That’s one of the first things you’ll learn as a new rabbit owner. Learn how to litter train a rabbit in a hutch if you don't want your rabbits to use your house as a large litter box. In that scenario, it's up to you to erase the stigma that your fluffy friend holds against the usage of litter box using encouragement. To see whether litter type or cleanliness have a hand in your cat's pooping (or peeing) problems, clean the litter boxes twice a day and set up a litter-box lineup for a week or two. Remember, what works for one rabbit might not work for another, so be patient. She said that she's never had a problem with bunny not pooping in her litter box. This is your rabbit saying, “this litter box is my territory, not yours.” This, again, is more prevalent in female rabbits. Not enough litter; Maybe there’s not enough litter in the box, or it’s not deep enough. This should not be a large problem because rabbit poop does not smell and is easy to pick up, sweep, or vacuum if your rabbit is healthy. When rabbits reach 4-6 months of age, you can thank active hormones for territory marking. However, I haven't had anything but poop all over my house. Place one in each corner of the cage. 99 ($16.99/Count) $17.99 $17.99. Provide Easier Access to the Litter Box First of all, this is to be expected and can’t be 100% prevented. When she returned, her clothes were covered in new smells, making them super territorial too. She is almost 7 years old. In this case, Bean is a tiny rabbit, and I can go through his litter box and find a nice normal poop. Does anyone know what could be causing this? Tagged with: behavior. Maybe all he needs is a pile of rabbit hay in the box to give it some allure. Jenni, you've run into a common problem that many rabbit owners have, and it stems from not really understanding what it means for a rabbit to be 'litter box trained'. My girlfriend has a 6 year old rabbit that has been great at doing her business in her litter box but as of the last few days she refuses to poop in the litter box, but will still pee in it. How to train a rabbit to use a litter tray. 'Rabbits are always wary of possible predators, so if their litter tray is placed where they don't feel safe, they won't use it,' Catherine explains. You can blame smaller bladders, but it’s their party and they’ll poop where they want to. She suggests observing the area your rabbits naturally use for toileting, and placing a litter tray there instead. This is because wild bunnies compete for territory to give birth and raise their babies. Why is my rabbit not using her litter box all the sudden? She has never went outside of her box so it is weird for her to be doing this. Did something happen to her environment? Smelly Litter Box: It's very common for cats to turn up their noses at a litter box if it doesn't meet their exacting standards for cleanliness and odor. You can relax a little while your bun explores the house. No luck? Litter training a rabbit in a hutch using a litter box. How Long Does it Take to Litter-box Train a Rabbit? So to promote good litter box habits, place hay either directly in the box over the litter or place it in a hay box next to the litter box. When I bought new shoes my rabbits got super territorial. Once your bunny is fixed, the most frequently used training method is to start small. I'll be getting a rabbit soon and I'll be litter training it and I've never litter trained a rabbit so is it better to get 2 or 1. Then, years later, your cat has stopped using the litter box. Litter box avoidance shouldn’t be a deal-breaker when it comes to whether kitty gets to stay in your family or not. My 3 and a half year rabbit has used to litter box since the day I got her, which was about 2 years ago. Start by going back to basics. On average, it may take anywhere from a week to a month or two to fully litter-box train your rabbit. As of this mess in the cage she doesn't poop in her litter box anymore like she used to. By spaying or neutering your rabbit, he will be much more likely to use his litter box (as well as much healthier and happier). Most of the time, the pet should come to realize that everything is fine. Recently, most of their […] If your rabbit has bad litter box habits, like Rosie and Jim, read on to find out what might be causing the problem and how to resolve it. YOU WILL NEED: A rabbit; A litter tray; Put your litter box in a corner of your rabbit’s area, and put their hay above/in it. I thought it was just her readjusting to a new environment but I've had her for about a month now and she's still doing it. However, most of the poops were in the litter box – most consider this litter trained. Urine-training involves little more than putting a litter box where the rabbit chooses to go. She will still urinate in the litter box like normal, she just won't poop in it anymore. The average size of a litter box should be at least 15” by 10”. I've had her for little more than a year, she is not spayed. The plastic "grate" has large enough holes to allow the poop to fall through. Not right away. Shes not really being a brat, shes just being a rabbit Rabbits poop mark, some more than others. - unscented litter is best - uncovered litter boxes because covered ones hold in odor - some cats prefer to defecate in one box and urinate in another. In fact easiest way to litter train rabbits that I've found is to just put hay in the litter box. Hello all! You should clean your bunnies litter box at least every other day with a safe, non-toxic cleaner such as white vinegar or baking soda. Your Cat Doesn't Like Its Litter. This behavior will usually correct itself in time. You’ll be able to see exactly how much they’re pooping. Watch which box the rabbit uses most, then gradually remove the other 3. A cardinal rule of litterbox training is: more is better. She has recently starting not using the litter box to poop in anymore. Try moving his food/water crocks into his litterbox away from the corner he pees in. A cat not using the litter box definitely can be frustrating—and unsanitary. Take constipation seriously, and contact a veterinarian at the first sign of your rabbit not pooping anymore. Sunny gets super territorial every time I vacuum . In many cases you can put the second box in the same room (depending on the size of the room), but in other cases, you’ll have to locate the second box … What if you do not want your rabbit to use the hutch as their litter box? Gradually take away one box at a time, slowly increasing the amount of floor space. You’re actually lucky that your cat decided to leave its poop uncovered, which is better than the alternative of your cat pooping at other places in the house, such as on your carpet, bed or bathtub. Well, the same rule applies to the litter box: if your otherwise healthy kitten cries when pooping then it must have rather unpleasing memories of its toilet in the past. Won't poop in litter box anymore. She is a spayed female and isn't around any other rabbits. Most rabbits will happily jump in it by themselves. Cats have a sensitive scent of smell and they are easily averse to using the litter when it stinks! Does not seem uncomfortable for him to sit on like metal grates might be. Spay or neuter is the most important part of litter box training a rabbit. The Latrine. Less frequent litter changes can cause your rabbit to find alternatives when nature calls. You may also place some pee-stained papers and poop pellets in the litter box to let them know that it's an acceptable place to potty. Provide several litter boxes of different sizes with low entrances in the areas where your pal roams. A covered/hooded litter tray, or putting the tray into a cardboard box with an entrance hole in the side will stop litter getting everywhere. I have a 6 month old bunny that I got from a friend of my sister. Changes in routine can cause rabbits to become less consistent with trips to the john. ​Moving to a new house can cause your rabbit to “go” outside the box to mark his territory. All of the sudden she is peeing and pooping everywhere but in her litter-box. Litter Training Troubleshooting Guide Your rabbit still has some pooping episodes outside of the litter box. If they pee outside of the tray, soak up the pee with some kitchen towel and put that in the tray. 5 simple steps to stop your rabbits from pooping all over the house - How to litter train your bunny! In this video I am going to show you how to teach a rabbit to use a litter box. While some reasons for litter box aversion may be more complex, there are often some simple mistakes cat caregivers make. If your cat is not making it to the litter box in time to poop, they might be scared off by a family member, a noise, the shifting of the litter box on the floor, or something similar. First of all, this is to be expected and can’t be 100% prevented. Behavior . New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Litter box itself is one of the most crucial points for your bunny. It’s an instinct designed to tell other rabbits that they’re there, this is their space. Moreover, the size of the litter tray may vary from species to species also. It doesn't matter whether he's actually eliminating in the box or simply sitting in it. It is incredibly easy to litter box train a rabbit. In fact easiest way to litter train rabbits that I've found is … You can buy from Small Pet Select anywhere in the world! Limiting their space is possibly your best option, or investing in multiple litter box setups. Even the adolescents have a good excuse. A cat’s normal instinct is to bury their poop, so the litter box should have enough cat litter to satisfy their dig-and-bury habit. Hope that helps Unaltered rabbits with raging hormones will mark their territory with urine, and therefore are not easily litter box trained. So her poop is normal, she's just not using the litter box? Because there are so many reasons your rabbit’s bathroom habits may have regressed, it might take some trial and error to rectify the situation. While some reasons for litter box aversion may be more complex, there are often some simple mistakes cat caregivers make. Clean the Box . Positive reinforcement goes a long way. Even so, there are things that can go wrong. Luckily, rabbit poop is not gross at all. Then we caught her peeing right under the dining room table. She pees in the box but won't poo. A rabbit’s litter box habits can tell you a lot about their health. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Cats are keenly aware of the scent and feel of their litter, so if you've changed brands or types to take advantage of a sale, your cat may not approve of the savings the way you do. Yet she always poops in the litter box. Sometimes they accidentally kick a few out when jumping out. Lowest price in 30 days. If you're worried about poop, I'd avoid a rabbit as the poop is probably the least problem since it's dry and not smelly. Have you been a little busier than normal? While an occasional stray poo is nothing to worry about, a sudden rejection of the rabbit litter box can be frustrating. Is none of the poop going in the box or just some? Their poops are dry, scentless, cocoa puff balls. First and foremost, scoop clumps from the litter box daily and deep clean it frequently.