My Rabbit Just Sits in Her Litter Box!

[Hello_itsMary]

And I mean in a concerning way. She didn’t eat her food I gave her last night until just this morning when I sat and hand fed her. She also didn’t drink. I recently moved her to a bigger space and moved the bowls farther away from her hoping she would explore…she didn’t. She eats and drinks fine when I take it to her but I’m concerned maybe she can’t see or smell too well?? I kept the bowls next to her litter box bc even though I want her to move around I’d much rather have her eat.

She acts oddly anyways, I sorta pinned it on being in and out of shelters for the first 2 Years of her life.

[OnyxMoon]

If she isnt eating it could be a number of issues, especially if you have to hand feed her.

Is she pooping and peeing? Is she eating hay on her own? How is her body language, is she hunched over? Grinding her teeth?

Its concerning when a bun doesnt eat on their own, as they need to eat constantly through the day. It could be Stasis or teeth issues, either way, I recommend a visit to the vet as soon as possible.

It is possible that she didn’t eat because the bowls were further away, will she eat if you put them next to her?

[Hello_itsMary]

Posted By OnyxMoon on 5/19/2018 11:56 AM
If she isnt eating it could be a number of issues, especially if you have to hand feed her.

Is she pooping and peeing? Is she eating hay on her own? How is her body language, is she hunched over? Grinding her teeth?

Its concerning when a bun doesnt eat on their own, as they need to eat constantly through the day. It could be Stasis or teeth issues, either way, I recommend a visit to the vet as soon as possible.

It is possible that she didn’t eat because the bowls were further away, will she eat if you put them next to her?

I put the bowls next to her and did see her grazing on her own. There is poop in her litter box but the amount in my opinion is still concerning but she did push a lot of bedding out though.

She relaxes, stretches out and grooms herself all while in the litter box but she won’t get out of it! Even eating now she just stretches her head out. I know she’s a bit of a scaredy cat but it’s still concerning to me and idk if she is just afraid to get out of her litter box…she hops around it alright and is using it as a dog box most times it’s just unlike any bunny I’ve seen so far.

[Sirius&Luna]

How long have you had her? If you’ve only just brought her home it’s less concerning as she may have deciddd that the litter box is a safe space so she’s staying in it.

Does she have any hidey boxes or tunnels?

[Hello_itsMary]

I’ve had her for a little while but I just moved her from a relatively small space to a pretty big space. She’s always taken to staying in her litter box but now it just seems excessive. There aren’t a lot of tunnels right now compared to the space so maybe she would explore more with that? Idk. I have a male who is fine in his space no matter what and is very active that I’ve had since he was a baby. Over a year now. (both are fixed btw, just not bonding very well) this is my first time with another rabbit though so maybe she just has a cautious personality? Idk…

[OnyxMoon]

It’s possible she’s bored, or that she is nervous in the new area. Do you think she leaves the litter box when you aren’t around? When i put Onyx in a new area, he wouldn’t leave his hidey house until i left the room. Most likely because he is more nervous when he is outside of his cage, although he is slowly coming out of it.

I just put his food and water dish right outside of his house to entice him to come out. I also put his veggies further from his house and give him a treat when he comes out. But if he comes out when i’m in the room, i tend to leave him alone if i don’t need to bother him. I think it helps make him feel more secure, he has a more laid back / cautious personality. But if i approach him, he wants pets.  lol

I would try putting out fun toys, or cardboard paper towel tubes or toilet paper tubes. You can also cut these up so that they are in little circles and put them together to make a ball. You could put a piece of carrot, fruit, or veggie in the middle, and see if she’ll play with it to get the treat out. I think thats what im about to do! 

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