big issue...I never did bother, but I thought the idea a good one.
There is also something called....Cloroplast?
The sign stores carry it...

I also believe someone here had mentioned useing Vinegar and water solution to help 'erase' the smell left behind to discourage peeing in that area. It may or may not help.

Getting him neutered helped SO much...he stopped peeing on me at least But he still had his moments that he wanted to go, where he wanted to go and if he felt something was where he wanted to be, he would pee on it. Like a pillow we left on the living room floor once...

Good luck..

 

[Victoria]

We are going to get a Scottish terrier and I was also wondering being a hunting dog terriers are if this will be a problem although we will have the rabbits in the shed and the dog in the house when this happens.
Our 2 rabbits are 2 year olds not neutered males and they like to pee in the corners and take turns doing it so that one pees over the other ones scent and then the other one over that ones scent - this never ends. We were going to put litter boxes in the two corners in our flat (thats the only spots they pee on). I cant think of any other way - we used to put vinigar etc but it did not help.

 

[Victoria]

Our rabbits are not neutered because they are not very strong had some health issues and are a bit on the thin side.

I went to couple of vets and other animal people for advice and the prices, but never made a decision to do it. When "teens" the rabbitsbecame territorial (one of them - Black especially so)and had to be separated into separate cages -as Black tried to kill (literally kill and not just injure) his brother Red. So they never go out together. I think not neutered rabbits mark more. But I cant advise to neuter as I have not done this myself.

 

[Nibbles_the_French_Lop]

Ok guys. Putting a flattened cardboard box down did not help at all!!! :cry1: He still pooped and peed all over it.

I am willing to to get him neutered as I thought I might need to for behavioral issues, but I can't for at least the next few weeks because I'm working and then studying like crazy for the LSAT. (I'm taking it September 26.) Also, when I got him from the fair, the paper said he was a Junior Buck, so I know he's six months or less, but I don't anymore than that. How old do bunnies need to be before they get neutered?

I'm going to try the vinegar for now, and see if that helps, but I'm pulling out my hair here. I'm trying to think of what I could use as a plastic deterrent for now, but not really sure. Any other ideas would be great.

 

[Victoria]

I cant think of anything. Good luck with your exams! Also my rabbits eat anything eg carpet cleaner , so may be careful with yours - vinegar is very acidic and if my rabbits are anything to go by, I wouldnt have imagined they would find it appetizing - but Red did!ssd:

 

[Victoria]

I think that your rabbit thinks that space is his so he does it there. How can you tell him it is something he should not claim?
My rabbits poo everywhere they go, but only pee in two corners (in the whole appartment). And does it not smell - having him just next to your bed? :headflick: sorry I just tried to imagine it. I sometimes sleep next to my rabbits in the study and it is not the best smell.

 

[Nibbles_the_French_Lop]

Victoria, I think that is why he does it, because he thinks it's his space. I don't know how to change that without moving his cage which is not an option right now.

And no it does not smell having him next to my bed. Nibbles doesn't have any bedding in his cage, just his litter box. I clean out his litter box daily and vacuum up what he kicks out of the litter box daily, so it stays pretty clean.:bunnydance:

 

[Orchid]

Nibbles_the_French_Lop wrote:

Ok guys. Putting a flattened cardboard box down did not help at all!!! :cry1: He still pooped and peed all over it.

I am willing to to get him neutered as I thought I might need to for behavioral issues, but I can't for at least the next few weeks because I'm working and then studying like crazy for the LSAT. (I'm taking it September 26.) Also, when I got him from the fair, the paper said he was a Junior Buck, so I know he's six months or less, but I don't anymore than that. How old do bunnies need to be before they get neutered?

I'm going to try the vinegar for now, and see if that helps, but I'm pulling out my hair here. I'm trying to think of what I could use as a plastic deterrent for now, but not really sure. Any other ideas would be great.

Simon's behavior improved drastically when I had him neutered. I was scared to do it and one of his testies had an issue for a bit afterwards, but it cleared up without issue. Prior to that he would jump and spray pee, pee all over the carpet, all over me, all over the couch. When we put him in his own bedroom he got better, it was like it was his space and he didn't need to keep marking my whole house...but when we moved he was back in the living room...and he was mostly ok.

As soon as the testies drop you can have a male neutered. I do not know about females as I did'nt have one or bother to find out.

If you try the plastic make sure it is nothing flimsy...could cause big problems if chewed up and ingested. The stuff I am talking about was heavy duty, thick, out door mat stuff.

Again....I wish you luck...