New to Rabbits

[Liquidtravel]

So, Franklin has been with me for 4 full days and nights. Overall, I have to say he has not been that bad as far as liter box training. He has only urinated a few times outside his literbox. I have used paper towels each time to clean up and then put the paper towels into his liter box. That seems to be working. As far as droppings are concerned, that is a different story. He seems to let droppings fall all the time. Mainly in the kennel and play area but if I leave the main door open to the living room, he will leave a few droppings outside his door and maybe a couple elsewhere. Inside his kennel and play area, he lets droppings fly all over the place. Based on what I have read and heard here, he is still probably marking his territory. Each day I do clean up his play area and kennel but put the droppings in his liter box. Should I leave his droppings out in the play area and kennel for a while until he is convinced they are marked?

As far as letting him roam, when I am home, he has access to my living room plus his play area so he has plenty of space. He seems like to squeeze himself behind the kennel next to the wall most of all and then come hopping out to nip my knees and ankles. He seems to be very affectionate or a rebellious teenager. Not sure which yet.

thanks for all the great advice and resources.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

I would leave the poops out for the day, and then pick them up at night. He should eventually stop going outside of his litter box once he feels like his territory is marked. And the nipping may be because he wants attention. If you allow him on your couch maybe watch a show with him while cuddling.

 

[Banditsmom]

I've been having the same issue with my Bandit. I've been meaning to get on here for a while but have been busy with a new job n moving. We've had my bunny for a year and in the beginning he was good with litter box n only left a few pellets outside his litter box but now these past few months he is pooping n peeing alot more right outside his litterbox "/ is it too late to try to wipe pee with paper towels n put in his crate or do I have to make more litter boxes right next to crate?

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

It’s not too late.
Mop the urine with a paper towel then place it in the litter box. Sanitise the area where he weed with a pet urine cleaner or a vinegar and water solution (half vinegar, half water).
It may also be that he’s too big for the litter box. Some rabbits are really fussy with their litter box, it might be too clean or too dirty.
Each time he goes outside of the litter box, clean it up as soon as you see it and do the same thing: mop with paper towel, put in litter box, sanitise, ect.

 

[Liquidtravel]

So, 1 week with Franklin and I think he has gotten used to his litterbox when it comes to peeing. For pooping, however, he is still pooping everywhere. I clean it up at night but when I get up in the morning, there is poop all over the floor of the kennel as well as the play area. I clean it up and go to work, but when I return, the same thing. While I am at home and let him roam, he poops, mainly close to the kennel door but certainly inside the kennel and play area. I do through the clean up each night and each morning and then when I go to bed.

How do you get rabbits to poop mainly in the litterbox? I know I can't expect him to not poop elsewhere from time to time but right now he poops outside his litterbox more than inside. As far as peeing goes, there have been a few mishaps but for the most part, he uses the litterbox.

 

[Mariam+Theo]

Every time he goes outside of the litter box put the poop in the box. You can also remove the space he has for free ranging, and limit it to a small area.

 

[Banditsmom]

It’s not too late.
Mop the urine with a paper towel then place it in the litter box. Sanitise the area where he weed with a pet urine cleaner or a vinegar and water solution (half vinegar, half water).
It may also be that he’s too big for the litter box. Some rabbits are really fussy with their litter box, it might be too clean or too dirty.
Each time he goes outside of the litter box, clean it up as soon as you see it and do the same thing: mop with paper towel, put in litter box, sanitise, ect.

Thank you for your response. I do wipe areas with vinegar but he still urinates there "/ but I will definitely try to wipe n put in his litterbox right away, I havent been able to pick up his poop right away so I will definitely try to get to that quicker also! Thank you

 

[Blue eyes]

Is he neutered?

 

[Liquidtravel]

No, he is not neutered yet. I plan on doing that in a couple of months. I was told he needed to be at least 6 months old and he is only 4.

I do put the poop into the litterbox but I think that is the only poop going in the litterbox...

 

[Apollo’s Slave]

No, he is not neutered yet. I plan on doing that in a couple of months. I was told he needed to be at least 6 months old and he is only 4.

I do put the poop into the litterbox but I think that is the only poop going in the litterbox...

He might be marking his territory. When he’s neutered you should find him way more prone to using his litter box. And it’ll take less time to train him.

 

[Blue eyes]

He should be able to be neutered already. He can be done as soon as your vet agrees. They often do males as soon as 'they' are visible.

In the meantime, don't stress about potty training. Even rabbits that litter train at a couple months of age may forget that training with the onset of hormones. Right now you're just fighting a losing battle. Don't sweat it for now. Let him be.

Once he's been neutered and had several weeks for those hormones to dissipate, he should train much more easily.