won't use litter box

[golfdiva]

Background: Hershey is 3.5 yo male who was neutered when he was about 8 mos old. I've had him since he was a baby. He has always had his own room downstairs while we were at work. When I came home I'd bring him upstairs with us. I'll admit I didn't do a very good job litter box training him, but he was pretty consistant in peeing in the box.

He is eating, drinking and otherwise behaving normally.

We re-did our bedroom so we decided not to let Hershey runfree here anymore. I made an area for him between the bed and wall, about 2.5'x10'. He actually seems more comfortable with this! But soon after, he stopped peeing in his litter box! I have his pellets and veggies and water in the litter box. He will jump in to eat, but even for this he seems reluctant and tries to just reach over the edge first. If he has an urge while he is in the box eating, he'll go, but he won't make a special trip!

He pees right next to the box. I finally put pee pads around the box and he is VERY consistant at peeing on these, in one of 2 places.

He poops wherever he happens to be.

It's the same box, same litter, same water bowl, as he's been using for years.

Ideas, anyone?

 

[missyscove]

I'd try adding one, or more, extra boxes, and maybe getting a bigger box.

Do you see him pee outside the box, or just see the pee show up?

My Timmy is my special case when it comes to litter boxes. He has to have two. He uses one to sleep in and one to pee in. If I take one away, he'll pee outside the box and sleep in the one that's left. He didn't do this in his old cage setup, but when I built his new cage it took a lot of reworking until I figured out that's what he wanted.

Also, occasionally I see him hop into the box, back up lift his tail and pee. He pees just outside the box, but all four of his feet are in it, so I'm pretty sure he thinks he's peeing in the box. A bigger box or one with higher sides would solve this, but I don't want to mess with what we've got because for the most part, it's finally working.

 

[Flick]

Has he been checked out by a vet, lately? Rearranging the room could be coincidence. Sounds like jumping might be painful for him. Maybe a box with lower sides would be easier for him to get in.

Or, he's ticked off that you rearranged the room.

 

[golfdiva]

I thought that he might be ticked off that I rearranged the room, but it's been a couple of months. How long can a bunny stay mad?

Yes, he is peeing on the floor and not just hiking his butt up too high.

He doesn't sleep in his litter box. It's the same box he's always had and plenty big.

However, now that I think of it, he liked to climb on my 3 step flower stand and he hasn't down that in awhile. He also has an excavation project goind in his sand box, and he hasn't been digging in awhile either.

I guess it's time for a check up at the vet!

 

[golfdiva]

I took Hershey tothe vet today.He said he had URI. Now that we mention it, I can see his eyes and nose is a little goopy too. He gave Hershey some enrofloxacin and Benepac. Hopefully he will be feeling better soon!

 

[AngelnSnuffy]

Rearranging could definetly have something to do with it, cut also, just training is important, and getting them to not be bothered by those outside things can sometimes be an issue, but I would think you could over come it? Add a box, like the others said and place poos in the box, I know, I've been struggling w/ this for months now...

Best of luck, let us know what you're doing as far as changes and if they're working.

 

[golfdiva]

Well, Hershey has taken his course of antibiotics and his eyes and nose are no longer "goopy". He is climbing on his plant shelf and he just seems to feel better in general.

However, he's still not peeing consistently in his box! He does pee in it if he's in it to eat anyway. Although I suspect he sometimes just goes into the corner and picks up his tail and doesn't do anything. He know this behavior will elicit a lot of positive talk from me! lol!

I still think it hurts sometimes for him to jump. He eats lots and lots of greens and I think it;s gas! I often hear his stomach gurgle and see him stretch and extend his tummy down to the floor. He has also been heard to grind his teeth.

Is it safe to routinely give him simethicone, like every day a couple times a day?