Pushing Litter In the Litterbox

[Frankie and Cash]

So our alpha bunny, Frankie, has been doing something new in her littlerbox the past few months. 

As a reminder, she’s a bunny that has free access of the main and upper floors of our townhouse. I built a wooden box that contains both a litterbox (we use Carefresh) and a trough that is full of hay. It allows the bunnies access to all the hay they want, without the ability to poop all over it (thus becoming uneatable). Plus, as everyone already knows, bunnies like to poop as they eat, so this allows them to eat hay while already being inside their littlerbox. 

But back to my story. Over the past couple of months, as soon as I change the litter, Frankie will jump into the box and push a good portion of the littler into one corner. And if I come back and level out the litter, as soon as she finds out what I’ve done she’s pushes the litter back into the corner. What in the world is she doing and why? And how can I get her to stop? I thought maybe she was “make a bed” but she doesn’t sleep in there, only eats hays and does her business and then hops back out. Thoughts?

[m0938]

I am wondering this as well, my Paget does the same thing in her litter box.
She’ll use her front paws to push the hay in front of her. It’s almost like she’s “rejecting” it. But it looks very cute. I have bought a carrier recently and when not in use, I take the door off and put a bunch of hay inside and she loves burrowing inside, but she does the same thing. Pushes the hay out of the opening and sits there nibbling in the hollow she makes.

[skysblue]

maybe she is showing ownership of the litter especially after you just cleaned it. She wants to mold the shape and level of the littler however she wants..somewhat fun to her.

[LittlePuffyTail]

You could try getting a litter box with a screen over it. I think the BB store sells them.

[Frankie and Cash]

Yeah I think the screens only work if you use the wood pellet type litter. Our buns use carefresh

[sunshinesocks]

I find that this happens less if mine don’t realise I’ve done it. But if they see me near the litter tray they will rearrange it and then pee in the corner they’ve hollowed out (gross)

[Frankie and Cash]

So I spoke with our vet and there is any number of reason why Frankie is pushing the litter around. One reason, which I hadn’t thought about before was that by pushing the litter into the corner, it allows Frankie’s urine to soak into her paws, thus allowing her to “mark” her scent around the house. I double checked and I think I can use the screens sold here on Binky Bunny, so I’ve order screens for all three of my litterboxes.

[Olivia&Delilah15]

I just got my litter box screen today, and let me tell you, ITS WORTH EVERY PENNY! My Delilah was kicking ALL her soiled litter out, and since their cage is in my livingroom it’s been creating much stress lol. They’ve only had it in their box for a few hours, but Delilah already tried kicking and pushing the litter to no avail!

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