Regression in litterbox training: we’re desperate

[emmaleighe]

We have a bonded pair of rabbits: Persephone, a two-year-old female rex (spayed at six months) and Bugs, a 1.5-year-old male lop (neutered at five months). They have a nighttime enclosure but are free range during the day in our living room. They are both well-loved and well cared for buns with space to run, lots of enrichment, and a spacious bunny box/hay feeder.

Before Bugs arrived, Persephone was fully litter trained with no problems. Bonding took a few months as Bugs was not old enough to be desexed when he joined our family, and started spraying free-roaming Persephone through his cage (this behavior stopped when he was neutered). His behavior led Persephone to leave territorial poops all over the living room where their enclosure lives.

They have since bonded and are inseparable. However, Persephone’s litter box behavior has not improved. It’s obvious she knows what she is supposed to do in regards to the litter box- she’ll wait to make eye contact with me before hopping over to use the bunny box if she’s hoping for a treat. But she poops and pees at all corners of their enclosure (including the exterior perimeter of the cage). Today I discovered that she peed on the couch with no reasoning as far as I can see- every part of the morning routine had been observed (she eaten breakfast, we’d played, she’d been groomed). When I do catch her going the bathroom outside her litter box I will pick her up and put her in the bunny box, but as it the case many times I discover the “evidence” after the fact.

I am desperate to find a solution, my family is beyond frustrated with her behavior and I am at a loss of how to correct it. I really appreciate any guidance anyone has.

[DanaNM]

How long have they been bonded? Sometimes it takes a few weeks for litter box habits to return after bonding, and some people even notice an uptick in marking right after they are bonded. Marking around the perimeter of the enclosure does sound territorial.

Aside from that, you might need to go back to box-training basics. There are some tips here: https://binkybunny.com/infocategory/litterbox-training/

Sometimes restricting the space for a while can be helpful. Couches and beds can be problem areas because they are soft and smell strongly of humans, so blocking access to the couch for a while could help break the habit.

Can you also describe their box set-up and hay set up? Some buns are very particular about their box set up. I had one bun that would treat any area where hay was available as a box, so I had to be careful only have hay accessible when she was sitting in the box (I hung a hay rack in the back corner of the box).

Some buns also get confused by blankets and soft things on the floor of the pen, so having a bare floor during training might be necessary (and will make clean up easier).

. . . The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.  

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