Is it just my buns or?

[Deleted User]

Sooooooo I was wondering if anyone has had success with NOT putting the hay in the litter boxes? Each of my buns has 2 litter trays. They each have 1 by the gate barrier that separates them, and 1 in their favorite “toilet corner”

The litter trays by the gate have hay in them. The litter trays in the corner never have hay in them. They still do poops and pees in the box without hay. I mean they REALLY seem to know where to go!  I have had pee where it wasn’t supposed to be was the first time I switched them into each others area. So I am attributing that to territorial business. (And it was only Ophelia, he hasn’t peed on anything that I know of). So I have had a running experiment the past few days. Since Quincy was just neutered I got out the small litter box that I started with, which is a ferret box I think? anyway, he doesn’t have to jump to get in it because one side is cut down so he can just hop in. Since that box is quite small, I didn’t feel like he could comfortably eat in it. So I put his hay on a plate on the ground outside of the box. He has been eating the hay outside, and still going into his box to poop and pee! Could this be? Could it last? Could I have finally found a solution to the wasting of pee soaked hay? I have only had him leave the occasional stray poop near the plate, which I can totally live with picking up one or two poops. Has anyone had success with buns still using the litter trays with having the hay elsewhere?

He is two days post neuter. I have seen people say that they may lose control of litter habits right before or after, but I haven’t had any problems with him at all. And I am honestly so surprised that he’s been so good the past two days considering his circumstances. I’ve watched him. He will eat off the plate (of course push everything on to the ground so I have to put it back on the plate lol) then he will stop, turn around, hop in the box, lift and pee, then back to the plate to eat.  

[Wick & Fable]

I think for rabbits who really understand the litter box concept, it is quite possible, and it’s great this has been achieved! Generally, I think there’s a very strong drive for rabbits to poop and pee while eating, but perhaps for domestic rabbits who feel a bit more security, it can be curbed in some instances?

Wick has hay in his litter boxes, but he has a standalone hay rack which he uses without pooping and peeing as well… Which is good because there’s a ramp behind it so if he pees, it’d just soak into the ramp, haha.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[12345ABCDE]

I’m envious of your success…I put hay in my bun’s litter trays and Buttercup eats the hay from outside the tray and leaves a nice pile of poop outside  The monster. 

She finds a way to go against every possible solution I’ve tried so now I just accept tons of hay will get wasted 

[Q8bunny]

Chewie knows to toilet in his boxes, but he also knows to only eat (and not toilet) in other places. Haven’t tried the no hay method because I can’t find a decent hay rack. lol

[Mikey]

My Badger picks a corner and thats the corner he exclusively goes in, even if there is no hay (and even if there is no litter box)

[Deleted User]

I just may give this a shot! I have lots of blankets so I would probably just lay those down and scatter the hay around, and that way when they’ve made a mess of it and left crumbs everywhere I can just take the blanket out and shake it off. I’m still so impressed with Quincy! I’ve been watching him all day and he’s been using that box religiously! He did leave a few poops at the barrier next to the box, but that’s to be expected when Ophelia is right across there. I’m going to try out the no hay with her too, if I can get her to stop eating long enough for me to clean out the box lol

[Author]

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