How to Litter Train Your Pet Rabbit
The Simple Steps to a Cleaner Hutch and a Happy Bunny
Oct 8, 2009
Rabbits are among the most fastidious creatures in nature. They are constantly grooming themselves and those in their "family." This attention to cleanliness does not stop at personal grooming; rabbits keep their homes as clean and free of waste as possible so as to not attract predators.
Pet rabbits carry this instinct for cleanliness into the home and many of those who find themselves adopted by a bun are surprised to learn that nearly any rabbit can be trained to use a litter box. This is true whether the bun spends most of her time in a cage or is lucky enough to have space in the home in which to roam free.
Tools of the Trade
In addition to the obvious (a rabbit), you will need a litter box. Most good pet stores sell small litter boxes designed to fit into the corner of a cage (or a room). These litter boxes are your best pick for small and average size breeds. For larger sized breeds and the giants you may want to invest in a rectangular litter box sized to allow the bun to rest its bottom and all four paws comfortably inside. In fact, in some cases, the litter box becomes a bun's favorite place to rest. I suppose they just want to get comfortable and read the newspapers lining the cage.
In addition to the litter box, you will need some litter. Warning: do not use the clay litter designed for cats. Rabbits are often drawn to eat this material and it can clog up their digestive tract which will lead to large vet bills and a very sick bun. Most people use shavings; but with these you have to be careful as well. The wood shavings marketed for dog kennels are made from pine and either filled with aromatic oils or, worse, have aromatic oils injected into the shavings to hide the dog smell. These products can damage a rabbit's lungs. Shavings made from hard woods are fine as are those made from alternate materials such as recycled newspaper or corn cobs. If you are in doubt regarding the safety of a specific type of litter, ask your veterinarian.
Teaching the Rabbit to Hit the Target
The next step is to place the litter box in an appropriate place. If the rabbit spends most of her time in her cage, she will have already chosen a corner in which to "do her business." Follow her lead and place the litter box in that corner. If the rabbit is allowed the freedom to roam free, and she hasn't already chosen a quiet, dark, place as a latrine, choose one for her, preferably in a corner, and place the box there.
Once you've found the perfect spot, place a few of your bun's fresh fecal pellets in the litter box. Rabbits are smart and this will clue her in as to the purpose of this new piece of bunny furniture.
Do not use cecotropes or "night feces" for this purpose. The digestive system of rabbits produces two types of "feces." One is hard and dry and shaped like a rugby ball. This is the true feces or waste product. The other looks more like a bunch of moist grapes covered in a thin film of mucus. These are cecotropes and, believe it or not, the rabbit needs to consume these. The bun's digestive system is designed to use fermentation to break down certain foods so their body can use them and they do this by passing them through the gut not one, but twice. So, you will want to make sure to use the waste product feces in the litter box as your hint to your bun.
Happy Endings
Once your bun discovers the fecal pellets in the box, she will quickly figure out what you have in mind. However, there are some things you can do to make certain her toilet habits remain sanitary.
- Clean the box and change the litter on a regular basis. However, do not use bleach or other harsh cleansers in this process.
- This works best with buns who have been spayed/neutered. Unaltered buns use urine and feces to mark their romantic turf (which will include you as the object of their desire) and they have incredible aim, even when on the run.
- Consistency is the key. Use the same litter every time. Keep the box in the same place. Rabbits are creatures of habit.
- Don't get upset when your bun decides to rearrange the freshly cleaned litter you have placed in the box. It's just her way of making it her own.
With these tips, you should be able to "potty train" your bun in just a few hours.
 |
