Bad Litter Box Habit

[susyblue]

Hello everyone! I’m new to the forums but not new to bunny ownership. My current bun is my first house-only rabbit though, so he’s presented a whole new set of challenges. Our bun, Whiskey, is just under a year and a half old and is an unneutered male. He’s very friendly and well behaved, aside from chewing on everything I don’t want him to chew on!

Since he is not neutered, I know we may always have some litter training difficulties, but for the most part he does use his litter box and confines the rest of his messes to his cage. We recently upgraded his first cage to a larger NIC cage with a shelf, and he took to it right away, no transitional issues.

My concern is that he has started peeing on the shelf in his cage, which is covered in cardboard, and inevitably ends up sitting in or getting urine on his back feet. This started as something he did maybe once a day so it’s wasn’t too messy for him (or me) and it seemed like he was just marking his territory, but now he does it daily. He still use his litter box and it’s not a one or the other situation, but rather that he pees in both spots. I’m not sure what this could be a reaction to, since his cage is kept tidy but not so super clean that it doesn’t smell like him. There haven’t been any other drastic changes in the house and there are no other animals around or that we have been around.

One option is to change the shelf from cardboard to plastic like the base of the cage, but if this doesn’t deter his behavior it will only make things messier for him. Putting a litter box there isn’t really an option since he has to jump up to the shelf and he either won’t make it into the box or he’ll just end up knocking it off the shelf. I’m worried about possible urine scald and other problems if this continues.

Any suggestions for both steering difficult to train bunnies and/or trying to change/break this habit would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Susie

[hooty22]

Well to state what will be stated probably 12 times, if you give him the big snip, his litter habits will improve. I’m currently having a disagreement with my once free range little man. I’ve had him for over two years, and he just recently decided to start not using the litterbox.
I would suggests changing the shelf to plastic and cleaning it thoroughly if he goes on it. Buns don’t normally like to sit in their pee. If it continues after that change to plastic, I would restrain where he can go in his condo. I would make that area off limits until he gets back to using the litter box. Once his habits improve, then you may give him his house back. Oh, and be prepared for one cranky bunny when you do this. Felony tries to eat my hand off now when I give him papaya and raisins since he’s been confined to his pen.

[Beka27]

welcome here! i thought the same thing as hooty. if you cna get either a cut piece of linoleum to fit the shelf or coroplast (plastic, corrugated signboard), that would be a surface that you could easily wipe up and thoroughly disinfect. another option would be to take away the shelf, or block it off for the time-being. the final option is (in addition to plastic flooring on the shelf) buying some inexpensive fleece blankets or towels (or remnant material from a fabric store) and putting it on the shelf and if he continues to pee there, you’ll just be doing a lot of bunny laundry.

i do advise neuter/spay for all rabbits, regardless of whether they are single buns or not. it is better for them bahaviorally (like the chewing you mentioned) and potty-training. peeing on the shelf might also be his marking the shelf as his own, neutering should decrease territorial marking as well.

[Sarita]

Another possibility to consider is a urinary tract infection.

[xParadise]

That’s very true Sarita. That might be something to look into susyblue, especially if it’s out of character.
I think the cardboard probably encourages the litterbox issues, since it will absorb the urine and there is no mess. Try to replace it with something that won’t absorb, and he will likely not pee there.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Welcome!!

Yup good idea to have a vet visit and get him checked for a UTI, and make an appt for neuter

Also, why don’t you put a litter box up there-since he’s decided it’s a toilet he’s not likely to change his mind

[susyblue]

Hi Everyone –

Thank you so much for your input, I really appreciate it! I’m going to change out the cardboard on the shelf and see if that changes anything, but lately he’s been doing it less the cleaner his cage is. It was never super dirty, I would tidy it daily, but I’ve been really deep cleaning it each day and it’s had a positive effect.

We were actually at the vet earlier this week for an unrelated situation (broken tooth) and I asked about a UTI and he doesn’t have one. Plus his marking is too deliberate for him not to be in control of it – he will run to his cage from two rooms away just to go in the same spot, so he’s not having bladder troubles.

I’ll keep everyone updated on his progress! Thanks again.

Susie

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