Potty Training – I made mistake – now what to do?

[kathybunny]

I got 2 bunnies and was going to potty train them.  One was only about 6-7 weeks (not sure of sex) and the other 3 months – I went and built a giant cage for them b/c 2 in one small cage was just not good.  So, now I have bunnies who just seem to think the litterbox is the entire bottom of the cage.  Cage has a bottom and 3 more floors.  They usually poop on the other floors some, not a whole lot, but I have bedding in the bottom which has a tray in it and I guess they think that’s all litter box.  I had a box in the bottom and on the next level – I added another box on the bottom so the whole one side is litter boxes (that’s where they would pee).  Now, they just pee on that same side just instead of the corner where boxes are, they pee beside boxes.  

I’m planning to get them fixed.  Buffy is probably getting near old enough, she’s a jersey wooly, the other is a mini rex.  I know getting them fixed is important and might help litterbox manners.  What should I do now?  I could try blocking off the rest of the cage except the bottom but I feel bad b/c they do love their big cage!  

thanks!  

[Sarita]

I would start by taking out the bedding and see if that helps and just using the litter boxes.

[kathybunny]

I had tried that but I can try it again. thanks! Should I just leave pee if I see it for a while? I always want to clean it up.

[Very. Fat. Bunny.]

Perhaps adjust the cage around and potty area to where they marked it?

[JackRabbit]

Clean up the pee with paper towels and put the pee soaked paper towels in the litterbox. This puts the pee scent in the box and tells bunny that is where pee goes. Clean the area outside the litterbox where the bunny peed with white vinegar (50/50 white vinegar & water) to eliminate the pee scent from that area so bunny doesn’t think that is where he should go. Might take a few days but your bunny should get the idea that pee goes in the litterbox. I wouldn’t use the vinegar/water mix in the actual litterbox when changing out the litter (at least for a for couple of weeks after bunny starts using the litterbox) so that the pee scent stays there and reinforces peeing in the litterbox (i.e. dump the litter but don’t wipe out the litterbox). Hope that makes sense!

[Author]

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