Litter training, please help

[Kianna]

Hi, I have two bunnies, one is just about a year old now and he was fixed at 4 months, the other is 7 months, also fixed at four months old.
mom in a complete rut with what to try next with them. During the day their litter habits are almost perfect other than a couple poops here and there but I feel like that’s probably normal just from when they bunny around. At night their litter habits get HORRIBLE  I wake up and there is a minefield on the floor. Lately they have also started peeing in the beds I have for them. I’m debating getting rid of the beds but I feel bad for them not have something soft to lay on- I also worry they might then pee on my bed (they have in the past)

I live in an apartment and I really scared they are gonna get worse and ruin the carpet. I keep up with cleaning everyday, I vacuum up all the poops as soon as I wake up and clean all the bedding and if there are any pee spots on the carpet I clean those immediately.
One other unrelated thing I wanted to ask, one of my bunnies likes to bite the carpet, I’m not sure why?? In an attempt to make him stop I bought a cheap like “woven” rug/mat  it has like little tassles and and woven pieces that stick up, I thought this might keep him more interested than the carpet but instead so far he has just peed on it.

im desperate. Any advice will help.
Info you might ask: yes they are bonded and get along well, I change the litter usually every other day or every 2 days. They have 2 boxes and I refill the hay throughout the day and before bed to try and keep them interested in the box rather than peeing on the bedding. I use wood pellets as bedding in the litter box

I don’t think that have an issue with the box because they use it, like when I clean it there is poops and pee in there, it’s just ALSO everywhere else.

[DanaNM]

Definitely get rid of the beds (at least temporarily). Some bunnies just cannot have soft things. Luckily most bunnies actually like laying on hard surfaces.

I think I would try confining them to a smaller space or their pen at night for a while and see if that helps. Are the poops scattered around in piles or singles? If singles that indicates they are territorial, piles means they might benefit from an extra litter box in the room somewhere.

As for the carpet, some buns just get obsessed with carpet. It’s the instinct to dig a “scrape” or burrow. I’ve had the best luck with blocking the problem spots with heavy ceramic tiles, and then providing alternatives. Cardboard cat scratchers, grass mats, paper mats, phone books (for shredding), and digging boxes can all work well for carpet diggers. But since you are having litter box issues I wouldn’t do the digging box just yet!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

[Kianna]

So grateful that you responded! Thank you! They are in singles, you said that means territorial, I didn’t know that! I have a little foldable fence/gate I’m going to try confining them in one corner and see if that helps. I do already have 2 litter boxes and my room is honestly pretty small, I definitely don’t have room for another so I’ll start with the confinement at nighttime to see if it improves!

[DanaNM]

How long have they been bonded? Sometimes it can take a while for box habits to improve again after bonding, and unfortunately some pairs never get completely perfect again.

Hopefully the confining helps and you can at least get the peeing under control! I know personally I can handle poops but cleaning up pee is so frustrating!

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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