Posts Tagged ‘ litterbox training ’

Is it true that rabbits can be litterbox trained?

By nature, rabbits choose one or a few places (usually corners) to deposit their urine and most of their pills.  Urine training involves little more than putting a litterbox where the rabbit chooses to go.  Pill training requires only that you give them a place they know will not be invaded by others.

What factors impact successful litterbox training?

the most important factor  for success is having your rabbit spayed/neutered.  This will reduce or eliminate their hormonal urge to mark their territory.  Also, older rabbits are easier to train than younger rabbits.  Young rabbits do not have the control and ability to learn that develops from age.  If you have a rabbit less than 6 months, be patient and persistent.  Older rabbits will usually learn in a matter of a few weeks.

What type of litter should I use?

It depends on what’s available in your area and what your rabbit’s habits are.  Some possibilities include:

• Litters made from recycled paper or other natural products.
• Since rabbits prefer at least some hay in their litterbox, some people use hay exclusively.
• Wood pellets designed for use in pellet stoves work very well and are very economical.

Avoid:

• Clumping litter because it can accumulate in your rabbit’s digestive tract and cause physical problems.
• Litters made of softwoods, like pine or cedar, as they are believed to cause liver damage.
• Corn, oat, and alfalfa based litters as the rabbit too commonly ingests them.

How do I litterbox train my new rabbit?

The basic approach is pretty simple.   Begin by restricting your rabbit to a small space, like their cage, for the first week or so.  Be sure to place at least one litterbox in a back corner of this space.  During the week, your rabbit will choose a corner for their “bathroom” area.  If that isn’t where you originally placed the litterbox, simply relocate the box to the rabbit’s selected area.  In a few days, the rabbit will associate the litterbox with their bathroom.  At this point, gradually provide more run space for your rabbit.  Be sure to supervise them carefully during this time, so any accidents can be corrected immediately by putting the rabbit back in their litterbox.  Start with small amounts of space and time and gradually increase both as your rabbit proves his/her good habits.   Reinforce consistently any accidents.  If your rabbit will have access to more than one room of the house, it is a good idea to add more litterboxes as their space continues to grow.  Eventually, your rabbit will demonstrate how many litterboxes are needed for the size of space he/she has.

What are the most common litter training mistakes?

• Letting the rabbit out of the cage and not watching him/her with undivided attention.  If the bunny does not get herded into the litterbox every time he/she urinates inappropriately, it will take much longer for him/her to understand what is expected.
• Being in a hurry.  Don’t rush your rabbit.  Each rabbit learns at their own pace.   If you supervise carefully, and reinforce their behavior, they will learn to use their litterbox.