Litter “refresher” needed?

[CallHimGeorge]

We’ve just adopted a 3 year old French/German angora cross male (uncut).  He’s as friendly as can be with the whole family, and the breeder who rescued him said the previous owner claimed he was “litter trained” to only go in his hutch.  (half starved, but litter trained!) 

He adores being out in the living room with us as much as he can, but it seems like he saves up the WHOLE days worth of “business” for when we get home…and his favorite place to do his business is the sofa!  (litterally, changed out the paper in the tray this morning, one wet spot and 6 pellets when I got home!)  Once he’s unloaded, he’s perfectly content to snuggle, play, run circles around feet, dig in newspapers…typical bunny-ness, and a true pleasure to have around.

We can’t exactly put a box on the sofa, and I think I need to put one in his hutch.  Any other suggestions??? 

 

Many thanks!!

[Monkeybun]

Getting the big snip done would be a good starting point. him going ont he couch is him trying to cover your scent with his, its territorial.

[Sarita]

Welcome, I agree with Monkey about getting him “snipped”.

Also, it’s really hard to know how he was housed prior and what exactly the previous owners who sound like they didn’t take care of the poor guy properly really “trained” him. So that may be why he’s not using the litterbox properly and it’s also very possible that these people were less than truthful if he was neglected. Many times people just don’t tell the truth when they are getting rid of a pet.

That being said, here are a few suggestions:

1. Do not let him on the couch – so many times rabbits love using the sofa initially as a litter box and especially untrained one who are also new to a household.

2. A questions – what is his current set up and what type of litter box and litter are you using for him?

3. Another thing you can do with these angoras since they are so full of fur is have the vet shave around their tail – it’s called a sanitary shave and helps keep them clean in that area as well.

He’s lucky he’s in a new home with caring people now :~)

[Beka27]

I have nothing further to add, I just want to thank you for taking him in and saving him from what sounds like a less than ideal situation!

[RabbitPam]

He sounds sweet, and it just needs some better litter training to get him on track. I would suggest not letting him out until he’s gone in his litter pan first, after you’ve gotten home. You might keep him confined for his supper, and watch to see if he still holds it while he’s eating. My bunnies both needed a stop in the litte pan during meal time at night. Once dinner is over and the pan was used, let him out to play for a few hours. You can also tuck a spare litter pan in the room with the couch and teach him to find it when he needs to go while he’s out playing. I wouldn’t let him back on the couch, either. Poos can be found around the house, but they need to learn to pee in a litter pan only, so help him learn that if he goes first, he gets to play next. And if he goes in the spare pan, he can stay out.
Snip snip time.

[CallHimGeorge]

George is currently in a large wire hutch in the living room – nearest most of the action. We’ve added a litter box lined mostly with newspaper and a couple of handfuls of CareFresh and hay at one end. when I clean his box each day, I do put a scrap of pee’d on paper from the previous day in there. Hes gotten pretty good about using it in his cage, and we keep another in the living room, but he mostly doesnt’ use it. This morning I cleaned the sofa with uphosltry cleaner…thinking if it didn’t smell like “us” he’d maybe leave it alone. He doesnt mark the carpet or the kids sofa…considering the snip once he’s gained a bit more weight.

[LittlePuffyTail]

I dont have any useful advice that you havent already been given but I just have to comment, your user name made me giggle. Is it any relation to this guy?

 

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