Litter Box Training failure

[boundingbunny]

So no matter how hard I try what I do Ralph and Rosie refuse to be litter box trained. Now you are probably thing it cannot get worse but they use there little box in there play pen! I need tips, suggestions and Help!!!!!!

[MoveDiagonally]

Are they both spayed and neutered? What have you done to litter train them? What kind of habitat do they live in? What kind of flooring are they on?

The answers to these questions will help people give you advice.

[boundingbunny]

Ok thanks MoveDiagonally! Yes both my bunnies are spayed and neutered. They live on both fleece and lino. They have had a variety of different substrate in there litter box but right now they are on yesterdays news with some hay. I have tried using a large amount of litter boxes, placing the litter box in different places, changing the litter box every day and I have tried lots f different types of bedding.

[RabbitPam]

The word that jumped out at me was “bedding”. It often can confuse the bunnies and delay good litter habits, because they don’t know the difference. You really don’t need bedding at all. Not sure what the bottom of your habitat is like, but a floor, low pile carpet or plastic is fine as a bottom without any bedding at all. You can use a little fleece for blankies to snuggle, but they actually have fur to snuggle with to sleep (each other) so even that isn’t really necessary. Seagrass mattes are good for their feet, make good flooring and is edible and good for their digestion so they are a win/win alternative to bedding.

That said, it makes it easier to determine what type of litter they like best. Some prefer pellets, like Yesterdays news, so that may be fine as is. If you think they would prefer shavings, try Aspen. NEVER use Pine or Cedar shavings, however. Carefresh is a soft alternative to shavings, and Feline Pine is a good alternative pellet litter, though my personal favorite is Aspen pellets with Aspen shavings on top. It’s a safe, odor absorbing wood that costs a wee bit more.

Take any pee or poo from their floor and put it back into the litter pan(s), They each have their own pan, right? Also, try hanging the hay from a hay basket above the litter pan, so they eat it while using the litter rather than using the hay AS litter. Bunnies like to be clean, and they would rather keep their food separate from the litter pan. (Except to eat cecals.) Hope these suggestions help.

[boundingbunny]

My rabbits are not bedding at all they have Lino flooring but have a little fleece blanket to lie on. The are on yesterdays news as there litter and have a hay rack above both litter boxes. The strange thing is that they ALWAYS pee in there litter box but don”t always poo in it. Thank you for the advice

[MoveDiagonally]

Another quick question, how long have they been bonded? If it’s a fairly recent bond (or they are new to your house) it may be territorial marking.

[boundingbunny]

Sorry for the extremely late reply I have moved house and started high school been a busy few months. They have been bonded for at least 5months and Rosie is litter trained but Ralph isn’t!

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