Lost her Litter Training!

[Kelsey_P]

A couple months ago, we got a sweet lady rabbit for our little gentleman. They were a great match at bunny dating and took barely a week to bond. Him a neutered 6 month male, her a 2ish(?) year old spayed rescue. We built them a newish area to live (extended out a pen from his cage) and kept her litter box from the rescue at first. When we removed her box, he began humping again, so we got another one and balance was restored. Now, two weeks after the new box, she has begun peeing and pooping everywhere in the bunny are. She has free run of the place when we are home and never has accidents outside their pen/cage/area. We have tried moving the bigger box to the worst spot, lessening the area they have, quick clean-ups, putting urine soaked paper towel in both boxes. We are at our wits end, and have no idea what to do now. She obviously still has her training, as its only in the bunny area, but she just goes everywhere in the cage and I feel awful seeing such a mess for them to live in when I come home. Please help! Do I need to seperate them again until she learns? I am lost and worried I am missing something with her.

 

Here’s a bit about our sweet Harley girl. Poor thing was abandoned, in a cage, in an apartment. She is, no surprise, very shy. While curious, and will come investigate us, she is scared of hands or movement towards her. Sometimes, if shes eating, we can get a few pets in before she runs away (just out of arms reach). We joke that she thinks she is invisible, as she likes to slowly investigate us, but doesn’t want to be addressed. However, we have got a few teeth purrs from her during rare non-eating petting sessions. And once, after watching our boy Nutters lick my SO, she followed suit with loving licks. She is happy and healthy though. She plays with him and we’ve seen some binkies since becoming part of our fur family  Our boy Nutters loves attention, binkies around constantly, and grooms our faces.

[MoxieMeadows]

Maybe she’s mad that you took her litter box from the rescue away? Buns are funny/particular in that way…

Did you put the box in the same place as the other litter box?

[Megabunny]

She sure does sound mad. We have one BB’er who will tell you to talk to her and explain as you put the droppings in the box that it is where they go. I think she’s nuts ha ha (Love ya JR!) Are you able to clean the area w/ water and vinegar to cut the smell? I had a bunny who needed to be kept confined in a smaller area for awhile whenever he went through that “You cleaned my box too well and now I don’t wanna use it.” to reestablish litter habits. She does sound like she’s copped an attitude about something. You didn’t change litter did you?

[Kelsey_P]

I didn’t change the litter, I always clean with vinigar/water, and the new box was in the original area. We switched places with the other box after she started peeing to try different variations to make her happy. However, I may have solved it in an odd way! I started to notice she was peeing and pooping ONLY where there was pulled onto the floor. So I reconstructed the hay trough and her bigger litter box and now the hay is above the litter instead of beside. This solved the problem overnight! Well nearly, there were a four poops outside the box, but I call that solved! I guess she wanted to stand completely on hay while doing her business…? I still do not understand her, and I maybe I never will. How can she be so extremely curious and yet so timid with us. Thank you so much for responding. While I had bunnies as a little kid, as an adult, I am less than a year into my bunnies, and ever learning. This site helped me catch near GI Statis and many DIY toys. (expensive toys? No just give me cardboard)Thanks so much for being such an easy and welcoming community!

[BinkyBunny]

Glad to hear you found a solution. Many times it really is a watch and observe! As we find there is rarely a one size fits all type of answer. Bunny personalities are all so unique! Just for my ongoing education as another “solution” to learn about, what did you mean when you said “I started to notice she was peeing and pooping ONLY where there was pulled onto the floor.?” What’s pulled?

[Megabunny]

Ditto for me on all BB just said. It’s a truly devoted rabbit owner who will take time and receive pleasure simply from trying to figure out what makes them tick and how to make them happier. I, too, had the same question as BB

[JustineT]

I’m glad you solved the issue! In terms of her being timid, as she gets more and more comfortable in the house, you’ll see her blossom. Our bunny was a rescue from the pound and when we first got her she would hide under a box in her cage and the only way to get her running around a lot was with food. Now, flash forward almost three years and she flops on her stomach directly in front of me and let’s me stroke her while she’s resting with barely a twitch! My husband is the one who picked her up a couple times in the beginning so she still doesn’t trust him if his hands go too low around her stomach during strokes. With me, she doesn’t care because she knows I’ve never tried! It’s amazing what bunnies remember.

Anyways, Willow eased up a lot when we started watching TV with her. Dawsons Creek was oddly addictive for her and a big turning point. She never missed an episode and always flopped when it was on!

From a once timid bunny, I’m pretty sure she thinks she owns the house now!

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