Rabbit has forgotten it’s litter training

[Incendiary]

 My wife and I got Mia about 2 months ago, and she was completely litter trained, maybe 3 or 4 poops a day left in her cage. 4 weeks ago we got taylor (their both females) and since then Mia has given up on using her litter box mostly. She pee’s and poops outside all around her cage. Their cages are side by side and it’s weird because taylor is getting better and using her littler box more and more. They’ve had one fight (i tried to put them together too soon but they seem good with each other now. Is Mia just being territorial and will she stop eventually or will i have to go about litter training her again? It’s getting frustraiting.

[Deleted User]

welcome to the forums. How old are your rabbits?

[Sarita]

And also are they altered yet?

[Incendiary]

they’re both altered and they’re around 11 months for each of them. We let them out at seperate play times in the same area and neither of them do their business out side they’re cage, so they obviously still know where to go.

[Deleted User]

Unbonded and newly bonded rabbits will mark against one another. They can smell the other one has been in the area outside of their cage and they want to mark over that scent. Littertraining will improve over time, i.e. as their bond develops into a close friendship.

[Incendiary]

we’ve been swapping them back and forth between cages in hopes that it will confuse them of who’s sent is who. Am I helping the situation or just making it worse?

[Deleted User]

They won’t get confused, but they may accept the other’s scent more readily due to the forced familiarity. Keep doing the swaps, and then work on some bonding sessions in neutral territory where neither has ever been. Use a small space in the beginning. Look up in the bonding iinfo at the top bar of the forums for some suggestions. How long ago have they been spayed?

[Incendiary]

the spca said taylor was spayed months ago, and mia was done about 2 months ago

[kelly728]

Hi – I’m new to this site and the forums. I didn’t want to start a new thread since this is about the same problem I’m having.

I adopted a 3 year old, neutered, litter-trained Mini Rex rabbit in 2007, which would make him about 6 now. I adopted him in Oklahoma, then moved him to Texas to my mother’s house. He did some slight territorial marking, then was fine. About 5 months later, I moved him to my new home – which has hardwood floors. We’ve been here a little over a year, and he’s got plenty of room for playing (he used to be able to go ANYWHERE in his bunny proofed room) and he seemed very happy. All of a sudden, about 4-5 months ago, he stopped using his litter box. He will go anywhere and everywhere EXCEPT his litter box. All over his cage, his carpets, etc. I tried getting him a litter box with a low side, in case it was a movement problem. I just don’t know what to do or what could be causing this! Can anyone offer any insight?

[jerseygirl]

Hi kelly728

Since you’ve had your rabbit 3 years, you probably know how big they are on routines! So look back 4-5 months ago and assess what changes may have occured. New pet or person in household. New type of litter or even food you’re giving. Could your rabbit have gotten a bad fright one day while in his box and now avoids going there?

They other thing I suggest is a vet checkup if you haven’t done so. Being a more senior rabbit now, it might be a health issue leading to the loss of his litter habits.

Hope this helps.

[Balefulregards]

Ah yes , the bonding poo wars.

AS you bond them you will notice that the poo wars will decrease…and increase…until they finally stop all together.They are both trying to let the other know that I’m Boss! No, I’m Boss!

[Incendiary]

well things are better, we moved both x-pens to the living room since they both spend equal time out there and just to change the space. The poop decreased alot and mia has only peed once. So we decided to put them together again (this time in a nutrual space) and things went amazing! they sniffed each other and then within 5 min they were cuddling in the littler box of all places. Tried it again 4 hours later and same thing, they both crammed into the litter box and lied down. They must have figured out things

[Beka27]

Kelly728, I would also recommend a thorough vet check as your first course of action. At that age, you don’t want to wait when a bunny who has previously been perfectly trained suddenly loses the habit.

Incendiary, sounds like it’s going great! Keep us with the sessions every single day and they could be together in no time.

[Author]

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