I need help with litter box training!…BAD!

[DanaT]

I got Chloe, a dwarf, 6-or-so month old rabbit about a week ago.  She is the sweetest and most lovable animal I’ve ever been around!  I bought her from a lady who told me she was completely litter box trained.  We started letting her out of her cage at all times while we were home and in the living room with her.  She did just fine, and we were so excited and proud.  She would go back into her cage to use her litterbox, then hop out and continue playing.  Well…since then, she has progressively gotten worse and worse everyday.  She started pooing on the sofa, so we stopped letting her on it, then she started pooing on the ground, and she just does it more and more every day.  It’s to the point now where when she is out of her cage, ALL I do is pick up her little poo pellets!  I feel so terrible about saying this, but it’s getting to the point where I don’t even enjoy taking her out of her cage!  It’s making me really frustrated and sad because I just want her to be able to play and cuddle with us out of her cage.   I don’t know what to do.  In her cage, she uses her litter box great.  Just a few pellets. But when she’s out of her cage, she poos EVERYWHERE!!  She no longer goes back in her cage at all when she’s out.  She doesn’t pee, though, by the way.  Well, only 2 times.  I’ve tried realy hard to watch her so I can catch her in the act and yell “no,” but she doesn’t indicate at all that she is about to poo.  She’ll even poo while running.  It’s impossible to predict.  PLEASE GIVE ME SUGGESTIONS!

[Sarita]

Hi Dana. Is Chloe spayed? Also sometimes you have to start out in very small areas and SLOWLY increase their space, but of course spaying is the first place to start. Also if you let her out, make the times short and slowly increase the time out. Sometimes it helps to have a few litter boxes out as well in various locations.

[DanaT]

Thanks for your suggestions!  Yes, I’ve tried limiting her time out, and I’ve tried putting another litter box out in the area, but she was completely uninterested in it..Pooed right on side of it actually!  But you’re right, I do need to get her spayed.  Everything I’ve been reading says that training her would be so much easier if she were spayed.  Thanks again.

[Sarita]

Just remember that it could take a few months for her hormones to “settle” down right after the spay especially since she is older so don’t get frustrated about this. As you can imagine that type of change can wreak havoc on the body initially so you will still need to be patient with her initially as she needs a few months to adjust. But definitely get her spayed, you will be a much happier rabbit owner :~)

[MooBunnay]

Since Chloe is not yet spayed, her urges to do “territorial marking” are probably very high.  You can take this as a bit of a compliment because she is probably so excited to have a house of her own that she wants to mark it as all her own

Since you will have a transition time, I would recommend getting Chloe a “exercise pen” type cage.  This is a cage made from a dog exercise pen.  These can be expanded and shrunken down to different sizes so that you can play with Chloe in the pen, and allow her to get her exercise, without having her poop all over your house. There are some great pictures of them in the “Cool Habitats ” section here: https://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO…fault.aspx

The best part of this is that you can put down a plastic tarp under the ex-pen, and then an in-expensive rug, or sheet on top of that, and then if Chloe doesn’t use her litterbox correctly it is very easy to clean up.  Then you have a good place to sit and interact with her as well.  Ex-pens are also great for blocking off different rooms once Chloe is able to run around the house more freely.

[Scooter]

I’m dealing with the stray pellets right now as well! I know my bun doesn’t mean to be using the bathroom, with as much as he eats, and the contents of his littler box, he’s obviously not relieving himself completely out of the box. But I get the random pellets everywhere, especially when hes excited when we play.

I notice there is quite an odor to it as well. Is this the preview to spraying that can be limited after he’s neutered? or something we’ll deal with for a while?

[DanaT]

Just to update everyone…Chloe’s getting worse! She’s not even using her litter box in her cage well anymore! she even peed on me!! She’s never done that before… It’s so upsetting, but I’m trying not to lose faith in her. I bought her a new litter box that is bigger, and I’m hoping that’ll help. I bought some herbs, basil and rosemary, to put in there like suggested. I looked for an exercise pen at Wal-Mart to limiit her play area, but they didn’t have one. I’ll have to make a trip to a pet store within the next few days. She rattles the cage door all day because she wants to get out and play, but I can’t let her out that much. It’s sad!
And Scooter, I’m not sure about the odor. Chloe doesn’t really stink all that much. Maybe it’s different because she’s a female? I don’t know..Sorry! I’m new to this!!

[jerseygirl]

Hi Dana, don’t feel too badly about keeping Chloe penned up. It will actually aid you in litter training. Or litter re-training. Definately don’t allow her as much space as she has had, just allow a little at a time, give her more as her habits improve.

She could be getting a bit possesive about her cage at the moment and so marking it alot.  Avoid “intruding” in her space too much and stick to tidying it up when she’s out of it having a run around.  She’s in teen bunny stage now so things can be a bit challenging for a while.

Scooter, those random pellets are probably territorial poops. They can actually have a shiny coating on them and smell more than regular ones. Part of marking territory. It does abate though you’ll be pleased to know.

[Balefulregards]

Hi Dana – I am struggling with re-training my two as they finish bonding so I know it can really feel as if
1. They are totally doing this on purpose ( Coco stared at me while she peed on my shoe)
2. It is never going to get better

Since your gal is new, she is most likely trying to make you and your housemates understand that she is Top Bun. Rabbits do this by scent marking – and when she pees on You – it is to let you and any other rabbit in the vicinity know that You belong to her too. When she poos everywhere, she is also letting you know “I own this too”.

Totally not fun, I know.

Rabbits are very smart. BUT they are not quick to change their ways – AT ALL. While it seems mean to you, a small space is reassuring for her. Its hard to try to claim an area the size of an apartment, and a small space is easier to maintain. You can certainly let her out for supervised times ( Did I read 3 hours out per day for a rabbit?) But otherwise until you build a relationship with her and she understands that you are in it with her for the long haul, things will smooth out. But it takes Time.

We adopted Jackson in the beginning of August this year. Two days ago he allowed me to groom him for the first time. Two months of cleaning his litter, serving his greens, telling him what a good boy he is….Finally, he agrees to be touched by me.

So yeah. Time. Time, Time.

[DanaT]

Should I not take Chloe out of her cage at all while I am trying to retrain her to use the litter box while in her cage? She needs exercise, right??

[RabbitPam]

If you can get an exercise pen to attach to her cage, that would be the best way to get her some out time. If she runs around her xpen, you will be able to get in to clean her cage more easily and you won’t seem to be invading her turf as much. If you can’t get an xpen, you could also try bringing her into a bathroom and let her run there if she doesn’t mind tiled floors. You could also get a large carpet sample (low tight pile) and bring that in with you for some exercise/play time.

Just for the heck of it, try a cheap rectangular litter pan in there with you. You might even try a different brand of litter, with a bunch of hay in the corner, and see if she uses it. Sometimes it’s the size of the pan, the type of litter, or even a smell that’s making them fussy.

[hooty22]

Oh Dana, I’m sorry about this. I’ve been having issues with Felony as well. I’ve had him for almost 3 years now and he’s been living with me since he was about 4 weeks old. The spaying will help, but you just need to be very strict and scheduled.
I know it’s hard, but you really need to leave her in her cage for longer periods. Let her out for limited play times, maybe an hour at a time supervised, and tidy up her pen while she’s out. Put her back in her pen, and give her a treat of some type, this will make getting her into her pen easier. I did this with Felony, and even though he’s completely free range, everytime he hears a raisin bag rattle he goes immediately into his pen.
Keeping her in her space will calm her down, and she’ll learn, this is where I’m suppose to leave all this. You’ll probably always find a stray pellet or two, but it will be managable.

[DanaT]

Thank you… That’s a good suggestion about the treat because it’s impossible to get her back in her pen without picking her up, and I know that’s not a good thing to do! Things are getting better though in her cage. I changed her flooring from hay to a towel, I got her a larger litter box, and I put fresh basil and mint in it. (All great suggestions I got from this website!) since the changes, she is definitely on her wayback to her good in-cage potty habits. She’s only peed one in the past 4 days on the bottom of her cage, and it was a little tiny bit. She still poos some out of her box, but she seems to be getting back on track. I really need to get her an exercise pen, though, because when I let her out to clean her cage she has no boundaries! Thanks everyone for all of your suggestions so far!

[Laura]

My buns are fixed. They still poo all over their pen. They (or maybe just 1) will pee in the pen, near the litter box, occasionally. But they never poo or pee out of their pen, unless they get near the cat litter box, then they poo and pee in front of the cat box.

[DanaT]

Ok here is the latest with Chloe:

We have been traveling a lot lately,so Chloe either comes with us or stays at my parents house while we are gone. She does perfect with her litter training while she is anywhere but home! She doesn’t drop even ONE pellet while she is at my mom and dads house, yet here at home, things are MUCH worse than even before! I’m actually very sad to say that I am very very close to getting rid of her. I just feel like it’s hopeless bc I’m sure she is pooing more at home becaause I have a cat and she is being territorial.I’m getting a puppy Friday, so I am scared that it will just get worse.

I should mention, however, that she RARELY ever pees outside of her litter box, and in her cage, she does well even wih pooing in the box. It’s just when she is out.

Not to mention that she doesn’t seem to even like me at all anymore. She even bites me now. It makes me so sad to read everyone elses forums about their sweet bunnies who cuddle with them and let them hold them, while mine is a reigning terror!

I just don’t know what to do. I can confine her to cage more I guess, but then I feel like what’s even enjoyable about that? Just to watch her tug at and rattle the door bc she wants to get out? Also, I can get her spayed, but will that reallymake a HUGE difference?!

I’m sorry bc I know I sound like the worst bunny mom with this post! I’m really not. I really love Chloe so so much. I just wish she loved me back and I’m just frustrated! :/

[jerseygirl]

You do sound frustrated but at least you’re trying to resolve this. I’m betting it’s a combo of her hormones and natural tendency to be territorial here. She’s doing what comes natural. And to be honest, it probably would get worse when you bring a new animal home. Even mature, fixed rabbits display some behaviours to these changes. They should be introduced properly to the new pet and these behaviour are usually just temporary. I think the house rabbit society (www.rabbit.org) has some info on introductions.

Also, I can get her spayed, but will that reallymake a HUGE difference?!

In a word, yes. It should. It should reduce her aggression and make her less territorial. But they’re are other reasons to spay, a major one being that leaving a Doe intact leaves them at high risk of developing uterine cancer.

[BinkyBunny]

I ditto Jersey on this - and here’s the direct link the dog rabbit intros http://www.rabbit.org/journal/1/dogs.html

You are dealing with situations that will make even fixed rabbits mark and you have an unspayed female so it’s even doubly challenging.  Reaching sexual maturity, loaded with hormones that drive  the need to mark and defend as is, then add a cat, and soon a new puppy ….yeah, not so much fun dealing with this I can imagine.

Some bunnies are bossy and may retain some of that diva nature after they are spayed, but in general spaying can help settle things down since you are taking away hormones that drive them to do some of these unwanted behaviors.  The sooner the better as certain behaviors and bad habits won’t have as much time to settle in.   

There are some bunnies though that will continue at least part of that behavior some of the time -  My bunny Jack is quite the territorial guy so if he feels the cat has been too close to the bunnyroom – well he’ll go on a spray fest.  Or if Vivian gets too divaish with him, he’ll show some bossy tude. He’s just  a very dominant bossy bunny.(though lately he has relented to some of her demands)  But in general his bossy territorial tude is very funny because really he’s a HUGE scaredy cat.  But maybe that is what drives him to mark and boss more - just part  of making him feel safer.   Where Viv is bossy with humans, but she’s not really scared of too much at all.  The cat doesn’t scare her like It does Jack.  And she never marks. (Both though are still very good with their litterbox habits and in general Jack doesn’t Mark unless somehow provoked which doesn’t really happen all that often)  But if he hadn’t been neutered, I don’t even want to imagine the disaster of mess he would have created.   So besides the health benefits of spaying, I also agree you should spay to see if this will help out, especially since you have a multi-pet household.

Out of curiosity do your cat and rabbit get along at all? 

[DanaT]

Chloe loved the cat, or at least was very curious about her at first. She would run right up to her. The cat, prissy, is old and aunry, so she wasn’t interested at all at first either way. Now, however, the cat has gotten either more playful or more aggrivated. I can’t tell. All I know is that now, she will chase poor Chloe around the room. I still don’t know if it scares Chloe though because she doesn’t run in her cage for protection or anyhing. She just goes back for more.

I guess really my answer is that I don’t know if they get along or not!!

Do you think it would be better if chloe had her own room? Right now she is in the livig room, which is where the cat hangs out alot. I could put Chloe in my guest bedroom, which he cat rarely goes in. That way, I would just have to set aside time to visit Chloe instead of her being convenient. That might actually help our relationship. I could give her some undivided attention.

I don’t know!!

Thanks for replying guys! I really appreciate all the help I can get!

[Sarita]

Have you had her spayed yet?

[Beka27]

I would keep her out with the family still. The problem with giving buns their own rooms is that they tend to get neglected (inadvertently!) just because there’s always so much going on elsewhere. She really should stay in the heart of the home, especially during this time when she needs more attention, not less.

It’s unfair to make a decision about her fate until after she is spayed and she is allowed to acclimate to your home, your pets, your routine, her space and her decreased hormones. This is not an uncommon thing. Anyone with unaltered bunnies around the 6 month mark have gone thru this, to varying degrees. While it’s true that spaying is not always a “magic cure” to behavioral issues, it must be done for HEALTH REASONS first and foremost, and of course for the prevention of pregnancy. The truth is that the majority of rabbits do become excellent with litter habits after they are altered. There will always be the few that continue to drop poops here or there, and this may be something you will experience living in a home with multiple pets. But even people with buns with less than perfect habits don’t think it’s that big of a deal. You make it so your routine includes caring for your pets.

You mention that you’re getting a new puppy. I am sure you realize that your new puppy will have accidents in the house while he is learning where he is supposed to go. You know this and you expect it but you will work thru it and teach him. This is the nature of all young animals. It is no different with bunnies. They need patience and understanding.

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