litter box woes, back to square 1

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This topic has 4sd replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 12 months ago by Autumn's Dad.

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- 04/19/2016 at 8:25 AM
  zoologist
  Participant
  270 posts
  I’ll keep this short and sweet since I’m sure litter box questions are posted about daily.
  
  I received Finn when he was a year or so old and immediately had him neutered. Over a period of a couple of months I was able to get him using a litter box with 99% accuracy. He wouldn’t make a mess unless he was out of his pen and wanted to show the cat box area (aka our laundry room) whose territory it really was.
  
  fast forward a couple of years and Finn is a house rabbit with a litter box right next to the cat box. He was very good about hitting his box, and I only had to clean up a few stray pellets every now and again.
  
  Fast forward a couple of months, Finn and the cats went to stay with my relatives while I got settled into a new city, new house, and new job. They were not as diligent with his litter box habits as I was.
  
  Now Finn and the cats are back with me in my new place, and it’s as if Finn has never seen a box in his life. He refuses to use his box even if it’s next to the cat boxes, choosing rather to go right in front of the cat box (both urine and pellets). He’s territory pooping all over the furniture.
  
  Things I’ve tried so far:
  
  putting the bunny box next to the cat box- didn’t work
  
  putting Finn in a pen with his box- didn’t work. He chose to poo around the pen perimeters, and then learned how to escape and go back to urinating and pooing in front of the cat boxes.
  
  putting a pen around the cat boxes- didn’t work. He is now urinating and pooing around the pen perimeters.
  
  I’m trying to be diligent with clean ups but it’s hard when I’m at work all day, and my roommates are not too keen on helping out. It’s also frustrating to wake up every morning to a new mess.
  
  Thoughts on next steps?
- 04/19/2016 at 1:51 PM
  Autumn's Dad
  Participant
  208 posts
  I am sorry you are going through this. I can emphasise as Autumn was nothing short of a terror prior these last couple of weeks. were he and the cats separated while being cared for? Sounds to me like he is experiencing heightened aggression or fear toward the cats. do you have a big litter box? is it different from his old one? are the cats taunting him in any way you have seen? did this new place have an unfamiliar animal such as a dog or cat before you set up there? are there any pest problems? sorry for all the q’s, can be difficult ascertaining whats wrong as you know. Ultimately, you may have to wait it out, sometimes rabbits are unpredictable. Hope things get better for you.
- 04/19/2016 at 3:39 PM
  zoologist
  Participant
  270 posts
  I appreciate the questions!
  
  were he and the cats separated while being cared for?
  -Nope. He was with them the whole time as a house rabbit (with restricted access to the rest of the house when the relatives weren’t home)
  
  do you have a big litter box? is it different from his old one?
  -it’s the same box he’s been using, as are the cats boxes
  
  are the cats taunting him in any way you have seen?
  -The cats don’t even acknowledge his presence…. as usual!
  
  did this new place have an unfamiliar animal such as a dog or cat before you set up there?
  -The place I am now has a new-to-Finn cat who uses the same boxes as the other cats. however him and Finn rarely interact.
  
  are there any pest problems?
  -nope. we have a bug guy.
  
  hope this clarifies some things!
- 04/19/2016 at 7:40 PM
  jerseygirl
  Moderator
  22356 posts
  Some additional things to try are:
  
  -Limiting him back to the pen, primary litter box and hay in usual spot, but add in extra ones for each corner. Just cheapy dollar store ones should be fine. They’re only temporary, hopefully! Pop only litter in those.
  
  – If no improvement, cover sides of the pen so it feels like a more enclose, defined area. And/Or try reducing size of pen. If the habits improve, allow more space.
  
  -For time out of pen, make sure you’re there to supervise. Have one of the additional litter boxes handy when he’s up on the sofa. Prompt him to the box when able.
  
  It can be hard for us to reduce their space when they’ve been free range house rabbits, but it might actually help his sense of security at this time. A new place can seem overwhelming and it sounds as if he’s marking out his (and possible his cat “siblings”) territory against “intruders”. Be they real or imagined.
  Rabbits in the wild will do this against other warrens. There will be a main toilet area (latrine) then other smaller, shallow ones further afield.
  
  Hopefully, once he feels he’s established the territory, he’ll start to go back to his good habits.
- 04/22/2016 at 4:40 PM
  Autumn's Dad
  Participant
  208 posts
  I agree with jerseygirl’s suggestions. it’s a bummer if you have a strong bond and want him around you and will frustrate him. However, given the circumstances, there is nothing that I can think of that could change his tune other than jg’s suggestions. I Wish you well.
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