Litter training questions!

[Deleted User]

Ok, we have had Bun-Bun less than 2 weeks.

He was rescued from outside, running free after neighbors moved and left him behind. He was living under the deck and running around the neighborhood.

We rescued him late at night and while we were going to adopt  a rabbit, we didn’t plan on rescuing one out of our front yard! So, he spent the night in a dog crate and the following day we purchased a rabbit cage. Within a few days we knew it wasnt large enough or what we felt wasnt large enough and started hunting up a hutch that would fit in our living room.

Now, we noticed when we had the cage that he used only 1 corner for his pottying. We felt that maybe he was litter box trained. It is aparent that he was a house rabbit, as he has nice manners, etc.

We now have the hutch and moved him into it this past Sunday. We put the newly acquired litter box in the same corner he used in the cage.

He has NOT used it since. He has decided to pee/poop in the front corner of the hutch which means that it runs out under the door and onto the hardwood. I have read the books that state watch and when they start to back into the corner, pick them up and put them in the litter box. Well…. that worked once. Today he has decided that when I open the door to grab him and put him in the litter box…. he will hop away quickly, flicking me, the wall and the floor with fresh rabbit pee. GROSS

Hubby wants to just move litter box to that front corner since he has decided THAT is where HE wants to go.

What do we do? I just know that I am tired of cleaning pee off the hardwood and his cage mat 10x a day or getting flicked with pee.

[Beka27]

When is he going to be neutered? That sounds like your first step.

[Deleted User]

As soon as we can arrange it with a local vet.

We have only had him for 10 days and he was an unexpected arrival.

[Beka27]

Until then all you can really do is keep cleaning up the accidents. What size litterbox and what type of litter are you using? Does he have hay in the litterbox?

[Deleted User]

The largest the pet store had, 16 wide by 11 1/4 deep by 8 high.
We have all natural pellets in it, recommended by the Bunny people.
And yes, we put hay in it after we read it was recommended in a book.

In his cage, he used the back right corner. When we put his stuff old and new in the hutch, we placed litter box in that corner.
He is using the front right corner to potty.

So, should we leave litter box where it is and attempt to train him to that corner
OR
move litter box to front corner he seems to prefer using?

[Beka27]

That box sounds like a good size. I’d go ahead and move it to where he’s going.

[Deleted User]

Thanks!
It seemed HUGE at the store but we felt it couldnt hurt. Now that we have it in hutch, we are glad we bought largest one!

I will move it ASAP!

[Jutchy]

you could also put the accidents back in the litter box. I found that this trick worked well with my Bun. Anytime he would have an accident I’d wipe it with a paper towel and put it in his litter for a while.

[Deleted User]

I did that this morning after reading it in the book last night. He went over and looked it in the litter box and I swear smirked at me, turned around and peed in the other corner! Little stinker!

[Monkeybun]

Ahhh bunnies. Maybe a 2nd litter box would be a good idea til he gets it into his head

One thing to think about is that being unaltered and in a new home, he could be marking the new cage too.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Monkeybun!
Hey, were you at the Rabbit Advocate Event in Beaverton on Sat? Someone on here said you are part of them. We were at it on Sat. to have his nails trimmed, get some info, etc.

[Author]

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