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BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

FORUM BEHAVIOR Litter Box Issue —

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    • Meg Pressley
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        My one year old Mini-Rex Pixie was really well litter trained and kept her cage clean, with the exception of some being removed from her box when she jumped away from it.  Now, she pretty much poops everywhere in her cage, even if her litter box is cleaned, and she pees in a corner that is not protected and where her litter box is not located (she has NEVER peed in this corner before until recently).  I have a feeling I know why she’s soiling her whole cage and mat, but I’m unsure of where to go from here to help her understand that she doesn’t need to do this.  She started this up when I brought home the one year old Lionhead we named Aria.  I have a feeling she’s doing it to let the other smell her more and know that she means business and that her cage is definitely ONLY her cage.  And now that I have their cages closer in proximity Pixie has done this more so, and she pees outside of her litter box and poops outside of her litter box all over the place.

        My mom thought that maybe it’s because Aria seems to be getting away with pooping and peeing everywhere (but right now that’s because we have yet to get hard material to put on the bottom of her cage so it’s open), we also, since we don’t have her cage set up yet, haven’t litter trained her yet either.  So I feel this could also be a reason Pixie has suddenly picked up bad litter habits…  I’m just wondering if there is a solution to get Pixie to pee and poop more-so in her little box like she had been so well at before.  Today she has done better, I’ve praised her and given her little bits of snacks here and there, I’ve also recently added more hay in her cage (because she had been eating her fecal poops and I read that’s it’s because they lack the needed fiber they get from hay — and she also pooped a cecal today and I praised her for eating it because I read they should eat their cecals?  I also gave her a bit of treat for this as well).  There are a few deliberate stray poops closer to Aria’s cage, which answers my previous concern, but there are a few strays else where in her cage as well….

        Should I take up litter box training her again?  And try to find a source to set up Aria’s cage as quickly as possible so I can start litter box training her as well?


      • RabbitPam
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          She does sound like she is marking and not too happy with the presence of the other bunny. You might try putting up a visual barrier between their cages, like a row of cardboard boxes between them, so she can’t see the new bunny. It may calm her down somewhat until you get her spayed so they can attempt to bond in a few months. Is that your plan?

          Also, most important is the hay consumption. Yes, it’s good that they eat their cecals anytime they have them. But they need unlimited hay – a hay bin that is never fully empty so a steady grazing on hay is always possible, regardless of greens, pellets or treats. It’s a must. Same with water.

          You are on the right track when you praise her and give her treats when she uses the litter pan. She may be feeling that the pan is now too close to the new bunny, so went in the opposite corner. If so, you can relocate her pan to that side and see if she improves. Just soak up her pee and put the tissue in her litter box as soon as you catch it, and put the poos in there too. She knows it’s where she should go, but she clearly is complaining.

          In other circumstances, incontinence can mean illness and a trip to the vet. I’d try working it out for a day or two unless she shows other symptoms, like NOT peeing or pooping, or has a loss of appetite, before I think it’s illness.


        • RabbitPam
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            P.S. Even though they’re both girls (right?) they should both be spayed as soon as they’re old enough, for health reasons. That will make it easier to bond them as well because they will be less aggressive in their behavior.
            And yes, do start litter box training Aria asap. Bunnies like to be clean, so many litter train themselves once they catch on.


          • Meg Pressley
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              That is my plan actually, I’m hoping to save up enough to get one spayed after the other; and then I’m hoping to work on bonding them. I really want them to be able to live in peace with one another without having to play individually and then pee and poop all over my carpet because they both want to mark their territory. It’s a hassle to have to try cleaning it up before it stains my carpet! XD Luckily I have wipes and a stain reducing spray and deodorizer for these moments though.

              I’m working on getting them both a hay bin with unlimited hay, it shouldn’t be too long for that because I know it’s something they constantly need and right now I’m low and barely have enough to spread between them. So I’m trying to work on that soon, (I have about a weeks worth of hay left and I’m hoping to get a hay bin and some more hay really soon). There water is on a constant refill because they tend to move there water bowls around letting me know it’s empty, and they both also have a bottle (right now Aria doesn’t have a water bowl because I want to get her a glass crock like her food dish). She seems to be doing okay with her bottle but I’m definitely hoping to get her a water bowl soon because I know it’s more natural for them to drink like that.

              Her litter box is actually farther away from the new bunny, it’s to the right while the bunny is to the left — which is why I didn’t really understand the peeing in that corner.

              I’ll try to find some cardboard dividers to put there for privacy and hope she goes back to her normal pattern. Otherwise her poops, pees, and her appetite seem in check. I had a feeling this was happening because of the other rabbit — since Pixie is kind of mad at me for bringing home Aria.


            • Meg Pressley
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                I’m hoping to get a lot of things in a system this weekend before they’re out of hay: a hay bin, unlimited hay supply, water bowl for Aria, better cage set up for Aria, and litter training for Aria (because I think with the divider Pixie should be fine).


              • RabbitPam
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                  Sounds like you’ve got a good plan happening.
                  I think I would have Pixie spayed first. In fact, depending on her age, she may be ready and her hormones have kicked in which would effect her in this type of behavior as well. Consider making an appt. for her soon with the vet.


                • Meg Pressley
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                    They’re both about a year old. I’m saving up some extra money for the bunnies so I can get Pixie spayed — then I plan on saving up again to get Aria spayed (I’m assuming she hasn’t been, but she was previously owned so I’m unsure).


                  • Meg Pressley
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                      I’m also hoping to order some stuff I really urgently need for them and their cages tomorrow.


                    • Beka27
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                        Do you have a discount store near you (either a dollar store, or Walmart, Kmart, Target)? Lots of people use cheap plastic bins that can be used as a hay rack in the cage.


                      • Meg Pressley
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                          I never thought of that, there is a Walmart and a Lowes just up the road.


                        • Meg Pressley
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                            So Pixie is getting better at going where she should be going.  Pixie does better going in places in her cage that don’t smell like herself or food.  So we found this rabbit cage cleaning stuff and we clean her litter box with that and it no longer smells like her, then we line it with newpaper and she goes there to amke it smell like her.

                            Aria has also gotten better at going in one area of her cage as well, hopefully soon she’ll have a proper set up (still the bare cage bottom – but we check her feet every week and they are clear of hocks and other sores, which is a plus).  Aria likes to go in places that smell like her, so we use the spray we found (the one we use to get Pixie to go where we want her to) and use it where we don’t want Aria to go.

                            Once they have the cages I really want them to have, and the proper set ups I’m hoping to get them better litter boxes that I found at the Walmart up the road (right now though, since they are still unfortunately in the starter cages [ :/ ] the litter boxes I found would take up a lot of room and would be difficult to get in and out of).  I’m working on it though.

                            I have two cages in mind that I’m thinking of getting for them from this website I found Leithwerks…  I like the two level cages, but I’m afraid that the holes to get the the second level with the ramp will be too small for Pixie…  I still might try, maybe, but I’m afraid it may be a waste of money for Pixie, so I was thinking of making a two story, open top, NIC cage for them both that comes to my waste so I can still reach them and get to them, but where they wouldn’t be able to get out…  It would give them both more stetching room and parascoping room, and I could put more things in the cage, like a bigger litterbox, some more toys and a hidey hut.  I’m planning on having the one part of the room that is specific for them the area where it will be built, so I’m thinking of getting the material and working on that, but I’m going to put up a wall for both of them, an inch apart so they have no room to bite one another, but enough where they can still sniff each other and get used to each other’s sent.  Then once they are spayed, and I’ll wait a month to do this, I’ll star bonding them.  Once in the middle of bonding, if they are doing good, I’ll take down one wall, maybe hang a sheet over to prevent biting (since it won’t be a neutral space.  Then when finally bonded I’ll remove the wall and keep an eye on them for a while to amke sure they can hadle it.

                            With the new things that may happen I’ll take it slow with them since the changes will be a change.  So I’ll prolly introduce the cage thing, and slowly add all the other things, I don’t want to effect the too much.

                            Hopefully this will all work out and be good.  It seems like a full proof plan, I just need to get some money and get it all according to the plans so I can get it all set.  :3

                            I’m hoping to get them both spayed in the next few months, granted I ahve the money saved up.  I’m close to having enough for one, but I want to make sure I have it for both because I kind of want to get them both done in a fairly good manor between the other, so I have a good month or so before I can bond them…

                            Hopefully it’ll happen the way I’m hoping.


                          • Monkeybun
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                              Honestly, its better to just build a cage out of the NIC grids. The Leith petwerks cages are kind of smallish, and hard to clean.


                            • Beka27
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                                I would definitely do a NIC condo! The other thing to remember is that NIC condos can be taken apart and you could combine it into one large cage if they bond later on.

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                            FORUM BEHAVIOR Litter Box Issue —