Bonded bunny litter box issues

[Bunluhvr]

Chloe and Jasmine are approximately 5 years old now. I’ve had them about 4 years and had them spayed right away and then bonded them a few months later. Chloe has always been relaxed and is the dominant one. Jasmine seems to have emotional baggage and is still very skittish and nervous, even though I’ve tried everything I can think of to calm her down. She is VERY slowly making progress but anything can throw her back into her nervous state. My biggest problem is Jasmine’s lack of litter training. Chloe is perfect. Never a poop out of place. Jasmine poops and pees everywhere. I have researched for answers and tried every trick I’ve learned on the internet to fix the problem with no luck. I recently took her to the vet to make sure she doesn’t have a UTI. The vet couldn’t collect any pee and I haven’t been able to either. The vet (and I) don’t think it’s a UTI problem, though. I’m wondering if Chloe is “bullying” Jasmine and won’t let her in the litter box. I have multiple boxes available for them, in and out of the cage. Chloe only uses one box in the cage. I’m not sure what else to do. Any thoughts?

[sarahthegemini]

Hmm I think you’ll need to really observe to see if bullying is the problem. Does Jasmine ever approach the litter boxes? What happens if she does? Could you try soaking up some pee (with kitchen roll) and putting that along with some of her poos in a litter box so she can smell that that’s hers?

[Bunluhvr]

Jasmine does approach, and sometimes gets in, the litter boxes that are outside the cage. I’ve taken pee soaked pads and poo and put them in the litter boxes too. She’s very inconsistent. She really likes the orchard grass I bought and I put that in the litter boxes too. I’ve tried cleaning the boxes more (and less) often, changing litters, setting up the food and water so she has to sit in a box to eat and drink and she always finds a way around it. I thought that the poo was a territorial thing, but she will sit outside the litter box and lean over the side to eat the orchard grass and when she’s done, there will be a pile under her butt. The pee doesn’t seem like a full release of her bladder, more like repeated squirts in certain areas. 

The bullying I see is when I have treats for them. Chloe will chase Jasmine away until she gets her first. Sometimes, Chloe will chase her around for no apparent reason (that I know of). 

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