Rabbit
Haven
Gig Harbor, WA
A shelter and sanctuary for unwanted and mistreated rabbits … until they all have homes.
LITTER BOX TRAINING
OUTSIDE RABBITS MOVING
IN & NEW RABBITS
1) Place a litter box inside of the hutch over whatever area the rabbit uses for a bathroom, usually a corner. Place some of the droppings into the box.
If the rabbit likes to dig and moves the box around, you can use a large metal clamp to fix it to the side of the hutch. They can be purchased at most hardware stores. You might also drill a small hole in the side of the box and secure it with twist ties.
2) Organic litter is the best for rabbits because they have very little dust. (Rabbits are susceptible to upper respiratory ailments caused by dust) Clay litter is not recommended because it is very dusty. Recommended organic litters:
-
Cat Country
-
Care Fresh
-
Crown Animal Bedding
----- Warning Do Not Use Cat Works----
Please read the following information for details: http://www.washingtonhouserabbitsociety.org/vets.asp
Place about a 1" layer in the litter box and add some of the rabbits droppings and urine, place the rabbit in the box and tell her what a good bunny she is. She will soon get the idea.
NOTE: Do Not use any litter that has cedar, cedar oils, zinc or the clumping clay litters.
3) Confine the rabbit to a cage, bathroom or utility room. Place the litter box in whatever enclosure you choose for training.
4) A bathroom or other small room without carpeting is a good place to start the training. Since vinyl floors can be slippery, give bunny something like a rug or towel to lay on. This is also a good time to trim nails. He will feel more comfortable. Do not let him into any other room of the house until he is always urinating in his box. If he has an accident outside of the box, wipe it up with vinegar immediately. Nature’s Miracle is also very effective but more expensive.
When you first let him out of his cage or enclosure, stay in the room with him. When he leaves droppings on the floor, immediately put both bunny and the droppings in the litter box. Tell him what a good bunny he is and pet him. Spend as much time as you can with him and when you have to leave, put him back into his cage or enclosure. A baby gate (not light plastic) works well to divide a room into a manageable space. Repeat this often until he has the training room mastered. Only then can you let him out into another room.
5) Let the litter box stay a little dirty while the rabbit is learning. If you keep it too clean he will think that he is not supposed to use it. You can dispose of organic litter directly in the toilet or into the compost pile. Wonderful fertilizer is an added bonus of sharing your home with a rabbit.
NOTE: It is almost impossible to litter train an unspayed or unneutered rabbit. If you can’t resist letting bunny have the run of the house immediately, be prepared to have him consider your house as one very large litter box. Once this habit is established, it is very hard to change. It is far better to spend the time in the beginning and enjoy your fuzzy friend’s good manners.
|
Online Medical
The
New
|
Food/Diet Housing Rabbit Proofing Miscellaneous Grooming Behavior Toys Litter Box Health Checkups Medical Concerns Publications Veterinary Referrals