HELP ME PLEASE

[tabalab]

I need ideas on how to keep my buns indoors. We live with my boyfriends father who has MS. We live in a small 3bdr 1bth house. Shane ( my b/f ) doesnt want them in our room anymore he says they smell. I can not smell them anymore and we keep an airfilter running 24/7 ( it really helps.)

I clean their litter every 3 days. I don’t know what to do! I am in tears right now. I love my buns inside even though I do not love them in the same room as us. They are so much better with me, since they moved indoors. I seriously have been thinking about saving money and moving into my own apartment! He just doesnt understand how important these buns are to me and that they just arent the same outside.

 I forgot to mention that the situation at that house is a lil ruff right now. Um so one room is his dads and one is ours and one is his moms bedroom being used as a stoarge room filled to the brim with boxes and $*&!. (she is somewhat of a hoarder) The living room is the most common area but they cant go out there either, I was told no. Our kitchen / dining area is the same size as the living room! so not much space. We have a garage but it is hotter then outside.

 

He wants to make a huge 6 x 6 run to attach to their hutch so they can stay outside during the day but I just think hauling them in  and out every morning and night is just to much. I worry so much about the heat even though they did fine and it is getting cooler here. He just doesn’t understand.

 

 

Suggestions, anything to help me out!

Thank you all!

[KatnipCrzy]

Some people have reported that un-neutered bunnies have a stronger odor- so neutering could help.  You could also try changing the litter daily to see if that helps

I would talk to your boyfriend to get him to work WITH you and not against you in trying to keep the bunnies indoors- find out if it is really the odor or something else that might be the issue- the time and love you give them (jealousy), noise, etc. 

[Moonlight_Wolf]

If it is the smell that is really bothering him…You could clean the litterbox every day, that’s what I do. If you have a grate over the litter pan you could sprinkle baking powder in the litterbox, this really helps with the smell. I wouldn’t do it if there is no grate though, the bunnies might lick the baking powder.
Good luck!

[Beka27]

Bunnies are not the easiest pets to care for. You know this: they require time out of the cage to play, they need supplies and habitats that can get pricey, not to mention food and vet care. Many people have this idea of rabbits as being outdoor animals and requiring next to nothing to survive… I wonder if this is your boyfriend/his family’s idea of rabbits? I don’t know the situation of course, but if it were my buns, I would be putting my foot down. But I get the feeling you are living in their home and so you’re trying not to “rock the boat”, so I’m really unsure how that is going to work out for you.

Like Katnip said, boy bunnies can be STINKY if they are not neutered. It’s kind of a musky, skunky, urine smell… NOT pleasant… and I don’t blame your BF for not wanting to have that smell in the bedroom. What are your plans for having them altered? In addition to being good for the buns, this sends a CLEAR message to everyone involved that you are making the long-term commitment to their health and well-being. They are yours, permanently.

Until then, more frequent cleaning or using a better odor-absorbing litter might help…

[RabbitPam]

I was also going to suggest a change of litter. Where are you throwing away the used litter? Are you dumping it completely outside the house every day? Sometimes the waste basket, even if covered, is what’s holding in the smell as much as the cage. Put some baking soda on the bottom of any waste bag or basket you use, plus try opening a box of baking soda out of reach of the bunny just to absorb any odors in the room in general. (Like you would in a fridge.)

I think Katnip makes a very good point. If you are considering moving out, maybe the problem is only indirectly the bunny.

[tabalab]

No we don’t have problems its jsut we are here to help his dad and his dad makes it seem like we are here because we need to be… Ill talk to him about saving for the alter.

[tabalab]

Well i figured out why it smelled so bad!!! PEE EVERYWHERE ALL over our walls and tv stand I even have a plastic sign behind the litter box must have got on the second storey and peed! They are getting snipped even if that means no fast food or beer for a month.

[tabalab]

i use a mix of yesterdays news and pine for both my cat and the buns

[KytKattin]

Since you have two boys it doesn’t surprise me that they are spraying. I am glad you are doing the right thing in getting them neutered instead of getting rid of them like some people do (though I know you completely love your bunnies so it’s probably not even an option in your mind!) Plus the sooner you do it the less likely it will become a habit!

[Beka27]

Oh spraying. That is yucky. For some reason that didn’t even cross my mind. Neither of my unaltered bunnies were sprayers… :o(

[BinkyBunny]

When I was volunteering at the shelter, we could ALWAYS tell when I new bunny came in and if he needed to be neutered or not. It was obvious.

Spraying is smelly though. Jack who has been neutered for 5 years now still sprays. (though he would have been alot smellier if hadn’t been neutered)

So yes, getting them altered asap will help. Changing their litter everyday – or least scoop up the urine. (The ammonia can really get strong after a couple of day) and just wipe down the areas that he sprays. That should help alot.

Keep us updated!

[RabbitPam]

And if you don’t have one already, get a high backed litter pan. They usually are corner litter pans sold in pet stores for bunnies, with the back side higher than the front. Sometimes it catches the spray before it escapes the pan.

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