New bonding bunny to use same litter tray

[Bunnyguy101]

Hi guys

I have a 1 year old male with excellent behaviour and litter habits, my partner was on a waiting list for a baby girl from a shelter.

My 1 year old Theo has excellent litter habits, I understand she is still only 3 months but how can I get her to use the same litter tray as Theo.
It’s more than big enough and doesn’t smell of Theo because I bought it New when I brought her home.

She has been here a week and the bonding process has been smooth sailing so far, a little bit of chasing now and then but both are grooming, eating, sleeping and cuddling with me on the couch together.

Oh they are both free range rabbits so no cages

Just hoping on some tips I can get them to use the same tray?

As usual thankyou in advance

[Sirius&Luna]

Hi!

I know you’ve said she’s free range, (which is wonderful for her of course!) but it’s often easier to litter train if you start in a smaller space then expand it. When they have loads of space it’s harder for them to learn where the litter tray is and how to use it. Could you keep her in a sectioned off part of the room for a week or so while you get her used to the litter tray?
If she pees in the wrong place, mop it up with kitchen roll and put it in the litter tray. Pick up poops and put them in it.

I’m a little confused about the bonding situation though. Are these two permanently living together now? Do you want her to use the litter tray your existing bunny uses?

At some point in the next month her hormones are going to kick in, which might lead to a nasty fight. Generally, it’s recommended that you don’t put bunnies together until they’re both neutered. If they are still chasing it means that they’re not bonded and shouldn’t be left alone together unsupervised.

[Bunnyguy101]

Hi the chasing stopped a few days ago and they are permanently together and yes I am hoping for them to use the same tray.
I understand about the hormones however we do not have an area where we can separate them for a long period of time, we have a vets appointment in the next month, so hopefully it’s a go ahead for her to get spayed then.

I could try and keep her in the living room with our 1 year old, but that stresses him out as he knows their is a lot more room for him. Would our new bun not see where the 1 year old is peeing and try and copy him?

Cheers

[Sirius&Luna]

Personally, I would separate them, as you never know when they might turn nasty. It doesn’t take long for rabbits to be very seriously injured. That said, some people do have success bonding unspayed young females to older neutered males.

If you hop over to the bonding forum though, you’ll see many instances of people saying their happily ‘bonded’ 4 month old rabbits have suddenly started fighting out of nowhere, as hormones kick in.

As for the litter trays, some rabbits don’t like sharing! I think most people give their bonded pairs two, which they share both of. My two have two, sometimes they both sit in one and sometimes they have one each.
A rabbit will pick up things from another rabbit, but personally I think you would have more success training her yourself. Does she use her own litter tray?

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