Free range rabbits — peeing on bed while I sleep

[MyLikeIt]

Hi Everyone, I have two house buns who live with me and my kiddo in our small apartment in the big city. They are a bonded pair and both are desexed. I’ve gradually been working on getting to free range status with them. However, now one or both have taken to peeing on my bed while I sleep. It’s the only naughty behavior I’m seeing from them. Should I go back to putting them in an ex pen overnight, or is there any hope they can be discouraged from doing this again? I don’t want to sleep with a shower curtain liner on my bed!

[Vienna Blue in France]

Gosh yes, tricky – i would put them in the xpen, reducing their space and ‘forcing’ to go in the litter tray.
Lets hope they don’t kick up too much of a fuss being closed in the xpen if you are in a small apt, if you want some sleep !

Is the litter tray absolutely clean in the evening – I see one of mine pees outside of the box every now again, I don’t know why – I’m wondering if the litter tray has just gone passed its ‘sell by date’…

[Yoyo]

Oh my goodness,.. as much as I love animals,.. 2 things that I cannot tolerate, is not being house broken, and begging.

An animal/s using toilet, in my bed, would be the height of my intolerance…I’m no expert, but, I def would say that your buns, are not as housebroken, as they should be. I would absolutely, house them, in their own ” home/cage” area, during the night… its nothing that should harm them, nor cause them stress even… If you have a well looked after, happy bun, then, they should seek out, resting in their ” area”, even while allowed free roam. – Question I have for you is – are both ” fixed” ? If not, that, alone, could be causing some of your problem.

I admit, I am not 100% sure on this about buns,.. but, the premise, is pretty strong ( dogs and cats ), and, suggests to me, that its really not that much different ( & trust,.. bunny pee, is quite strong in odor, of itself, as I’m sure, you’re well aware of ,.. but,.. pet urine, needs to be treated, different, then just regular laundry ( using laundry here as ex, since they are using toilet on something, that you can launder). White vinegar, mixed with water, seems to be the cheapest, but, there certainly are MANY other, pet enzyme odor removers out there, on the market… My guess,.. is that ur buns, can still pick up the urine markers, they have set out, and, continue to refresh them, as they see fit, even after you launder your bed items.

I don’t want to sound bossy, and try to tell you what you NEED to do, but,.. I am definitely going to tell you, what I would do ( as posted above). No one, would like to wake up, covered in ANY urine, I myself, would go to any lengths, for that not to happen,… caging them overnight, seems a reasonable thing to do, if u ask me.

Edit – just reread, and seen that they both are fixed, – apologies

Good luck to you!

[Wick & Fable]

As mentioned above, I would put your buns away while you slept.

Wick is free-roam when I wake-up and get ready for work (~1hr), then he goes back in until my boyfriend wakes up and lets him out. Part of my morning routine is cleaning his hutch, so he’s happy to go back in and stay there for a few hours if the day has a late start. Wick goes back in his hutch when we go to sleep, then it cycles all over again. The litterbox is always cleaned and water/hay replenished before he’s put away for the night. Wick doesn’t mind (his hutch is right next to my bed), and he usually uses that time to rest/eat hay anyways. Once I open the hutch in the morning, he’s back to running around freely.

At first, Wick would snort to try to get our attention while we were sleeping, but after a few days he realized he’ll get out in a few hours, so he just chills.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[MyLikeIt]

Yes, their ex pen was near my bed, too. I don’t think it’s a potty training failure. I will bet it’s a dominance behavior. I do keep up with the litter box, and they don’t have any incidents anywhere else. I’m just going to put the ex pen back up and put them to bed at night. Seems like the best solution, since otherwise they’re perfect. And thanks for the reminder to wash the bedding with vinegar. I definitely don’t want them thinking it’s ok to pee on the bed.

[Yoyo]

Yes, their ex pen was near my bed, too. I don’t think it’s a potty training failure. I will honk it’s a dominance behavior. I do keep up with the litter box, and they don’t have any incidents anywhere else. I’m just going to put the ex pen back up and put them to bed at night. Seems like the best solution, since otherwise they’re perfect.

Sounds like its worth a try! Maybe, in time, they can be a bit more trusted, and, you can give bunny slumber parties in the future!

[MyLikeIt]

I’d love that!

[vanessa]

Some bunnies like to pee on soft things like beds and couches. If I allowed my bunnies on my bed, I think 2 of the 4 would pee on it. This doesn’t have to do with litterbox traiing. It isn’t something you can train away. Typically. Once a bunny discovers how awesome it is to pee on a bed, I personally think it will be just about impossible to traint i tout of them. I would restrict their access to your bed.

[MyLikeIt]

Oh gee, I guess that my Poe has decided peeing on the bed is the best!

I put them in their pen last night and all is well. That will be the plan from now on.

[LittlePuffyTail]

Peeing on beds/couches is a very common thing. They want to mark the place that smells the most like you as theirs. .

[Author]

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