Litter training

Rabbits are easily litter trained. By nature, many rabbits will choose to relieve themselves in the same place.

Litter Boxes
Many pet stores carry litter boxes that are specially marketed for rabbits. These litter boxes are typically triangular in shape and are meant to be placed in the corner of a cage or enclosure. Some examples can be found here. However, these corner litter boxes are only suitable for very small young rabbits and breeds. As a more popular choice, cat litter boxes may also be used. These can easily be found for cheap at places like Walmart, Target, and Kmart or online at Amazon.com.

To decide what size of cat litter box to get, use the following guide:
 * under 5 pounds: medium
 * under 10 pounds: large
 * over 10 pounds or bonded pairs: extra-large

If you have a pair of rabbits that share a litter box, you will want to give them plenty of room -- the bigger the better! Otherwise, have multiple litter boxes. If your bunny like to dig in his litter box, you may wish to invest in a covered litter box or a sifting litter box. Rabbits like to back up into a side or corner to pee, so make sure you get a box tall enough to cover his behind.

Appropriate Litter Substrate
It is important to choose a rabbit-safe material to use in the litter box.

Rabbit-safe litters include the following:
 * paper substrates (e.g. Carefresh, Yesterday's News, Eco Bedding, Cell-Sorb Plus, shredded newspaper and phone book pages)
 * sawdust-compressed pellets (e.g. Feline Pine, wood stove pellets, horse bedding)
 * straw pellets (e.g. Cat Country, Critter Country, Oxbow Eco-Straw)

The following litters are not safe for use with rabbits:
 * soft wood chips (i.e. pine and cedar)
 * clay and clumping cat litters
 * corn/wheat based litters

Soft wood chips can cause liver and respiratory problems, and the latter two types can cause severe problems when eaten, such as blockages and digestive problems.

Make sure that your bunny is not ingesting too much of the litter substrate regardless of type. If you see him doing so, you may wish to invest in a covered litter box or a sifting litter box or make your own mesh cover.

A useful guide from the HRS to print out when shopping for litter brands can be found here.

Preparing Your Litter Box
A basic litter box should consist first of a layer of your chosen litter substrate and then a layer of hay to encourage your rabbit to eat in it. It may sound gross, but rabbits tend to eat and poop and pee at the same time and place. As a result, keeping his munchies in or near a litter box will encourage proper litter habits. If you are worried about the rabbit getting sick, he is smart enough and will not consume the urine-soaked hay.

A thin layer of around an inch of litter substrate is acceptable if you change the litter box every day or every other day. If you wish to change the litter box less, put a layer of around 3-4 inches of litter substrate. You will probably be fine for at least 3 days. The main reason to change a litter box is due to the odor or lack of litter substrate left to absorb urine. Urine is the main cause of rabbit odor and is used as the main method by rabbits to mark territory. Your rabbit will probably also produce mountains of poop but it is not as big of a problem as soaked litter. If your rabbit seems to not use his litter box after a while, it may be because it is too dirty. Rabbits are meticulous creatures -- you can tell from their grooming habits -- and will not use dirty litter boxes. Additionally, if the rabbit is in contact with the bun's paws too long, it will stain and may even burn his feet. As a result, please make an effort to change your rabbit's litter box regularly.

Some may be concerned at the waste of hay by placing it in the litter box. The waste can be reduced by instead placing a hay rack near the litter box so that the rabbit can sit in the box and eat. It is less of a concern if you have bought a bale of hay for your rabbit. Ultimately, it is a good idea to combine the location of the hay feeding and bathroom.

Common Problems
Although rabbits are typically easy to litter train, some rabbits may display problem behavior, such as relieving themselves outside of the litter box and peeing on beds and couches. The cause for this varies, but in many cases can be solved by desexing an intact rabbit.

If your rabbit has already been fixed, environmental changes, stress, and medical problems can also cause poor litter habits. The introduction of a new pet (bunny, cat, dog, or other) will cause your bun to feel territorial and poop everywhere. The same may occur if you move around furniture too much or move to a new place. However, as the rabbit gets used to the new environment, his litter habits should return to normal. If no stressful or environmental factors can be detected, your bun may have a urinary tract infection (UTI) or another condition that is causing a weak bladder. In this case, please take your rabbit to his veterinarian to be properly diagnosed and medicated if necessary.