I really need help with litter training

[Ashtree50772]

Hi, I’m really in need of help. Might as well start at the beginning. If you don’t want to see all this then just skip to the bottom.
My name is Ashley, and I have a 7 year old rabbit named Bambie. I got her because my cousin was giving away bunnies for free. I had to agree to my dad that I would keep her outside and there is no if, ands, or buts about it. We built a small cage and a month later I was able to bring Bambie home. I was just going into middle school when this happened. I’d bring her inside in a tiny cage and keep her in my room when it snowed, but due to me developing really bad depression and anxiety, I just couldn’t take care of her. I would beg my dad to let her stay inside but he would yell at me. I tried training her once in secret, but he found out. He had hit me once because of a mess she made in my room. Now after 5-6 years of begging, I was able to bring her inside on Christmas Eve. She seemed happy about it, and it’s only has been 2 months, but I’m in a bit of a pickle. My dad reluctantly let her inside and if I can’t train her soon, she’ll be sent outside again. I tried moving the litter, I still put her droppings and clean up her pee when I can. I still go to high school and I drain myself quickly, so I’m not always in my room to keep an eye on her. What’s even worse, is that I think she’s starting to rebel against me. Never once has she pooped or peed on me. Now she did it twice in one month. This isn’t normal of her. I’ve been asking my parents to help me get her neutered or sprayed or whatever, but my dad doesn’t want her going to the vet at all so me and my mom have to do it behind his back. She had an ear infection for about a week when we first got her and he didn’t want to take her to the vet, but finally let us go when he found her laying in her cage, not able to get up! I’m also going to college in another state in August or September and I’m afraid to leave her at home, where she will once again be neglected, or worse, my dad will get sick of her and either give her away or set her free into the wild. I’m scared of what he will do to her. I NEED to bring her to college. I’m desperate, please help me.
Summery:
I have a 7 year old bunny who had bad litter habits for all of her life due to me not being able to bring her inside because of my dad. I brought her in on Christmas Eve and had tried to litter train her to no avail. She peed and pooped on me TWICE this month which she has never done before. I’m going to a college out of state in August or September and need help litter training her before my dad kicks her out of the house and/or before I go to college.
Please help, I’m scared of what he will do.

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi Ashley,

I’m sorry you’re in such a difficult situation – your dad should never agreed to letting you have a rabbit if he wasn’t prepared to look after it – that is part of a parent’s duty when they let a child have a pet. It’s clear that you’ve tried your best in a difficult situation.

To be honest, its going to be difficult to litter train an unspayed, 7 year old rabbit. Often unspayed rabbits are harder to train, as they’re driven by hormones, and will pee and poop to mark territory a lot more. Can you tell us a bit about what her set up in your room is like?

The best thing to do is to have a litter tray, with a distinct ‘litter’ substance in it (I use paper based pellets, but cheap wood stove pellets or non-clumping wood cat litter are also good options), and to not have other bedding in her area. If you’re worried about her being on hard flooring, you can give her a fleece (as long as she doesn’t eat it) and chuck it in the wash every few days. Her hay should be in or next to the litter tray, as they often poop while eating.

I also think, as hard as it may be, you need to start considering what you’ll do with her when you move away. Perhaps you could start looking for another home for her, or even research non-kill shelters. Its obviously not safe to leave her with your dad, and you might feel more reassured if you had a plan for her.

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