Litter Training Help!!

[EmilyL]

Ok… hello!  This is my first post here on BinkyBunny.com!

 

I just rescued my bunny about a week ago from my friend’s little sister who was severely neglecting him.  He only had a wire floor to walk on, no toys, just a food bowl that he often tipped over so he could use his bowl as something to play with… also, he was in a “screened in” porch that had holes everywhere, including in the walls, so any sort of animal could come in. This was also an area where nobody ever came and went so he also never had any sort of interaction with anyone or anything… and his cage was DISGUSTING!  Ok….enough rambling… once I start talking about it I get so angry and can’t stop lol.

But anyways, I need some litter training hints and tips, as I desperately want him litter trained so he can have access to more room than just his exercise pen and cage (he also has a harness and leash but he’s still getting used to it so I can’t really use it yet).  I’ve read numerous articles but am still left with some problems.

1)  What do I do since I can’t always catch him in the act of not using the litter box? Even though, when he is out of his cage, I sit and watch him intently and then he does it and I don’t see it until he’s done… and then theres no point in moving him to the litter box since he’ll just learn to go there after he’s done?   So basically, what do I do since I can’t always see it when he’s doing it?

2)  I know that you’re supposed to watch them and do nothing else while they are out of the cage so that you can train them and catch them not using the litter box and stuff.  But I like for him to have more than an hour outside the cage… but I can’t realistically sit there for four hours and do nothing else… so what do I do?

3) And what do I do when he’s in his cage?  I can’t watch him all the time, but I’m afraid he’s learning bad habits in his cage.  I’ve also put different things in different corners so he’ll be more likely to use his litter box (food in one corner, hay in one, and water in another etc.).

Thanks so much for reading… long post I know! I would appreciate as much info as I can get… also feel free to leave any more tips that you can think of… I’ve never had a rabbit before so I can use all the help I can get!

 

P.S.- Any cheap, homemade toy ideas? He has a phonebook, which he loves to rip up… and I bought him a couple toys at the store, but he doesn’t seem to care for those too much of course.  Thanks so much!!!!!

[mrmac]

I never really watched my buns during litter training. Whenever they went somewhere other than the corner I would always pick up the pee and poo and put it in the litter box. Once it gets dirty it will always smell unless you wash the litter box and then you might have to start all over so I will only wipe out the box but I never wash it unless needed. My two older buns now when they are out for an extended time period they know that if they have to go potty they go back into their cage and go then come right back out! I just adopted a baby bun and I have to watch him all the time when he is out! As long as things are bunny proofed and he cant get into anything like wires and stuff its ok to let him roam as long as you keep and eye out for him and make sure he doesnt dissappear into some teeny hidey spot! When hes in the cage theres not much you can do except picking up any accidents that he may have had, is the hay next to the litter box? Having hay next to the box let them do their business while they eat really helped my buns learn. It is a good idea to put things in the corners, have you tried cardboard boxes, maybe with shredded up newspaper or rip out some pages of the phonebook for him to dig in? Toilet paper rolls, or paper bags filled with hay/pellets/surprise treats? Hope this helps some!

[jerseygirl]

Hi Emily
Firstly thanks for giving this bun a better home! I realise you want to give him more freedom, but actually keeping him in a smaller space is better for litter training. You can also put several boxes in his cage if there is room and he may pick just one corner. Clean up anything of the cage floor with vinegar/water solution, put droppings in litter box and some paper towel soaked with a but of the urine in there also.

Health can come into play with litter training. I suggest a vet visit to see he doesn’t have any underlying health issues (very possible given his former home.) Also, if he hasn’t been neutered – look into that, it is a major factor in litter training success.

This site is great for asking all types of questions so please don’t hesitate. You’ll soon be a rabbit expert.

[EmilyL]

Thanks so much for the replies guys. Unfortunately his current cage is not large enough for more than one box… unless i were to just cover the whole floor. This is the cage that he came with and this weekend, I will be ordering the supplies to build a NIC condo.

Mrmac… how did you get your bunnies to learn to go back to their cage for the bathroom? Did they just do it on their own?

Thanks everyone, and feel free to keep the replies coming! 🙂

[jerseygirl]

Oh, never mind about the cage size for multiple boxes. You can always move his box to a different spot if he’s doing his business there instead of in the box. Good to hear a condo is on it’s way. Some buns just self train, some don’t. They do naturally seem to pick one spot to use (other than territorial pooping but that’s a whole different ball game.) I think the key is limiting their space and cleaning up anything they do outside the box (poops back in box) . Put hay and/or treats in their box to encourage them to use it. Another key factor is whether the buns are fixed or not.

[flippersmom]

Hi Emily – I found that putting the hay in one end of the litterbox helped tremendously!!! Actually, if I put a moderate amount of hay anywhere else, they little buggers think that I’ve given them another place to potty!!!! I know some people hang the hay bins next to the box as opposed to putting it in the box, but mine seem to keep the hay clean and only deposit at the opposite end!!!!

[EmilyL]

Hey Guys… thanks so much! This is some really great advice and I will be able to put it to great use…

What do ya’ll do about the “territorial pooping?” Because I would eventually like for her to be free ranging and I can’t have tons of these poops around. One, because my b/f probably wouldn’t be crazy about it and Two, because my dog likes to eat small animal poop… Gross I know! I also have guinea pigs and I have to watch him when they’re in their pen because he’ll push the sides in trying to get their poop! Is there anything that can be done for the territorial pooping?

Thanks!

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