Going over to crystal litter?

[Karla]

My rabbit has its toilet in our bedroom and I use organic wood pellets as litter. Unfortunately, it is making the air really dusty in the bedroom and I feel really bad in the morning with heavy dust coughing. Also, my boyfriend is complaining about the smell of pee.

I have never ever seen my rabbit eat her cecotropes while in the toilet – she does that when she is outside the cage (the toilet is in her cage). So I was thinking of switching over to a crystal type of litter that I used on my cat. It absorbs the pee completely, so that there is no smell or sign of pee. It doesn’t clump – just absorbes extremely well.

I know people don’t recommend other types of litter, but if she is not eating cecotropes from the toilet, what damage can the crystal litter do?

I have no other options other than wood pellets or sawdust otherwise.

 

[Sarita]

Some of those crystals are toxic. I think if you know they could be toxic why would you take a chance?

Can you not get aspen shavings where you are? Or Yesterday’s News?

[Karla]

Posted By Sarita on 06/04/2009 08:09 AM
Some of those crystals are toxic. I think if you know they could be toxic why would you take a chance?

Can you not get aspen shavings where you are? Or Yesterday’s News?

No, rabbits aren’t really housepets where I live -  I cannot even find toys! Well, had a feeling they might be toxic. Do you know the ingredient that is toxic, so that I can check the various crystal litters? I might just be lucky.

[Sarita]

If your rabbit is not a digger then maybe you could do a non-clumping odor free clay cat litter with some hay or straw on top. If she’s a digger though this is probably not an option for you.

[Karla]

I actually thought that non-clumping was the same as crystal litter…so I presume non-clumping cat litter, which is NOT crystal should be okay? Just to be straight – litter made of zeolite or diatomite (and not silica gel) is fine?

I should have a few options then, ’cause the market is filled with cat litter

[Sarita]

I’m thinking good old fashioned cheap clay cat litter.

[KatnipCrzy]

Zeolite/ silica gel litter is not meant to be consumed- and bunnies are very different from cats in their habits- and I would worry about the bunny nibbling/ingesting the litter, getting some litter mixed with hay and eating it or cleaning/licking their furry, furry feet after being in the litter.

 

[Karla]

You are right about cleaning the feet – hadn’t thought about that. Thank you

So seeing you don’t recommend zolite/silica gel litter, how about diatomite based litter (don’t know the difference at all, but did some googling last night on cat litter) – would that be the same as regular clay litter, which Sarita suggests?

Well, should cat litter be ruled out, I am teaching him to go into a box to do his toilet instead of his cage now, so in the long run that might help a bit, so the dust from the wood pellets doesn’t fly around as much.

[princessangrypeppers]

 What if you bought a litter box with a grate on it, like this one:

http://www.guineapigsupply.com/pd-d…erm=276344

 

And put a small layer of cat litter, so the rabbit can’t reach the actual litter.

 

That is, if your rabbit, unlike mine, will use a small litter box like the one above. (I can’t find any larger ones with a grate)

[RabbitPam]

It’s my understanding that the problem isn’t so much that they eat the litter that is harmful, but that they inhale the chemicals that waft from the pellets just as you do when it bothers you.

I’m also wondering if you could order a large quantity of a better litter online, and have it shipped. Something like CareFresh is so much lighter in a big bag that if it ships by weight, it might not be that much more. The expandable litters like that, or Yesterdays News, seem to last a very long time since they are compressed into the bag.

[Karla]

That might be an idea – especially since he doesn’t mind grates (he keeps jumping up on his cage to sit and enjoy the view and doesn’t care about the uncomfortable grate).

I’ll see if it is available in Europe!

[Karla]

And carefresh is good at controlling the odour?

Well, he does sneezes quite a bit so maybe the dust actually bothers him as much as it does me. Seeing that this organic wood pellet I buy is really expensive, I actually thought that I got the best for him.

Oh, my god, this is really a jungle!

[RabbitPam]

Yes, Carefresh controls odor very well. The Original is less expensive than any of the colors or the white.  If you really want the pellet type, try Aspen instead of pine or Yesterdays News.

I know – it’s very elaborate for a new pet. Bunnies are actually more work than cats. But really worth it when you see them binky and they give you kisses.

The grate litter pan is OK unless you have a Rex or Mini Rex bunny. They are a breed with sensitive feet and any type of wire will have long term problems. I actually never used a grated kind since, once they’re trained, they are pretty good about keeping it in the box. If you find your bunny peeing in a corner instead of the pan, just move the pan to that spot. That’s her way of telling you where she wants it. If she’s sneezing, I think it’s time to change the litter.

[Beka27]

Do you have access to regular wood stove pellets? The type I use is a pressed together pellet, and then it expands and becomes “sawdusty” when wet. But since it’s wet, it does not put dust into the air.

[RabbitPam]

Those are the “untreated” wood stove pellets, right?

I found Feline Pine (same thing, and a cat litter) in my grocery store. But it did get dusty and I smelled it more.

[Beka27]

Yes, untreated. Just the basic, very cheap WP.

[Karla]

I found carefresh in an UK online shop! I’ll try it. Thank you to you all – I hope this fixes the problem.

Beka: yes, what I use now is wood stove pellets. But maybe not as good a quality as I imagined. I am so happy that our problem might be solved now – fingers crossed

[Deb'sBuns]

I love Carefresh. I’ve tried Aspen shavings for awhile and I hated it. It made the litter boxes wet and the guinea pigs kitchen as well.

[RabbitPam]

When Spockie loved Carefresh, I loved Carefresh. Samantha must have a tougher tushie because she prefers the pellets.
Just a word of caution: stay away from wood shavings. The aspen pellets are good, but cedar and pine shavings- problem. I’m not sure about aspen shavings.

[Sarita]

Aspen shavings are safe.

Hopefully you will have good luck with Carefresh – I found when I used it, I was not happy with the odor control but maybe it’s improved since I’ve used it.

[Author]

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