Litter Training??

[Marshmellow]

We just got our bunny Marshmellow, he is a lionhead dwarf, so cute. However, I don’t know how to train him. I but a little box with cedar chips in it and he uses it sometimes but usualy he just plays with it and gets it every where lol.. any tips???

[xnovalentine]

well first off cedar chips can be toxic to rabbits, especially if ingested. I suggest picking up some Aspen Supreme Litter, its safe for bedding and litter. Also, If you’re not using bedding for Marshmallow, I would highly recommend Yesterday’s News litter (buy it in the cat litter section, the small animal litter is over priced and its exactly the same), its the best litter I’ve used so far. For litter training I recommend reading the litter training tips on this site, its very useful! All I did with lullabelle was start her off on the beginning and constantly followed her around picking up her poops and put them in her litter box. When she peed, I soaked it up with a paper towel and put that in the litter box. after about 2 weeks she got the idea. Sometimes she slips up, but its just about putting the pees and poops in the litter box. Also, its important that Marshmallow is neutered, i found with lulla it was nearly impossible to expect her to use the littler box properly until she was spayed. Although females mark much more than males, it still applies to them. Good Luck!

[Marshmellow]

Yeah I had read it was toxic I think somewhere.. thank you for your help I ill try that out.. lol Marshmellow is something else lol.. I have been picking up his poop in his box and soaking up his urine, but I haven’t been putting that in there… to be honest I took out the cider chips lol and we have been using a pee pad for him. He has been peeing and pooping in most the same places but he tends to pee and poop in his hay bowl.. so I dono…Thanks for the litter tip. I really didn’t know what to get him that would be safe..

[xnovalentine]

also, something i should have mentioned, since you noticed the spots where he is going, it would be easier if you moved the litterbox in those spaces. Bunnies naturally pick a spot they want to go in, and its just easier to go with it than against it.

[Gravehearted]

Hi Marshmellow,

Welcome to binky bunny!  You might want to visit our litterbox info section (https://www.binkybunny.com/Default.aspx)  to learn more about litterbox habits. novalentine gave you good advice, and i’m glad to hear you removed the cedar chips.

As novalentine recommended – if there’s a spot he seems to be going repeatedly, add (or move) a litterbox there. Adding some hay will also encourage him to use the box, as well as some small treat as a reward.

Is he neutered yet?  Many bunnies who aren’t neutered have more difficultly litterbox training.  He will like a much happier and healthier life after he’s been neutered.

there are a number of safe litters:  carefresh, aspen supreme, yesterdays news, wood stove pellets are all popular safe choices.

while he’s getting adjusted, you’ll want to limit his territory.  what he’s doing by peeing and pooping everywhere is marking his territory. i’d recommend confining him – so if he has a whole room to roam currently, limit him to just a part of the room.  Add more boxes as needed until he gets the hand of litterboxing.  Once he has that area down, you can slowly increse his space as he improves.

keep us updated

[Beka27]

welcome here!  just like gravehearted said… put some hay in the litterbox.  since you mentioned that he’s going potty in his hay bowl, i would remove the hay bowl all together (to not confuse him) and either put a couple handfuls of hay in his litterbox in one corner, or hang a hay rack above the litterbox.  if the hay is in the box, you will need to change it at least once a day or sooner if it becomes soiled.  i know it’s kinda a weird concept… food in the litterbox…?  but we recommend it because it works.  and as was also mentioned, you cannot expect perfection until he is neutered and a bit older.  keep us updated.

[Marshmellow]

Well we been picking up his poop and putting it in his litter box.. he has been urinating in the same places pretty much…when he is out of his pen he is pretty good about no using the bathroom.. he will just try and get back in his house…but we will see how well this works

[Author]

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