Potty issues

[Pippin]

I have a roughly three years old mini rex who has been causing some trouble with his potty habits! I’m baffled because he was originally extremely easy to litter train (all I had to do was put the litter pan in his cage and add some of his poop and he began using it), but recently he’s begun to potty elsewhere in his cage.

He has a two level cage with the litter pan being on the bottom level. Recently I’ve noticed him pooping on the upper level (where his hay rack is located) so I assumed he was going there because he liked to eat and go. I’ve installed another litter pan on the top level so he can use it while he eats his hay, but he’s still going potty outside of it! Even worse, he has peed a couple times on the top level. Because it is wood, it’s difficult to clean the pee out.

Should I simply continue to encourage him to use the other litter pan? I’m at a bit of a loss, as this wasn’t a problem before. Oh, and he is neutered.

[Sarita]

I think first I would want to take him to a vet to rule out a urinary infection or any other kind of illness…have you done that? Sometimes when a rabbit who is very good with litter box habits suddenly has these issues, it can possibly be related to illness.

[Pippin]

I hadn’t thought about that, but I will definitely make an appointment asap for him. He has otherwise been acting normally, but rather safe than sorry, right?

[Sarita]

I think so.

I find with urinary tract infections that a rabbit will normally eat and act normally but sometimes has problems using the litter box. I guess like us they just have the sensation to go and cannot control themselves.

[Author]

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