bad litterbox habbits when company’s around

[emilyw]

I’ve had Arlo for 2+ years and his partner, Claire, for 6 months or so.

Arlo has always had an issue when company is in town, or if i go out of town and leave a bunnysitter in charge, of adopting very very poor litterbox habbits.  As both my bunnies have free range of the house with no enclosed space of their own (they have a hutch which i don’t disturb, but i can’t close them inside it), this is a disgusting problem.  And it doesn’t stop really when their routine is re-established: i go out of town, Arlo chooses a new spot to pee in (his new favorite is directly in front of the front door), i return, he continues to pee there (no matter the amount of vinegar and enzyme cleaner i use), i put a litterbox there.  I am loathe to limit their mobility with an xpen, since i’m really a big proponent of free-range and because i think Arlo would just be upset and it wouldn’t really help the behaviour.  What do y’all think?  Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[Sarita]

Well, it sounds like he might be upset either way. I know you hate the idea of putting them in an x-pen when you are away but I would think it would be safer for them just in case something happens someone knows where to find them.

[emilyw]

I understand your point, but that’s not quite what i’m getting at: when his world is upset, Arlo pees places he shouldn’t and then continues to pee places he shouldn’t even after the status quo is restored. I’m looking for a way to interrupt this behaviour pattern. To avoid establishing more pee-zones in future, i need to find a way to deal with house guests (this is not only when i am out of town, but when new people stay over). And i would like a way of getting rid of some of the spots he has chosen, like the spot in front of the front door where i can’t put a litterbox (there is a litterbox directly behind the front door which he uses as well). Perhaps a more thourough cleaning of the floors is in order — does anyone have any suggestions beyond enzymatic cleansers and vinegar?

[jerseygirl]

Welcome! I like you’re screen name lol

Rabbits are big on routine as you likley know. I also have free range rabbits and one who shows her displeasure with pee. I find it hard sometimes to work out if territorial marking or other reasons, but some incidents are clear it’s because she’s impatient or being denied what she wants.

The only thing I can really think to do in your situation is reward good behavior and ignore the less desirable ones. So when he’s on his box, give praise. If you have boxes at these trouble spots, direct him to them and give praise. I understand you’d rather not have boxes in these places. Could you have one nearby that you can grab when he’s near these trouble spots? So you offer it to him when you suspect he’s about to pee?

With peeing on the floor try not to give any attention when he does it. Obviously you want to get in there and clean up but just do so without fuss or when he’s left. Does he just pee in these spots whenever or does he make sure you can see him before he does it?
Peeing at doorways to me sounds like a territory thing. Does he also leave territorial poop?

I’m not certain all this would help but it’s some of the things I’ve been doing and helps me some.

I’m wondering if you can try a positive diversion to them when you have company or other triggers are present? Like a treat or new chew toy that they are distracted by.

Also, what about shutting them in their zone when you have company? And ensuring they are not disturbed there? Maybe this will become their more defined territory that he’d feel less of a need to defend/mark/whatever it is….if there is no intrusion into this space.

This is a tricky behavior to handle, believe me, I know.

@Sarita – that’s a good point about it being safer for someone to find them if something was to happen. I hadn’t thought about that. I usually know where I can find my 2 but if someone else were to have to remove them from the house, it might be more tricky and time consuming for them. Not good in an emergency. You’ve given me food for thought.

[jerseygirl]

Sorry, I had meant to ask…what type of flooring are you cleaning? Do you think it’s could be residual smell that brings him back to particular spots?

Other then trying straight white vinegar, some other products to try are Folex and Timsen. A member here mentioned Folex as being great for getting out old stains. Timsen is something I was just reading about. It’s a sanitizer/deodorizer that is used in many industries including veterinary.

[Bunny Mama]

I have a similar problem with my gorgeous lop bunny Tobias. I love him to bits but I seem to have calling cards all over the lounge and kitchen floor and I get the pee problem by the back door and often near a kitcehn cupboard. I have tried straight white vinegar but doesn’t seem to work. I have tried a few types of disinfectant with little success. I also have three litter boxes – 2 in the lounge area and 1 in the kitchen and whilst he does use them he often popps all around but not in the litter boxes. I don’t scald him as I’ve grown quite accustomed to doing tip toe through the pooplips and now find it rather amusing. Ok, I must be nuts but I figure he’ll get it eventually. I will be keeping an eye on the ideas coming from this subject as i’d love to be able to find something I can use to stop hi pooping all over the floor and loungeroom area.

[Miss_Ruby]

I have the same pooping all around the litter boxes but not in them problem with one of my buns, Violet.  She will also pick up the littler box and move and then go back to where it was and pee there…  I have no idea why she does this and it is really starting to drive me crazy!

 

Any suggestions????

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Bunny Mama on 09/01/2010 03:49 AM
I have a similar problem with my gorgeous lop bunny Tobias. I love him to bits but I seem to have calling cards all over the lounge and kitchen floor and I get the pee problem by the back door and often near a kitcehn cupboard. I have tried straight white vinegar but doesn’t seem to work. I have tried a few types of disinfectant with little success. I also have three litter boxes – 2 in the lounge area and 1 in the kitchen and whilst he does use them he often popps all around but not in the litter boxes. I don’t scald him as I’ve grown quite accustomed to doing tip toe through the pooplips and now find it rather amusing. Ok, I must be nuts but I figure he’ll get it eventually. I will be keeping an eye on the ideas coming from this subject as i’d love to be able to find something I can use to stop hi pooping all over the floor and loungeroom area.

Welcome Bunny Mama!  I just read your profile.  It’s nice to see another Aussie joining the forums.

I also saw that Tobias is neutered so that’s a good start to bettering his litter habits.  From what I understand, he is allowed in for visits?  It’s pretty typical then that he will mark up this territory.  Usually this reduces in time but when allowed alot of new space all at once, they can go poop crazy.  Also if they pick up on scent of other pets too.  Is he litterbox trained in his habitat (cage/pen/hutch etc) ?  For indoor, you could start him out in a small area with a box, and once he masters it, then increase his space.

[jerseygirl]

Posted By Miss_Ruby on 09/01/2010 06:45 AM

I have the same pooping all around the litter boxes but not in them problem with one of my buns, Violet.  She will also pick up the littler box and move and then go back to where it was and pee there…  I have no idea why she does this and it is really starting to drive me crazy!

 

Any suggestions????

 

Welcome Miss_ Ruby!   Voilet sounds like she likes to let her opinions known!    She might be letting you know she doesn’t like her litterbox for some reason.  It could be the size, type of litter, that it is too dirty OR too clean. There’s many different things they can disapprove of.

[emilyw]

Jerseygirl, thanks, i will definitely try some of those things — treats/distractions when company’s around, and new cleansers. In answer to your question, they are hardwood floors — at this point several spots have damage to the finish, so perhaps i should sand them some as well as clean. Does anyone have any suggestions of a covering to put down under and around the litterboxes and over these spots of floor to dissuade this behaviour further and/or save my floors from accidents? I’ve tried natural rugs, but my bunnies pee on these on purpose as if they are an extention of their litterbox.
Arlo and Claire have areas that are definitely “theirs” but do not have an area of the house that they are ever locked into — they always have free run. Perhaps, if i can’t solve this problem by other means, i will have to limit their range until their litterbox habits improve and then slowly reintroduce them to the house (i really don’t want to do this).

[jerseygirl]

Your situation sound SO very similiar to my own. I have free rangers and an area that is theirs also. I put things like rugs and towel under or around litter boxes and they get purposely peed on. I too don’t want to restrict them. I too having the same issues. I too don’t have the answer! lol

Perhaps we just gave them too much freedom?

I actually find it easier having them free range though. When I enclose them it seems like the littering intensifies. Maybe it looks that way because it’s all in the one area. But generally, there are only certain times of day I have the peeing on floor problem. So I allow free range and try keep on top of the behaviour around these problem times. Mainly in the evening.

[Monkeybun]

A good cleaner, other than vinegar, that I use is Nature’s Miracle. Works wonders on the pee spots Monkey left when she wasn’t felling well.

Miss Ruby, is the litterbox in a pen or cage? if yes, you could try drilling a couple holes int eh sides, putting zip ties through, then tying them to the side of the cage. That will stop her from moving the litterbox. You could put the zip ties in loops, and attach them with clips to the cage/pen for easy removal without wasting zip ties each time.

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