Solutions for peeing outside litter box

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

So, Frankie has great litterbox habits, but he has developed the habit of pulling hay onto his rug then peeing on it. I’ve tried installing a hay rack so he stays in the box and such, but he eventually started doing it again. I don’t want to replace the rug a million times so I’m looking for advice on how to keep his rug clean.

What do you guys do for your messier buns? 

The only thing I’ve thought of is maybe getting a diaper table mat thing where you can take the cover off and wash it when you need to. Anything else I think he would just tear up. 

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Bigger litter box?

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

He has a nice big one.

[Cassi&Charlie]

I had this problem in a big way! The darn bunny would take hay under the couch and pee behind there. In the end, I put another litter box with hay in it over the problem spot. Not an ideal solution I know, but that was all I could come up with.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Well it’s right next to the litter box that he is doing it anyway >_<

[jerseygirl]

Is he managing to get into his litter box ok in general?  Maybe he’s sort of moving his litter box by moving the hay…

You could sit the litterbox inside a big crate with access holes in it.  I’m thinking a set up like this one that was shared one time. For Frankie, maybe a plastic crate rather then a cardboard box if he’s a paper eater.   With this though, you’d probably need a liner in the bottom of the crate.  

[Cassi&Charlie]

Hahaha, sounds like he’s just messing with your mind. Have you annoyed him lately?

Good idea with the crate JG, I might try it.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Oh, it’s way worse when he gets packaged hay instead of fresh hay. He’ll make a HUGE mess and piss all over it. Brat.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

I will show you guys the set-up he has with this particular box.

So, he is completely free-range but his old cage is in my room so he has a place that is truly his. It is just open all the time. Glorified toliet holder with storage space on top, haha. You can see a pee spot in this picture. That space between the box and the cage door , which is less than a foot of space, is where he will pile hay and go to the bathroom on it. I’ve tried being more obsessive with my cleaning and changing out the rug to remove the scent, but he has persisted. But he is definitely more likely to do it when there is less of a hay mess that he piles there. I’m trying to find a way where I don’t have to invest on buying rugs in bulk and won’t have to spot clean the top of the rug all the time.

[jerseygirl]

What about putting a plastic carpet protector mat under the cage area?

Could you set up his hay rack over the back of the box instead of the side? Or will that make it tricky to refill?

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

I could probably move the rack back a little on the outside of the cage, but it is a bit of a tricky spot.

It has plastic under it, but I’m a little hesitant about doing one on top as well because the pee would sit on top and he’d get it all over his paws instead. Maybe I can put a plastic mat on top and cover it with something absorbant that is washable or disposable.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

Oops, just noticed a mistake in a previous post that I can’t fix from my mobile. He is more likely to pee outside when there is MORE of his hay mess piled up.

[Monkeybun]

Yeah, if plastic would make his paws all icky, then I would do the towel there, and toss it in the wash when it needs it.

[RabbitPam]

He is taking up a lot of room in his litter pan. I think you could go even larger. Try a larger cat litter box, or even a dishpan that is a longer rectangle. You could also nest a second litter box in front of the first one, poke holes in both and zip tie them together so he can’t separate them, as long as they are the same height.

Otherwise you could buy a Palace Pet Bed rug. It is designed to absorb pee from incontinent older bunnies, or young puppies. Safe for bunnies. Toss it into the washer when it gets soiled, but it wicks away the pee so the top doesn’t get nasty and chafe them for a while.

[(dig)x(me)x(now)]

The litter box he has right now is a larger-sized one. It’s like 18×15″, which is the exact width of the “door'” to the cage as well. I can try to find a plastic bin of some sort that is longer for him. If I go larger altogether, it won’t fit through the doorway. And if I got rid of the cage since it isn’t really useful, I’d have to invest in some sort of furniture to put there to store his supplies up high (you know he is quite crafty and if the cage was any less than 3 stories, he could ninja leap on top and eat EVERYTHING).

I’ll try a few solutions and maybe just get rid of his cage and give him a giant pan.

[MimzMum]

I’m beginning to think Mimz is needing a larger box too, but I’ll also have to tear down his habitat for that and we need my three separated still. Funny how the buns seem to think one little puddle spot means the whole box is dirty, no matter the size. I also notice a general disdain for bagged hay, not just Mimzy but Pip will pee on it too.
Has Frankie had a checkup recently? All healthy on the urinary front? Anything new in the house he disapproves of?

[RabbitPam]

I know what you mean about getting through the door. I would take the width measurement and see if you can find a longer pan but still within that width. I’m thinking a cat pan, or getting creative like a long dish pan, a baby tub, a basting pan. (I wish tin foil was OK because you could get one and form it to fit through. It can’t be chewed, though.) Maybe an automotive oil drip pan might be the right size, or a toy holder. Think long, thin, low sides and plastic. Sorry I can’t be more help.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Can you take off one wall of the cage and leave it standing with 3 walls? Then you still have your supply stand but you wont have the litter box issue. You could screw the back into the wall to secure it if it isn’t stable enough with 3 legs.

[angie-la]

I’m sort of having the same issue too, I bought the buns a large cat litter box.. and they like to sit on the very edge, stick their butt out over the edge, and pee. -____- my only guess is I need to get an even bigger super litter box, or maybe put their litterbox in a cardboard box like jerseygirl posted!

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