Litter Training

Litter training can be as difficult and as long a process as your rabbit decides to make it. Generally, it is easier to train an adult rabbit than it is to train a baby rabbit and it is also generally easier to litter train a rabbit that has been spayed/neutered than it is to litter train one who hasn’t been spayed/neutered. Some rabbits litter train themselves, others require coaching. It all depends on the individual rabbit.

Litter training starts in the cage. After your rabbit has selected a corner that they like to pee in, put the soiled litter along with fresh litter and a handful of hay into the litter box and put the litter box into the corner your rabbit chose. Keep a small amount of soiled litter in the box each time you change it until the rabbit gets the hang of using the litter box. When your rabbit has an accident, clean it up with a mix that is half warm water and half white vinegar. Never punish your rabbit for having an accident. Rabbits do not understand punishment. Praise the rabbit (with petting and healthy treats) for good behavior.

When your rabbit is outside of the cage, make sure that plenty of litter boxes filled with new and soiled litter and some hay are available. If the rabbit continuously uses a spot outside of the boxes for a bathroom, put a box in that spot. When the rabbit gets the hang of using the litter boxes, you can gradually decrease the number of litter boxes and you no longer have to put any soiled litter in the box.

Young rabbits often think that their litter box is a bed and decide to sleep in it. You must convince them of its real purpose.

Corner litter boxes (sold in the small animal section of your local pet store) are best for putting inside cages. Litter pans made for cats are best for using around the house.

It was recently discovered that wood shavings made from pine, cedar, and other softwoods emit dangerous fumes containing toxins called phenols. These fumes cause liver damage and respiratory problems in all animals.

Rabbits should never be exposed to kitty litter. Most kitty litters (especially clumping litters) contain clays and chemicals that are harmful to rabbits.

Clay-based litters should not be used because they are very dusty and can cause respiratory problems in animals. They also should not be used because they can cause fatal intestinal impactions if ingested.

The cheapest safe litter is aspen wood shavings. Aspen does not contain phenols. It does a reasonably good job at controlling odor. However, it isn’t very comfortable for the bunny and I personally would not use it unless absolutely necessary.

A more expensive safe litter is a product called Yesterday’s News, which comes in the form of pellets made from recycled newspaper. It does a good job at controlling odor, but does not absorb as fast as other litters. Also, you may not want to expose your bunny to the ink found in the recycled paper.

The best and most expensive bedding is a wonderful product called Carefresh. Carefresh is made from wood pulp that is not good enough to be made into paper. It comes in the form of soft gray clumps of fiber. Another type of Carefresh, called Carefresh Ultra, is white instead of gray. It is very useful for times when you may need to monitor the color of your pet's urine. Carefresh is biodegradable and flushable. It also has superior odor control and quickly and easily absorbs urine.