Litter Box Switch Up

[LizzyBunn]

I got my (2) bunnies the same time my b/f moved in with his (2) cats. Everyone gets along pretty well most of the time. There is a lot of cute nose touching.

About five months ago the cats started laying in the bunnies litter boxes. Sometimes they’d fall asleep or cuddle into one together. I thought it seemed strange because of all the bunnie smells but the cats really didn’t seem to care. The bunnies also didn’t care. They’d even try to hop in with the cats sometimes but it never quite worked out. Some short time later one of the cats peed in the bunnies litter box. I didn’t realize it at first but I kept smelling cat pee and was worried someone had peed in a secret spot. I eventually smelled the spot out and realized where they’d gone. The bunnies litter behaviours remained the same and I figured it was a one time weird cat thing. Since then the two cats have peed in the bunnies litter box, maybe five times total? Not a lot, it’s not really a habit, just randomly.

Along with this, two months ago my b/f brought home some all natural litter for the cats. We found out really quickly that it was a bad purchase because the bunnies were crazy about the stuff and WOULD NOT stop eating it. We dumped it out of the cat litter boxes but ever since than the bunnies hang out in the litter boxes. In the regular cat box they both get in and kick all the sand out with their back legs. In our ‘clever Cat’ box (hole on top) they just dig and poop. It’s so weird. I am constantly cleaning cat and bunnie poop out of the cats boxes. I have tried to break them of this habit by giving them water spritzes but it turns out they like getting wet! They must have realized at some point  though because I never see them in there. I just know they still sneak in because I still find poops.

I’m worried about them being in the litter. I’m not sure how much time they’re spending in there because they are very sneaky about it. When I do happen to catch them they’re just playing and really, I don’t blame them, digging is fun. I just reeeaally don’t want them to get sick from chemicals. Does anyone have any sort of similar stories? why is everyone switching litter boxes and why are they so crazy?

cats in bunny box

[Elrohwen]

I would try to come up with a solution where the bunnies can’t get into the cat boxes – cat poop can carry some very nasty parasites/bacteria that could make the bunnies very sick. You could set up a barrier around the cat boxes that the cats could easily jump, but the bunnies couldn’t. It would probably be harder to keep the cats out of the bunny boxes though.

[Monkeybun]

Another problem with cat litter, the clumping kind anyway, is that well.. bunnies like to eat stuff,a nd if they eat clumping cat liter, it will usually get lodged in their tummies, making for not so nice vet bills and surgery to get it out. SO definitely keep bunnies out of kitty boxes. Not sure how, as I have not had that problem yet…

[LizzyBunn]

I’ve been observing them a lot and I think they are only going in the litter boxes without cat poop (which is good but weird), really if the cat box has been too used they don’t go in it. They really like the fresh litter box. they don’t eat anything that I can tell, just dig dig dig like crazy. I am going to try getting rid one of the litter boxes (that they seem to like the most), move the other and see if the cats care….

[jerseygirl]

Goodness, what a handful these 4 are. I must admit I had a giggle. Sorry, I know that doesn’t help.

Could you place the cat’s boxes up high where the rabbits can’t reach them but cats can access them?

As to the cats in the bunnies boxes (they started it!) I wonder what the appeal is? Do they have their own cat beds? Could it be they’re trying to claim the space?

[RabbitPam]

To be on the safe side, I would use Feline Pine pellets (not to be mistaken for pine shavings, which ARE dangerous to bunnies). It is a litter that is made for cats and also good for bunnies. It’s very inexpensive and easy to find, and that way you will not need to worry about the litter itself being harmful. After that, you can work on the behavior issues among them.

And we didn’t want to have to tell you this, but your bunnies are actually cats in rabbit suits. They are dressing up for Halloween.

[Author]

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