Litter Box Advice

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

HELP!  I have 2 beautiful bucks.  But lately – their litter box habits are atrocious, and I need to fix this.

Although the boys (~1 yrs, and both neutered) are bonded, I believe that there is a territory battle going on in their room.  Baxter, the dominant bun, chases Boo, to limit him to the man cave.  We contain the boys in the man cave over night, and that’s when things fall apart.  Since there are 2 buns – I don’t know who is the guilty party..but there is definite pee/poo marking going on.    

I intend to buy laminate sheet to cover the carpet for half the man cave, and to use the Xpen to contain them over the laminant till their habits impove.  My husband built them an awesome condo – but I’m reluctant to lock them up – because:  1) they’ve never been caged in our house and 2) Baxter nips Boo when frustrated, and Boo will not be able to escape.  I tried locking them up togeter for 5 minutes, and Boo started whimpering cause he was scared, and couldn’t get away from Baxter.

Question:  1) Would you lock up just 1 bun in the cage at a time till they’re both litter box trained?
or 2) Just limit their space with the Xpen over night?     

[NewBunnyOwner123]

How long have they been bonded?

[Sarita]

I edited your font to make it easier to read – we ask that you use the standard font and color.

I would not lock them up separately because they are bonded and it could break the bond. I think limiting their space with the x-pen overnight would be a good start.

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

@NBO: They’ve been bonded for about 8 months. But unfortunately, Boo does not know how to stand up for himself. Baxter chases him out of the living room, and Boo gives up and stays in the man cave. Then when Baxter joins him in the man cave – he chases him around that room – and starts marking the room as his. He also likes to nip Boo whenever frustrated 🙁 It has taken almost 7months since they’ve bonded, for Boo to groom Baxter…..but who could blame him.

Thanks Sarita: I’ll try limiting them with the Xpen to start. Would you let them out of the Xpen to exercise? Or keep them there till their litter box habits improve?

[NewBunnyOwner123]

When did this all start? Didn’t you recently build them a new condo? Do you think they are trying to reestablish dominance over their new home?

[Baxter n Boos Mom]

Their litter box habits have not been good since they bonded – but it’s been getting worse for a few months. I’m not sure if the condo is influencing this behavior – as it started before we made it, and they’ve both come to accept it – and now go in there freely for their grain/water and Boo loves to sleep in there.

My brother-in-law is visiting now, but once the house returns to normal, I want to try to contain them on the laminate to see if it helps. My husband is concerned, because once we tried to contain the boys before – Baxter out of frustration started to charge the Xpen, head first. I’ve never seen a bun do that before!

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