Any advanced advice on litter training?

FORUM

What are we about? Please read about our Forum Culture and check out the Rules.

BUNNY 911 – If your rabbit hasn’t eaten or pooped in 12-24 hours, call a vet immediately! Don’t have a vet? Check out VET RESOURCES

The subject of intentional breeding or meat rabbits is prohibited. The answers provided on this board are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. It is your responsibility to assess the information being given and seek professional advice/second opinion from your veterinarian and/or qualified behaviorist.

BINKYBUNNY FORUMS

This topic has 12sd replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 8 years ago by Sirius&Luna.

Viewing 12 reply threads

Author

Messages
- 03/26/2018 at 11:39 AM
  Nesano
  Participant
  35 posts
  So I’ve had mild success on getting my bunny, Bella, to go where she’s supposed to go. Unfortunately, this past week she’s had a handful of accidents and only one successful litter box excursion.
  
  Some of the things I tried to get her to do her business in a designated spot have been:
  
  • Cleaning up pee and putting the paper towel in the box.
  
  • Picking up her droppings and putting them in the box.
  
  • Putting her box in the corner where she once peed.
  
  The last one I tried seemed to be what lead to her first successful one, but lately she’s been just doing her business near the rug where she spends most of her time. I’ve heard spaying helps, but I haven’t done that as of now. I’ve tried show her the pee-soaked paper towels and she sniffs them and tries to eat them (Bunnies are weird), but she doesn’t seem to follow me over to her box in the corner. I’ve noticed she tends to back up and raise her tail when she’s about to pee, so I’ll try to say “Bella, no!” and lightly tap her forehead if I see it and can react in time. I’m pretty sure she’s in heat, as she does a lot of honking; I’m sure that’s complicating things greatly. Not sure what else I can do.
  
  Apart from that, she’s been much more tame lately. She hasn’t been thumping much at all and by baby stepping it I’ve almost gotten her used to being picked up. Yesterday I was petting her sides and back and she did a little flop to her side, quick got back up, then did a little 180 hop and stuck her nose under my hand so I’d pet her head. She also licks my face every time I put mine up to hers.
  
  Here’s a quick link to my last thread if you want more details on Bella.
- 03/26/2018 at 12:24 PM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  Where is her hay? If that is in the litterbox, it will encourage her to potty there
- 03/26/2018 at 12:40 PM
  Nesano
  Participant
  35 posts
  I’ll try that. Isn’t it a bad idea to put bunny food in the place bunnies do their business?
- 03/26/2018 at 12:45 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  I think almost all of us have our hay either in the litter box or next to it. Bunnies poop where they eat, so it’s pretty helpful to have it there. It can be a little messy if your bunny pees on the hay because you’ll have to change the hay, but aside from that it works really well. If you don’t feel comfortable with the hay right on top of the litter box, you can put a hay rack or bowl of hay next to the litter box.
  
  Both of my boys lounge and sleep in their litter boxes, so I found the hay entices them to stay xD
- 03/26/2018 at 12:46 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Also, how old is Bella?
- 03/26/2018 at 12:48 PM
  Nesano
  Participant
  35 posts
  I’ll try putting hay next to the box first to see if that works. Bella’s a few months old.
- 03/26/2018 at 12:55 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  A few months old means that hormones are at play, and it’s not likely she’s going to practice litter habits, especially pooping. It really won’t get much better until she’s spayed.
- 03/26/2018 at 12:56 PM
  Cocoa
  Participant
  728 posts
  I use a hay rack with my bunnies and it works very well. If she isn’t spayed, that could be the cause. Some bunnies with pee out of their litterbox when they aren’t spayed
- 03/26/2018 at 1:31 PM
  Nesano
  Participant
  35 posts
  How long does the hormonal activity last spayed/unspayed?
  
  Also, if you spay a bunny, does it make them less-active? I’d hate to get my bunny spayed only for her to lose all of her spunk and get out of shape.
- 03/26/2018 at 1:33 PM
  Deleted User
  Participant
  22064 posts
  Without spaying, it isn’t going to get better. That’s the whole point of spaying, that and to greatly reduce the risk of reproductive cancers. With spaying, it usually takes 1-2 months for hormonal behaviors to die down. Both of my boys were back to normal within 2ish weeks after their neuters.
- 03/26/2018 at 2:55 PM
  sarahthegemini
  Participant
  5584 posts
  Having a spay isn’t going to turn an active bunny into a sloth. Spaying is essential, for her health. Another plus is improved litter habits.
- 03/26/2018 at 7:27 PM
  Nesano
  Participant
  35 posts
  Thanks for the advice, the hay idea worked. I put some hay in her box, she hopped in, nibbled on some hay, and peed where she did before. She did this two different times, both times digging around and slinging exactly one turd out onto the floor. Sure beats peeing on the floor.
  
  She also almost mounted the cat. She went up behind the cat, tried to nibble on his back, and he whined a little and walked away.
- 03/27/2018 at 4:09 AM
  Sirius&Luna
  Participant
  2320 posts
  Rabbits aren’t animals that go into heat, they can get pregnant at any time. Now shes a few months old she’s likely hormonal, and the honking and mounting won’t stop until she’s spayed.
Author

Messages

Viewing 12 reply threads

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.