How to Litterbox Train Your Rabbit

Rabbits are very intelligent. They make wonderful house pets for adult households. If you supply the litterbox and some gentle guidance, many rabbits will practically train themselves to use it. You can use a plastic Rubbermaid tub that is shallow enough for your rabbit to hop in and out of it or a metal litterbox from KW Cages. If you use the plastic tub, you will need to use shredded newspaper, hay, or Carefree cat litter. Other litters contain too much dust, which can cause pneumonia in your rabbit's delicate upper respiratory tract, which can be fatal. In the rubber tub, your rabbit will sit in the litterbox on whatever puddles and pebbles he leaves. The KW Cages litterbox contains a removable metal mesh floor, so your rabbit's paws and bottom will remain clean.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Sit on the floor in a small, enclosed area with your rabbit and place the litterbox in one corner of this area.

2. Place a handful of hay in the litterbox. Rabbits like to munch hay and use the litterbox at the same time.

3. Soak up any puddles your rabbit does with a tissue and place the tissue in the litterbox.

4. Place your rabbit in the litterbox and let him sniff the soiled tissue. Say, 'Do puddle, (and your rabbit's name). Do puddle.'

5. Let your rabbit go. He will probably resist staying in the litterbox and go hopping about the small area you are in.

6. Pick up any pebbles (feces/turds) your rabbit drops and place your rabbit back in the litterbox.

7. Hold the pebbles under your rabbit's nose, so he can sniff them and say, 'Do pebbles, (and your rabbit's name). Do pebbles.'

8. Let your rabbit go, so he can continue to explore.

9. Do this every day at the same time for several days, until you know that your rabbit is using his litterbox regularly.

10. Praise your rabbit for using the litterbox correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Rabbits drop pebbles as they hop about to mark their territory; expect to find some rabbit pebbles scattered throughout the area in your home where your rabbit plays.
• Sometimes rabbits forget their good litterbox habits; you will have to take the time to re-train your rabbit when this happens.
• Eliminate the odor from rabbit urine in the carpet on on clothing with white vinegar; it also lifts the urine stain from carpet and fabric.
• Never yell at, scold, or hit your rabbit when he eliminates in the wrong place. Just reinforce his litterbox training by placing him in his litterbox with the pebbles or soiled tissue and repeating, 'Do pebbles' or 'Do puddle' and your rabbit's name. Positive reinforcement goes a long way with rabbits.

[DieselAmy]

on 12/20/2007 Verbal cues aren't going to littertrain a rabbit. They do naturally go in the same spot, though, which is why providing a litterbox (with safe litter, no cat clay or clumping types!) usually works well. For GOOD litterbox use, you need to spay/neuter first.

on 11/22/2005 All I did was put a little bit of my bun's mildly soiled bedding from his cage into his litterbox. He knew immediately what the litterbox was for!

on 11/22/2005 Rabbits should not use clay, clumping, cedar or pine litter. These have the potential to kill your bunny. Clumping litter can clump in the digestive tract just like it does in the litter box. The dust from clay and the fumes from cedar and pine affect the respiratory system. Use hay or paper based products like Yesterday's News or CareFresh.