Having Trouble with the new rabbit

[BugsP]

I recently got a rabbit and it frenquently does fecal pellets and everywhere and anywhere and as soon as he starts he doesnt stop! is this normal and will it stop or how do i make it stop!

[babybunsmum]

it is normal even for litter-trained bunnies to leave droppings all around to mark their territory.  this happens when they’re moved to a new home, or even when they’re given more space to roam in the home they already are used to.   there are lots of ways to re-litter train a bun so don’t worry!   if you give more specific information about your rabbit’s set-up then there may be more specific tips / suggestions to offer, but for now here are some things that could help:

• restrict you rabbits free-roam space to a small area until they get used to using their litter… then slowly expand their territory.  for some ideas on how to give bun a nice space check out ‘cool habitats’ under bunny info on this site.
• when bun goes outside their litter, clean the area to eliminate scent (vinegar water works well) and place a few poops & a urine soaked piece of paper towel in the litter box so bun will know that’s where to go.
• if bun keeps leaving puddles of a pile of poops in a certain area, try shifting their litter to that spot… they may be trying tell you where they want the litter to be placed.  this worked for my bun.  as soon as i put her litter in the right corner she uses it exclusively for pee and 90% of the time for poops.
• rabbits like to eat while they do their business, so it helps to have hay in (or right next to) their litter. 

good luck!

[kimberleyanddarren]

babybunsmum summed it up! it is normal dont worry about it just try and get them litter trained and it should slow down

[Sarita]

Is your rabbit spayed or neutered?

[RabbitPam]

BBM gives the best advice, and I’ve known the bunny selecting the same spot, and then putting the litter box there, to work well.

You can also try putting several litter boxes around your space outside the cage where he runs, so that he has a choice of them, but will learn that the litter box is the place to go. Eventually he will show a preference for one more than the others, and that’s the one to keep out, removing the others.

My bun used to go in a corner next to a desk as soon as he left his cage. It was like making a pit stop before starting to play. He would run for that litter box, go, then jump out and roam. If he needed to go again, he’d go back there. It was closer for him than going back into his cage.

He’s eating the fecal poops right? I used to be bothered until I saw the bunny just hoover them up after himself and voila! clean rug again.

[BugsP]

Thanks everyone for your help , i’ll get on litter training right away !

[BugsP]

Is it ok to use large aluminum pans for litter pans until he gets fully trained?

[MimzMum]

I wouldn’t recommend aluminum pans, if you mean the type that one uses for baking. There are perfectly good litter pans made of sturdy plastic that are just the right size for a bunny’s bottom in with the cat litter pans at most stores. I would be afraid that an aluminum pan would be too much of a temptation to chew on, and you don’t want your bunny swallowing that kind of material.

[notjulesverne]

ha ha I put a aluminum cookie sheet (NOT the disposable kind) down to catch the poops when he accidentally leaves his butt hanging off the edge of the box. But he loved to use it as his chill-out pan and stopped pooping on it and decided to not use that corner anymore as a bathroom. So now he has 2. He chills out on both, but one he poops on (next to his “out of cage” litter box) and one is strictly for hanging out on.

[Gravehearted]

Steph – welcome to binky bunny!

has your bunny been spayed or neutered yet? bunnies often don’t really get the hang of good litterbox habits until after they’re fixed. I’d agree with BBM and suggest limited the territory and adding more boxes while your bunny gets the hang of it. As the box habits improve you slowly increase the territory. Adding a bit of hay or a sprig of yummy herb may entice him to use the box too. I would not use aluminum pans – too slippery!

[kimberleyanddarren]

yes those litter trays should be fine

[babybunsmum]

i found nice square & rectangular plastic containers at the dollarama that are only a couple of inches deep.  they’re perfect for litter trays!  as long as bun doesn’t decide to use them for discus throws that is  

[Hedi]

If you live near a Dollar General store you can buy cat litter boxes for $2

[skunklionshow]

B/c I’ve often had discus throwing rabbits…I’ve grown to love the rubbermaid dishpans.  You can get them at the dollar store for a buck & they are sold at the regular grocery stores for about $2.99.  They are deep enough not to make discus throwing too easy.  They are also on the thick side making gnawing not so much an issue.  I use puppy pee pee pads under the box, to line the bottom of the cage w/ carefresh on top, and on furniture or cat beds.  That way if they pee on them I can just toss them.  Aluminum pans may scare rabbits.  They are shiny and can make a thumpy noise.  Aluminum foil is often recommended to keep cats and dogs off of furniture for these reasons.

[kimberleyanddarren]

yes i got my litter trays for 80p (about $1.50)

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