Odor

[Jumpy's mom]

Hi everybody! 

Jumpy’s litter box is very smelly even though I change his litter box twice a day. I am wondering if I can put rosemary and lavender in Jumpy’s litter box to lower the odor. 

[sarahthegemini]

What are you using for the litter? I use carefresh which is okay at odour control, tho not the best.

[Jumpy's mom]

I use 2 sheets of newspaper.

[jerseygirl]

Im not sure the lavendar or rosemary would really help, tbh. Sorry!
It’s likely hormones in his system making his pee smell, given his age. You may have to try a paper litter or wood pellets for now. If you plan to have him neutered, that helps a lot with reducing the odour, but it can take a little while post-neuter for that to happen.

If you are wanting to leave him intact, the smell may lessen as he gets older.

You could try things in the room that absorb odours also. A bowl of vinegar is supposed to be useful in doing that. You’d just need to make sure it was up high out of Jumpy’s reach!

[Jumpy's mom]

There is no paper litter or wood pellets where I live. I do not plan to have him neutered as there is only 5 rabbit vets where i live and they are a few hours from me. I might try to put a bowl of vinegar near his cage. Thanks

[jerseygirl]

Would there be aspen shavings available? They are supposed to be really good for odour control.

It does lessen in time once they are not “swimming” with hormones!

[Jumpy's mom]

Aspen shavings aren’t available. There is only sawdust.

[vanessa]

Sounds difficult… I used to use newspaper. I don’t anymore because it really doesn’t help with odor. Do you stay in an agricultural area? Horse bedding pellets are great for odor if those are available, and inexpensive. Sawdust is bad for bunny’s health… I like the vinegar idea. I use a bowl of vinegar with a spoon of vanilla essence and 1/4 spoon of cinnamon, as room fragrance. I’m not sure it is powerfull enough for hormonal male bunny pee – but it might help some. Do you put begging over the newspaper? A layer of hay might help keep the odor contained to the space of air underneath the hay.

[Jumpy's mom]

I will try your idea. I don’t put bedding over the newspaper because there is none that are good. I feed my baby bunny unlimited grass and a bit of alfalfa as I don’t have any other kinds of hay available.

[vanessa]

Use hay as a bedding. Are you able to grow grass? You could make your own hay. I find that when I clean the boxes, as I lift the hay out, that’s when I smell the actuall litter material. As long as there is a fresh layer of hay on, it has it’s own deodorizing properties.

[Jumpy's mom]

I have access to lots of grass. I tried making my own hay but it takes too long to dry

[vanessa]

Any horse farms in your area? Dried grass works better as litter bedding than fresh grass. I tried grass myself. It is already moist, so it just turns slimy and icky. How easy is it to get the alfalfa you use? That could also be a suitable litter bedding. Plus it keeps the bunny off the wet newspaper.

[Jumpy's mom]

There isn’t any farms in my area. The alfalfa in my area is pretty expensive and not the easiest to get.

[sarahthegemini]

Hmm I can totally see why the smell would be bad with just newspaper, with the carefresh it’s bad enough if I sniff too closely lol. I would try and find some cheap hay or even straw to mask the smell a little. Changing twice a day, gosh! I thought changing once a day was enough Or I wonder if using a generous amount of shredded paper would help instead of just flat sheets?

[Jumpy's mom]

There isn’t any straw or cheap hay in my area. I might try using shredded paper. Thanks!

[sarahthegemini]

Bugger, that’s a shame. Definitely try the shredded paper. What about using fleece and washing it regularly? I’m wondering if the fleece would absorb a bit better and mask the smell…maybe fleece AND shredded paper.

[Jumpy's mom]

I use fleece and towels for his bedding.

[vanessa]

Skip the towels. They absorb, while fleece allows liquid to pass to the newspaper underneath it.

[vanessa]

Puppy pee pads under the fleece?

[Vienna Blue in France]

I would try shredded paper on top of several sheets of newspaper. The paper underneath will absorb (can you put more than 2 sheets?) and the shredded mass on them will prevent the odor from ‘wafting’ out into the air a bit more.
Pee just laying on newspaper has no barrier to your nose. I can see why you can smell it.
Changing 2 times per day – yes, not much fun, but thicker newspaper should help.

What about wood chips (not sawdust) could that be a possibilty – I have no idea if that would work, but the wood smell would be nice….

Or make a double tray litter tray (top tray has holes in for the wee to filter through) and put earth in the bottom tray to soak it up ?

[Jumpy's mom]

What do you mean?
I use towels and fleece to cover the floor, not in his litter box.

[Jumpy's mom]

I think that the shredded paper will help. I will put more sheets. Some of the newspapers that I use are pretty thick.

[Vienna Blue in France]

I think Sarah was suggesting to put a towel/fleece IN the litter box to soak up the pee, but Vanessa suggested fleece would be better as it would soak through onto the paper.

But if you have towels and fleeces on the floor, it would not be a good idea to use both in and out of the litter box as he would not know which is which….

[Jumpy's mom]

Thanks for explaining

[sarahthegemini]

Posted By Vienna Blue in France on 2/28/2017 3:34 PM

I think Sarah was suggesting to put a towel/fleece IN the litter box to soak up the pee, but Vanessa suggested fleece would be better as it would soak through onto the paper.

But if you have towels and fleeces on the floor, it would not be a good idea to use both in and out of the litter box as he would not know which is which….

Yep that’s what I meant, thanks Vienna  I can see how that might not be a good idea tho if that’s used for his bedding. They can be easily confused when it comes to pee spots lol

[Jumpy's mom]

I tried shredded paper on top of 4 sheets of newspaper. I had to change it once a day which is better than twice.

[vanessa]

I have a picture on my camera I need to post this afternoon… my cockatiel shredded cardboard and I swept up 5 grocery bags full. I thought of your litterbox as I was sweeping it up…

[Jumpy's mom]

I am pretty sure that Jumpy can help when it comes to shredding.

[Author]

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