Neutered Bunnies poo *everywhere* lately!

[LittleMoo]

Hi there,

Desperately after advice for my 2 house bunnies Mister and Mrs Binks! Both have bee neutered and together for over a year now. Recently one or both of them have started pooping *everywhere* in their pen and space in the conservatory, and Mrs Binks has begun regularly poo-ing in the house (she used to do the occasional poo, but now it’s regular and sometimes a *lot* ….which is a real shame because I love having them with us downstairs when we are home but can’t as much now. She was also pee-ing in the pen and in the house, but luckily this has mostly stopped – happens maybe once every 2-3 weeks now.
There is so much poop in the conservatory that I’m having to clean up twice a day, I have to clean out their big litter tray twice weekly too now which is also a pain. If we go away for a weekend our neighbours seem less keen to help us out by feeding them because there is so much poo ! Another issue is that I’ve had to close their mini hutch as MrsB keeps peeing in there, I had to throw away their warm carpet and material items as she urinates on anything warm/cosy – so I’ve put down cardboard as I worry they’ll get cold in the conservatory at night. I’ve followed all the advice I have read online, and it seems that this is usually only normal for un-neutered rabbits.

Possible Causes:

> Although they love each other and go almost everywhere together, they have started humping each other again (neither can decide who is boss – Mr Binks is the groomer though!). Mrs Binks sat there and took the humping tonight and Mr Binks nipped me when I gently pushed him off her – he isn’t normally like that. I’m wondering if this is a territorial and deciding who is the alpha problem…

> I did notice this started happening more after we went on holiday in October. We went away for a week, so I bought and put a *massive* toy box in there as a litter tray to prevent them needing to be cleaned out to make it easier for my neighbour. Ever since I put their normal big litter tray back, there has been poo everywhere, whether it is low or getting full.

The problem is, the massive box is really difficult to clean out, and cumbersome for them to get in and out of too – they catch their legs on it. I’ve struggled to find anything a bit bigger with higher sides for them. Can anyone also recommend anything to use as a litter tray liner to help? Only problem is they could eat a bag!

This is the situation today – I hoovered the poop up at 1pm, this is the pen at 8pm; 

And this is their home normally (the hutch is now closed, and I’ve replaced the material tunnel with a plastic one cos she always pee’s on materials/anything soft and nice now!);

Any/all advice would be greatly appreciated please!

Thanks,

Lou

[ilovemybunbun]

Hi Lou

As a giant rabbit owner I know how you feel when it comes to picking up poo all the time! I do have some advice however. It looks like you only have one litterbox. I would try adding another with lots of hay. Sometimes the buns get lazy and don’t want to hop all the way back to their only litter pan. Also changing the style of litter pan may help. The one you have looks difficult for them to jump in and out of. I would get one just as big but with much lower sides. Walmart has a large selection of open cat boxes like that and they don’t cost much so i have about 4 all spread out in my house for my bun. Sometimes my bun won’t go in his box if the hay isn’t appealing to him. So I usually add more fresh hay and make it so that he has to go into the litter box to eat the fresh hay. Majority of them time when they are eating hay they are pooping so it’s a win win. I’m thinking having more than one litter box might be helpful also because you have 2 buns. If you’re noticing there’s no poop in the litter box and only on the floor it also helps to pick up some of the poo and put it in the box to sort of show them where to go. Hope this helps!!!

[Fluffykins]

Probably be best to go back to basics and start litter training again. I know that’s what I’m doing with my bun that’s regressed!

I clean up pretty much the same amount of poop from my one mini lop (ha) twice a day. That however, I have no problem with. Only takes me a minute maximum, to hoover it up. I’ll just be happy when mine decides to pee exclusively in the litter box. We’re getting there…

Gorgeous buns by the way. I just want to sink my face into them

[LittleMoo]

Hi there,

Thanks for this!! I did have 2 litterboxes in their pen a while ago, but they stopped using one at all, and it made my life a lot easier only having to empty 1 once a week so I removed it…but now it’s 1 twice a week anyway – so that is probably actually a v good idea, thanks! They also never used to use the one in the living room, but I’ll try it again, with some hay inside. I had to get the high sided trays cos the girl pushes her bum up high and pees all over the floor otherwise – they both seem to like it though and do find it easy to get in and out so it should be ok. I always sweep up the poo and put it back in their litter tray.

Not bunny-related, but OMG Wal Mart is so much more awesome and cheap than supermarkets here in the UK by the way – I *love* going there when we holiday in Florida once every 2 years!!! You’re v lucky, cheap awesome food and so much awesome stuff!  I’m a dental nurse here, and I’m always thrilled with how large the dental sections are, and how massive and cheap your bottles of mouthwash are! 

ANYWAY, back to bunnies…!

…I’ve just finished sorting out their pen…2 litter trays now! It’s midnight here so I best say goodnight for now. Thanks!

And a pic of the 2 of them with me – they aren’t cuddle bunnies but they’re pretty awesome! Mt binks (white rex) is so playful and sweet, and o’s been such a joy to watch Mrs Binks become friendlier over the time we’ve had her – she used to be v timid and hated being touched. Both are rescue bunnies .

[jerseygirl]

Aw loevly pics!! Very cutee bun buns, rascals that they are.

Is that glass window/door to exterior? I do wonder if they’ve had a visitor that’s triggered some marking and the humping also.
Or now that is cooler in your part of the world, could you have mice that have made their way inside, seeking warmer places? That could cause some upsets with rabbits too.

Does your neighbour have rabbits? Just wondering if they had smell of other rabbits on them when they came to tend to yours. Or maybe even another pets scent they are not used to the smell of?

One of the forum leaders had her pair regress after she went away too. I believe it took a little while for things to improve. The buns must have been unsettled with the upset to their normal routine.

[Sirius&Luna]

I use a big under the bed storage box (from Argos, since you’re in the UK) with two smaller cat sized litter trays in it, which helps to contain stray poops flying out etc.

I wonder if they’re territory marking poops. Do they look like regular poops or are they darker and shiny (and smelly!)?

[Wick & Fable]

No experience with this, but I’ve been following this thread and wow, I’d love to only need to empty the box once a week. I need to change Wick’s three boxes twice a day o.o

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.

[LittleMoo]

THREE times a day?? Why?? Lol!! 

[LittleMoo]

Posted By Sirius&Luna on 11/30/2017 6:36 AM

I use a big under the bed storage box (from Argos, since you’re in the UK) with two smaller cat sized litter trays in it, which helps to contain stray poops flying out etc.

I wonder if they’re territory marking poops. Do they look like regular poops or are they darker and shiny (and smelly!)?

That sounds brilliant – I’ve struggled to find a decent size litter tray, but this would probably do well…if it contains my already massive litter boxes! 

They now have 2 litter boxes but little improvement tonight unfortunately! 

[LittleMoo]

Is that glass window/door to exterior? I do wonder if they’ve had a visitor that’s triggered some marking and the humping also. 

…One of the forum leaders had her pair regress after she went away too. I believe it took a little while for things to improve. The buns must have been unsettled with the upset to their normal routine. 

Nope, no way any other animals or mice could get in. The neighbours have cats but unlikely to have caused an issue – I defo think it’s largely due to the big change in routine for a whole week and I’ve just not managed to re-litter train properly!  Any idea what worked for that forum member please? I’ve come back to masses of poo again! I miss their cleaner days 

[LittleMoo]

Hello all,

I’ve applied the suggestions of others – a second massive litter tray in the pen (as of Friday night), and a litter tray in the living room as of last night. So far generally there has been just a bit less poo on the pen and conservatory floor. I’ve walked into the pen this morning, and there’s a bit less poo but now a big wee on the floor  – luckily I have put cardboard down otherwise this would’ve been a much bigger mess to clean with them having it all over their feet and the wooden floor. It’s driving me nuts! Wee-ing outside of the litter tray hasn’t happened in a few weeks either, so it’s disappointing to see. I’m wondering if this is to do with their latest power struggle, and how I resolve it? They’re generally very happy, but currently Mr Binks keeps humping Mrs Binks, even though it appears Mrs Binks is the boss! (He always grooms her and pushes his head under her neck begging for grooming back from her but she rarely returns the favour!).

I’m also a bit more concerned about this lately because I’m wondering how to make this easier long-term. I would like to keep them as house bunnies, but my husband and I are discussing trying for our first child soon. Cleaning out the bunnies’ home 2-3 times a day isn’t going to be possible with a baby in the house too. The backup plan would be a big hutch and run in our garden…but I really want to get this resolved so that doesn’t have to happen, and to keep them as our lovely house bunnies. They never used to poo and wee everywhere all the time, this has all happened since our 1 week holiday in October. If  change affects them that badly too, I can’t imagine how they’d be with a baby here too and a bit less attention until a routine is sorted.

…Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated thankyou! 

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