Yes you have seen it correctly, it is very possible to litter train your bunny and guess what it can be fairly easy. Litter training your bunny is much more successful when you start them off at a young age and once they have been neutered. It is a rabbit’s natural behaviour to mark their territory by leaving their poops near certain areas they are marking.
What do I need to buy?
Here is a list of items you are going to need and prepare to begin the litter training process.
Litter Tray or Box
It is always best to have a large litter tray as your bunny will like to lay in it. In our experience cat litter boxes and trays tend to be a much suitable idea. Some rabbits will back into the corner of the litter tray and this causes them to miss, cat litter boxes tend to have higher sides and the area is much neater to handle.
If you are going to purchase a rabbit litter tray just be aware of the sides and the size of the tray. If you have a giant breed of rabbit or have a few rabbits that like to share the litter tray at the same time then shallow storage boxes do a great job, it is the ideal size to use.
Pet Disinfectant
Your local pet store will sell rabbit disinfectant spray to clean the cage. A cheaper alternative is either white vinegar or hot soapy water. There is not a set time of when you must clean your rabbit’s toilet litter tray, as this has many factors that contribute to a messier one than your neighbours.
It can depend on, how many bunnies are using it, how often your rabbit is using his litter tray, the absorbency of the litter provided and other factors. In the summer months when the weather is hot, we suggest you clean it out frequently due to flies laying their eggs in the litter.
Litter
You need to be fussy when it comes to the litter you choose and always do your research what it contains. Most bunnies will sit or lie in their trays and eat the litter. Local pet shops will sell rabbit litter pellets which are good to use but can become expensive and sometimes not designed for bunnies to digest a lot of it, so be aware of this.
Paper based cat litters are always a cheaper and better alternative. You must make sure that all litter you purchase is clump – free which means it will not clump and cause harmful blockages if digested. It is always best to speak with your local pet store assistant and go through the types of litter they sell in the store. Sawdust and wood shavings are not ideal to use as this can tend to be messy and not absorbent.
Newspaper
You will need this as an absorbent layer between the base of the tray and the litter pellets. Its great if you know someone with an active newspaper subscription with a news agent shop.
Hay
You will need to put a handful of hay in the tray. Rabbits like to munch away whilst they sit in there. You may want to buy a ball that you can stuff with hay and that will attach to the side or hang above.
Starting with multiple trays
Rabbits tend to go to the toilet in their preferred corners, you may have to start with a few trays until your rabbit gets the idea then you can take a few away. Whilst training your rabbit may change the corner, just simply move the box. Once you have set up the trays and have put them into place, let your bunny have a look and a sniff around and then you are ready to go.
Ideally a litter box in the cage is the best place to start as it’s a small area. Once your rabbit has and then you can start to expand the area your rabbit is living in with a couple of trays around. Your rabbit will get the hang of it within a few days.
Let’s start the training process
- When a rabbit is ready to urinate, it will lift its tail up. Quickly pick up your rabbit and put it in the litter tray. If you are too late, put your rabbit in there and any mess that is left. Remember if your litter box has a lock or if it’s in your rabbit’s cage do not lock it whilst they are in there. We need to keep this as a positive experience. If your bunny goes to the toilet next to the litter tray, simply keep moving the tray to the spots she is choosing.
- Keep an eye on your bunny at all times. This may sound boring as you really wanted to catch up on your favourite soap but if there are mistakes then your bunny is going to be confused as to what is happening.
- Remember not to discipline your rabbit for doing it wrong. We want this to be a happy and independent experience. If your bunny does go outside of the litter tray, simply put them back in as soon as possible. If it is possible put the soiled litter back inside the tray with your bunny.
- Once your rabbit has got the hang of it inside its cage, it is time to expand the area she lives in. Place as many trays as you like around the area and repeat the process.
Please Note
- Your bunny’s urine may appear different colours. Rabbit’s urine can vary from pale yellow to dark orange to red. There are a lot of factors to why it changes. For more info.
- Rabbits will usually urinate infrequently and in large amounts. On occasions you may come across a bunny that keeps dribbling. You will need to keep an eye on this and contact your vet if it keeps happening, this could be a result of a urine infection.
- Lots of rabbits will love to urinate on the human’s bed or sofa; this is a great comfy spot and has a strong smell of human. Whilst you are litter training you may need to have these spots as no go areas.
- Accidents will happen but if a rabbit is persistent on urinating on the same blanket, sofa ect then by washing it thoroughly and then applying white vinegar to it. Washing out the smell of their urine seems to help them not to do it in these constant places.