Terrible poop habits…

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Ok…soooooo I’m not sure what to do here,

 My bunnies have always (Rupert and Kahlua) used their litter boxes faithfully, they have two in the apartment and two in their condo…They do poop around the litterboxes but hey, that’s why I have a dustbuster!! They always pee in the box.

I got Chuck recently and since he’s blind (and maybe deaf) he sort of has his ‘homebase’ as being beside the litterbox in the hallway, inbetween it and the food and water. I always put him down in the litter box so he knows where he is and can re-orient himself…He spends alot of time in the box, but doesn’t sleep there, he sleeps beside it.

So, now Kahlua and especially Rupert are not only pooping everywhere around that litter box but they are peeing outside of it too!!! I don’t think it could be a territory war, since they aren’t going anywhere else?!?!

I put another litterbox in that area as well, thinking maybe Chuck’s in there when they need to go, so they go beside it? But alas, there is poop and pee all over still!!!

I’m trying to keep it super clean, so they dont’ just continue to go all over the hallway area, but do you guys have any other suggestions? I’m so at a loss now!! 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

 No one??

[RabbitPam]

I just got home and saw this, so I’ll give you two cents of undoubtedly useless advice.

What you did, adding another box, was my first thought too. Since that’s not working, how about a very large litter box? If it orients Chuck, would they step into a box that he’s sitting in at one end? It seems that several bonded pairs go in the same box at the same time, so maybe they just need to learn that this is a sharing arrangement. I does sound like territorial impulses. “If he gets the box, we get the cage.”

Chuck just sounds so adorable.

[Beka27]

that does sound territorial. and adding another box did not help?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Well maybe I was too impatient, there was only one pee spot on the floor when I got home yesterday and much less poops this morning…picky buns! I’ll put one MORE box and see how things go!

[BinkyBunny]

Sorry KK took me so long to answer this. I also think this has to be territorial. So normal for this to happen with a new bun in the house. Once they are fully bonded and all hierarchies are understood, it should subside. I’m glad to know that less poops as of yesterday. Keep us updated.

[babybunsmum]

what flooring do you have under the litter box(es)?  i’m wondering if you can also try changing the flooring underneath… like a new matt or different textured blanket with a shower curtain.  baby bun has been weeing all over the top level of her new condo which was floored with ceramic tiles.  i ended up wrapping the tiles with a fleece blanket or faux sheepskin so there was something to absorb the pee & she wouldn’t be sitting in it all the time.  also i could remove & launder it for a fresh cage.  this has slowed down her ‘accidents’ a fair bit, so that’s why i’m wondering if just a flooring texture difference would help?

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

It’s just the lino that’s in the kitchen. That’s a good idea…if they notice a differnece with the floor it’s likely they’ll think twice about weeing, pooping there ….Anything absorbant like a towel or petbed gets wee-d on though LOL I think I’ll give that shower curtain idea a go!!

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