New Peeing

[KayS]

I’ve read a few posts about this but I am still unsure of what to do. I’ve had my bun for almost a year now. Not sure how old she is, probably about 3 and she is spayed. She was litter trained before I got her, and always had excellent habits. She had free roam of her own room and would occasionally get field trips to other rooms for supervised time. Not a single accident in the last year. Until this week.

We just moved a few weeks ago and I was worried how the change would affect her. I kept her locked in her cage for the first couple days so she could look out at the room but feel safe. It got to the point where she was throwing things around in her cage and pulling at the door, so I figured she was tired of being cooped up. I let her out and she started to explore her new area. For a while she was still good about her litterbox. But in the last day or so I noticed she had peed outisde her cage! It was right alongside of it, actually directly on the other side of her cage wall from her actual litterbox. She was digging and chewing at the ground there as well.

So far all I have done is push her cage over to the wall, thereby covering where she peed and not allowing access along that side outisde of the cage anymore. But why did she just do this? She did it twice at least and I saw some poops the last time as well. What can I do to stop her from doing it again somewhere else?

Thanks for any help.

[tabalab]

It could be from the move and the only thing i can think of is to get 2 litter boxes for now and then back down to one she’ll prolly stop from what i have read, she is just adjusting still.

[Sarita]

It is very possible the change and the move. It takes awhile for rabbits (or any animal) to adjust to a new environment and maybe a change in routine. Animals feel much more secure when they have a routine and any break in that can stress them out.

I agree with tabalab about trying the 2 litter boxes for awhile and keep her routine and give her more time to adjust.

[jerseygirl]

Probably due to the new environment. She may even pick up on scent of animals that have lived there previously (unless it’s a new home). Making her space as familiar as possible might help. Try have the layout as you did in the former home.

[KayS]

Thanks everyone. We seem to be doing okay for now, hopefully it stays that way!

I caught her in the act once and chased her away. Then after I cleaned it up I put the soaked paper towel back in her litter box just like in litter training. No more accidents yet… Let’s hope there aren’t any more at least until I can get a backup litter box.

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