Not using her litterbox!

[skunklionshow]

My Jessica has been the queen of the litterbox since getting spayed. She kept up her skills even after Leo moved in.  Last weekend, we built an addition on to her bunny condo to accommodate her bunny boyfriend.  I thought that the extra poops and pee was from Leo…but this weekend when I was cleaning the condo, she pooped and peed right next to her litterbox!  I swear she was giving me the stink eye the whole time.  I coulda spanked her.  I thought it was Leo, but it was her!!!!!

So what do I do now?  She’s also been pooping and peeing outside the cats’ litterboxes during her hip hop time.  Again, I thought it was Leo.  She does use the litterbox in addition to the cage.  How do I get her back to her old habits?  I didn’t change the box or the litter.  I just moved it over into the addition, so they could have more cage space.

[Sarita]

Why don’t you try using 2 litter boxes for now – one in the new addition and one in the old addition – I realize it might limit the space. It’s possible she’s finicky where her litterbox is.

[BinkyBunny]

Sarita’s idea is good. Jessica has always sounded like a dominant opinionated bunny and so even the slightest change like a litterbox location and adding more space – well that can send the “queen” into having to feel she needs to make it clear to all the peasants around that she is STILL the queen of any new space and litterbox movement. Once she feels she has made her point, she should start to improve. You can help her feel like she’s making her point clearly by putting her poops and any urine soaked paper towel (from her bossy mishaps) into the litterbox.

I have also heard that for some people this next method works: (though I have never tried it) Take a cloth, rub it all over Jessical and then rub that cloth on the places she marks. That way her scent will already be there, no need to redecorate with pee and poo. IF that only seems to make it worse, then I would suggest cleaning it thoroughly as quickly as possible, but still put her pee and poo in the box, so she gets the idea that the inside is what is important to claim. IT must be important if her “stuff” is in there.

[Toki+Pumpkin+Elmo]

Pumpkin and Toki both use their litterbox ONLY for pee-pee. They always pee in their litterbox but they wont poo in it. I’ve been picking it up everytime I see one for about a month now. But they still refuse to use the litterbox to go poo. I’ve tried different kinds of litterbox and multiple litterboxes but it didn’t work. DOes anyone have this issue?

[BinkyBunny]

sep1118, I can’t remember if you’ve ever said if your two are spayed/neutered and I don’t see it in your profile. Are they? It may have something to do with it.

[Gravehearted]

I’d second Sarita’s suggestion too – I really think it’s about the new territory. Adding at least one new box may really help. It sounds awful, but I just keep adding boxes until they HAVE to use them and shockingly enough, it seems to work! once they get better about it, i slowly remove some of the boxes. but if there’s a certain place she seems to repeatedly mark, keep a box there.

[Gravehearted]

sep1118 – isn’t Pumpkin pregnant? Did you get her spayed as several of us recommended?

Did you separate them since discovering they’re opposite sexes? If so, the pooping is likely a territory war. Also, rabbits generally do much better with litterboxing after they’ve been spayed or neutered.

[poopy]

Posted By sep1118 on 10/08/2007 10:23 PM
Pumpkin and Toki both use their litterbox ONLY for pee-pee. They always pee in their litterbox but they wont poo in it. I’ve been picking it up everytime I see one for about a month now. But they still refuse to use the litterbox to go poo. I’ve tried different kinds of litterbox and multiple litterboxes but it didn’t work. DOes anyone have this issue?

 

Sep, is ALL of the hay kept in their litterbox? Have you tried picking up the poop and putting it in the litterbox?

[skunklionshow]

I’ll try moving the litterbox.  That’s what I always recommend w/ cats, so its worth a try.  Unfortunately if I put the litterbox back in that spot, they won’t be able to use their "igloo" to hide out in.  I’ll see if she gets the hint.

Previously to her spay, Jessica really only used her litterbox for peeing.  After she was fixed she became much better and didn’t poop everywhere.  Leo is the same.  I’m hoping that once Leo gets fixed, he’ll be pooping and peeing in the litterbox like a big boy.

[Toki+Pumpkin+Elmo]

Both of my bunnies are not fixed and they are seperated right now other than during playtime. I have two seperate boxes for hay and litterbox. Is there supposed to be only one?

[MStewart87]

Yes, everything that I have read is that it needs to be in the same one (kinda gross to humans but great for them I guess). I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) rabbits are grazers like horses, they eat and poo at the same time. Try putting their hay in their litterbox. I have found that just the regular rectangular cheap cat boxes work well. My rabbit is small so I just need a small size box. I put his hay all in one pile on a side, of course he moves it around in there but the decorating is up to him. He is really good about using his box. Also, having your rabbits fixed usually helps. Scooby was 100% accurate with pee and about 75% accurate with poo before his neuter. After his neuter he is probably 95% accurate. I even think the 5% is him flicking it out when hes jumping in and out. Hope that clears some stuff up.

[Gravehearted]

Eating hay is a good thing! So, I’d keep the box of hay – but also add a fresh handful everyday to the litterbox.
It may help improve their litterbox habits and they can happily munch while they’re in the box.

One thing to understand is that when you have unbonded bunnies in a close proximity – the pooping is often about marking territory.  Poopy wars or even walls of poop are a way to mark territory.  Also – once they’ve both been fixed the box habits will very likely improve. I’d recommend adding more litterboxes , especially if there are some spots they seem to always go in.

[skunklionshow]

My buns have a hay bin, a hay ball that is in their litterbox, and handfuls of hay in thier litterbox, and their igloo.  I wanted to make sure that anywhere they go they have hay access! 

[Toki+Pumpkin+Elmo]

I never knew that you are supposed to have one box. I guess I’ll put hay in his litterbox as well and eventually get rid of the hay box. So than do I put litter and hay on top of the litter?

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Sep- what kind of litterbox do you have?

Get a small rectangular one. Line the entire bottom of the box with litter, then fill the front half with hay.

The back half should be the only side they do their “business” in.

[BinkyBunny]

Sep, you’ve been given some great advice. Bunnies like to eat while they poo, so hay in the litterbox or having a hay rack hanging near the litterbox (where they can still sit in the box and eat hay out of the rack) is good.

[skunklionshow]

Sorry Binky!  We found our package.  The post person left in on the porch in the yard.  That door leads to the basement and no one uses it, the hubby just happend to go in the basement….

Anyway…put the wreath in the litterbox area.  I’m hoping this will keep her super motivated to use her litterbox.  I’ll keep everyone posted.

[Author]

Messages