litter training

[cookie]

Hi, i am new to the forum so please be patient. My bunny would be the perfect pet if only he would use his litter tray, he seems to think that he can poop anywhere he likes. We have tried putting him straight into his tray with the droppings. i have tried having an extra tray in the lounge.. no good. He does go in the garden always in the same spot , but not inside. We have had him for a year and perservering with training but he seems to be winning… it’s the loving cuddles he lets me have and the way he follows me around the house that stops me from being cross.   Any ideas? He has not been neutured, i don’t think that makes any difference . 

[LoveChaCha]

Hi cookie,

could you be more specific with how he is housed and such?

Neutering can help in many ways. When rabbits are hormonal, litter habits are out the door and all that matters is reproducing. Also, by putting a pile of hay in the litter box, it can help. Rabbits enjoy doing their business and eating hay at the same time.

http://www.rabbit.org/faq/sections/litter.html#spay-neuter

[RabbitPam]

That’s true, and definitely worth a try.

Have you noticed whether the poos are random, or does he seem to gravitate to a particular spot inside as well? If so, try putting his litter pan there, at least for now, while he learns to use it.

Many young bunnies need a few litter pans around the house where they are allowed to roam until they get the hang of them. Also, sometimes you have to confine them to one or two rooms at first until they learn good litter habits, then expand their roaming area later on.

[cookie]

Our bunny has free run of the house but his hutch is where he feeds and drinks and stays at night. We have tried the hay in the tray but it didn’t help, to be honest i am worried because he doesn’t eat much hay.

[RabbitPam]

I think since he has access to the outdoors, he has designated that as his place to pee. Is he in a covered run out there, or in open air? As a House Rabbit Forum we tend to advocate indoors only unless protected, but some of our members let their bunnies out so it’s not a hard and fast rule at all.

In this instance, however, it seems your bunny has a set habit. Bunnies are creatures of habit, so they can be changed if they like a new set up. I am wondering if he can be trained if he doesn’t have access to the garden for a couple of weeks, with indoor litter pan options to choose from.

But if you are worried about his hay consumption along with erratic pee and poo, it might be a good idea to visit the vet in case there’s a health issue.

A vinegar and water spray on areas where he shouldn’t be going, while enticing him with the hay in the litter box, or even treats, can help herd him to the pan also. You can try putting him in his pan when you see him lift his tail, then give him a treat and praise him while he’s in there. Praise him every time he is in the pan at all. Bunnies react well to positive reinforcement, but never to negative. You are making it worth his while to repeat the good behavior. He won’t need a treat every time he goes, just once in a while. That way he will continue to do it in the hope that maybe this time he gets one. But the hay being there constantly is always a good thing. Try a different kind of hay, like Oat or Orchard Grass to see if he eats it more.

[Sarita]

I do think that it is partly due to not be neutered.

Also the fact that he is outside in a hutch he probably thinks that hutch is just a big litter box. It’s impossible to monitor his behavior outside in a hutch and I would recommend you bring him inside and confine him to an indoor condo to slowly learn to use his litter box in addition to getting him neutered.

I think that will greatly help you improve his litter box habits. Most rabbits don’t look at a litter box and just think, that’s where I’m supposed to go to poop and pee.

[RabbitPam]

LOL, Sarita. They look at a rumpled bed and pillows and think that.

[Sarita]

Oh yes, the big litter box also known as your bed :~)

[jerseygirl]

Hi Cookie

I think neutering will definitely help. Also, sometimes allowing a rabbit too much space too soon can cause them to mark with poop everywhere.

What age is your rabbit?

Does his hutch have solid or wire flooring? Do you use any bedding on the flooring?

NB: Just wanted to mention Cookie has not specified that the hutch is outdoors.

[Author]

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