How to Litter Train a Rabbit

Rabbits usually pick one area, such as a corner, to use as their toilet. With a little patience, you can train your pet to use a litter box.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rabbit Cages
• Cat Litters
• Old Cake Pans

1. Keep rabbit in cage to begin with and place an old cake pan in the corner your rabbit has chosen to urinate in.

2. Put plain, clay cat litter or recycled newspaper pellets in the pan.

3. Let rabbit out of cage a few minutes with lots of praise after it has used the litter pan.

4. Repeat until it learns how special it is for using litter pan.

5. Lengthen amount of time the bunny is let out to play after using litter pan over the next few days.

6. Accidents will happen. When one does, put your rabbit back in the cage in the litter pan - but do not scold or lock your rabbit in the cage. This could cause it to associate its cage and litter pan with a bad place to go.

Tips & Warnings

• Some rabbits never learn to use a litter box and are best kept outside in a hutch.
• If you have a small, movable cage with a front opening, you can train your pet to use the litter pan in there and just keep the cage in the house where he plays. This way the bunny can go in and out of the cage freely.
• Never use clumping cat litter or litter with chemical deodorizers in it - it could kill your rabbit.

[justabarkaway]

on 4/18/2009 great article! for training rabbits.

[BinkyBunny]

on 3/2/2007 spaying/neutering your bunny will not only improve his habits but the strong odor will become less pungent. Unaltered bunnies have hormones that drive them to mark their territory especially when they reach six months. After surgery, it can take a month or more for the hormones to die down, but once they do, litter training is a whole lot easier!

on 4/16/2007 Put cat litter in a low cut box or tub, then put some plants nearby to attract the rabbit. Whenever he does his business in the litter box )instead of the floor) praise him with one of his favorite snacks. I use chopped up apples.

on 11/22/2005 It is natural for rabbits to graze while they go, so use grass or hay for the litter box. Do not put the hay anywhere else or they will get confused. Most will pick up on it right away. I recommend alfalfa grass, my rabbits love it!

on 11/22/2005 Avoid clay litter, the dust can be harmful, and it is not suitable for composting. Fungal spores in corn cob litter may cause mold, which can cause fatal blockages if ingested. Pine and cedar shavings contain phenols that may cause liver damage. See rabbit.org for more information on safe litters.