Oh no! I’m not sure what kind of water bottle you have, but maybe the spring is loose Or is it missing a rubber seal/gasket? Honestly, I’d recommend just using a bowl. They make some heavy ceramic bowls and there are metal bowls that are designed to be tip resistant I know the bowls are harder to keep clean, but I just dump and refill the water with my morning and evening feedings, it’s not that much more work. I guess it helps that Leroy doesn’t have a thing for dumping stuff in his bowl, sitting/playing in it, or knocking it over.

Monkey uses both a bowl and a bottle, and prefers the bottle. My new Boy has never used a bottle, so I may just stick with a bowl for him. They just require a bit more attention for refilling and such.

My bunnies were never bright enough to figure out water bottles, so I’ve only ever used bowls. It’s been almost 3 years now and we’ve never had problems with the bowls. Tip resistant is important though cause Charlie figured out how to tip his bowl over when he was a baby and once a rabbit learns a new trick…lol.

Water bottles can leak-if it is it just needs replacing.

Or you can go with a bowl instead

Just saw your post sorry. Until you replace th bottle-put a bowl underneath to catch the drips.

You should be able to see if it does need replacing because of a rusty ball. Bottles can drip for a variety of reasons. Mine do during the cold months because of temperature changes. Just cracking open the window near my rabbits’ condo makes their brandnew bottle drip at a steady interval. It stops when I close the window. If air is trapped in the vacuum it can cause dripping, and also some bottles start leaking when the water level inside them drops by half. Is your bottle new? What kind is it? When did the dripping start? Putting a bowl underneath, yes, will help for now.

Sometimes rabbit people just come across bad bottles. I would suggest that you go out for a new one.

My bunny Spockie had a preference for water bottles for a while, and I had an awful time finding any that didn’t leak. I mean I spent money for years trying new brands. Some are much worse than others, but most drip to some extent.

If you don’t like a bowl, you can also try the metal kind that hang off the bars that are used for birds. They do make large ones, and some can screw on the back through the bars so it can’t be pushed or pulled off. It raises it up just enough that nothing can really be kicked in it to make it dirty or dropped in it without real intention. (Which I wouldn’t put past a bunny.) I’ll go look for a pix of one.

Hershey HATES her bowl.. with a passion! she has both a bottle and a bowl in her cage and she prefers the bottle.. without dought.. she likes to  pee in the water bowl.. if we do put water in it she tips it automatically or if were lucky enough for her not to tip it she pee’s in it! if we take it out, she sulks. if we leave it in without water she pee’s & poo’s in it! so.. a pee bowl it is… no more water in the bowl :S

The one on the left is the kind I used for years that Spockie seemed to like best.

The one on the right has a metal bolt to hold it in place.

They are called Coop Cups, and come in different sizes. The are very inexpensive.

oh bowls vs bottles.   I had to buy 5 bottles b4 I found 1 that didnt’ leak.   sometimes the balls aren’t perfectly round or something. 

I had to get heavy bowls for Ruby she likes to pull them towards her and it would tip or land on it’s side which she did that on purpose.  She can’t do that anymore with the heavier ones.   I have to make sure they are away from her litterbox so she can’t pee in them.  She did that on purpose too I am sure.

Mirbear I hear you

Those attachable ones should work for you Taurus

i think it just depends on the bottle that you have. i bought a cheap one from walmart with the ball. it doesnt leak. when i bought the same kind for my other bunny his leaked non-stop. i bought another and that one leaked. today i bought another one and i am hoping this one wont leak. it might just be the specific one that you have. i have seen some bottles that have a lever instead of a ball. when they lick it the lever moves back and forth and it works the same way as the ball. im thinking of trying one of those next if this one starts leaking. but like i said, out of 3 of the same brand i found one that hasnt leaked and ive had it for about a month so far. good luck! i totally feel your frustration!!!