How To Potty Train A Rabbit: Step-by-Step Tips
Rabbits, by nature, are very clean animals and like to go to the bathroom in a few areas, typically in the corners of a space. However, they produce a lot of urine and feces, so having a designated area for your rabbit makes for simple cleanup.
Additionally, litter boxes provide an easier way to monitor any changes in fecal output or urination indicating that your bunny might be unwell. Rabbits are often easier to potty-train than puppies and kittens. Most rabbits, even free-roaming rabbits, will return to their designated litter box to go to the bathroom once they are trained.
Potty training a rabbit can seem like an impossible task. Rabbits are known for their indiscriminate pooping and peeing, often leaving a mess wherever they go. However, with patience, consistency, and the right training method, you can successfully potty train your furry friend. Not only will this make cleanup easier, but it can also make life more comfortable for your rabbit.
Pet rabbits are cute and fluffy companions and as such, are just as preferred as the conventional dog and cats. A rabbit can make a wonderful pet, and they are especially good for those who want to have smaller pets who won’t take as much space as a dog or a cat.
Litter-training rabbits are different from litter-training cats and dogs. It’s crucial for anyone planning on getting a bunny pet to be knowledgeable about litter training. The last thing any pet owner wants is for every corner of their home to be decorated with pet poop.
Importance Of Training Your Rabbit To Use A Litter Box
Gone are the days of confining your house rabbit in a small cage all day. With proper litter training, you can give your furry friend the freedom of running (or hopping) around the house, just like any other pet! Litter training for rabbits is used to keep their living area clean, and odorless and your beloved bunny healthy.
Plus, it’s a lot more convenient for you. Once your rabbit is trained, you won’t have to worry about cleaning up after him or her constantly. Litter training also eliminates a number of potential messes outside the litter box. That’s why it’s important to get started on litter training as soon as your pet arrives home.
Supplies you need to litter train a rabbit
Figuring out how to potty train your cottontail doesn’t have to be difficult. Before you begin, make sure you have the right supplies:
- Cage:First, you’ll need a cage to limit your rabbit’s ability to roam during litter training. You can let your bunny hop freely again once she’s properly trained, but keeping your rabbit confined during the early stages of the process helps her learn faster, and it drastically cuts down on messes you’ll have to clean up if you leave your little guy unchecked.
- Litter box:While you can buy litter boxes specially made for rabbits, they’re often too small for your furry friend to use comfortably, especially if you’re training an older rabbit. Your bunny should have plenty of room to move around, but the sides of the container can’t be too tall for her to hop over. (You can always cut out a doorway if needed.)
- Litter:Avoid using wood shavings, clay-based litter, and clumping litter. They can harm your rabbit’s respiratory tract. Recycled newspaper litter is a wonderful option for bunnies, and it helps cut down on odor. Unlike cats, bunnies don’t bury their poop under the litter, so you’ll need to fill the box with only a thin layer of shredded newspaper to absorb urine. (You’ll have to empty the litter box fully each time you clean it, so using a thin layer stops you from going through it so quickly, saving you money in the long run.)
How To Potty Train A Rabbit
Pets typically spread their droppings and urine in any new environment. This is natural for animals as they use their waste to mark territories or establish ownership of certain areas.
So if your bunny does this, make sure to let them! Discouraging this action can make them feel less secure about their new home.
Take note that your rabbit should be neutered or spayed. This will make it easier to litter box train them.
Additionally, it’s recommended to keep your rabbit in a limited space inside your house when they first arrive. This would help you have an easier time getting your rabbit to use its litter box.
Once they’re already litter-trained, you can slowly increase their living space and eventually allow them to move freely in your home.
Different Types Of Litter: What To Use As Rabbit Litter
Finding a good litter type matters when training your rabbit to use the litter box. Some litter types may have components that are harmful to your bunny. Opt for small-particle litter made naturally from paper.
Rabbits have sensitive lungs, so having all-natural litter won’t harm your furry friends in case of accidental consumption. Plus, some types of bedding can also be used as litter, making it more cost-effective over time.
Choose a litter that absorbs odors well and doesn’t contain any scents or harmful chemicals that could potentially be harmful to your rabbit. And if cats are in the picture, double-check the ingredients on the package—many cat litters are unsafe for bunnies, so make sure to avoid those entirely!
Pine, cedar, and clay litter are also terrible for your pet as these can cause serious respiratory issues and liver damage. Organic litter made from oat, paper, or citrus can do the trick.Wood stove pellets are good, they can absorb the rabbit’s urine.
Yesterday’s newspaper can also act as a great bedding for your rabbit’s litter box. Some people recommend using this because it is cheap and readily available.
However, it does not control odors so well and needs to be replaced too frequently. Plus, there is the issue of blockage which can occur in your rabbit if he eats the paper.
One of the important things to add to the litter box after the bedding is hay. This way, when they want to chew on something, they can munch on the hay. You will have to replace the hay regularly though.
Be careful with hay because smelly, dusty, or moldy hay can be dangerous for your pet. You can use timothy hay, bermudagrass, or any other fresh green hay for rabbits.
Litter Boxes for Rabbits
Choose a box size based on the size of your rabbit. They should be able to move around in the litter box comfortably and even lay down. Ensure the sides of the litter box are low enough so your rabbit can easily jump in and out.
A 9”x12” litter box is generally required for a single rabbit, and a 15”x18” litter box for two rabbits inside the cage.
Litter for Rabbits
Use paper-based, organic litter, or hay in the box. Some organic litter options are compressed sawdust pellets, oat, wheat, and alfalfa based. It is best to avoid the following litter:
- Pine/cedar due to toxicity
- Clay can cause respiratory issues
- Clumping litters can cause foreign bodies if your rabbit eats them
- Corn cob litter is not absorbent and can also cause a blockage
Your rabbit will nibble on some of the litter, but do not let your rabbit ingest large amounts of litter; this can be very hazardous to your rabbit. If your rabbit finds the litter too tasty, try using a different litter, or put newspapers on the bottom and timothy hay on top of those.
Litter Box Cleaning
Spot-clean your rabbit’s box with a litter scoop 1-2 times a day and deep clean the box once a week. You can use white vinegar and dawn to clean out the box. Thoroughly rinse to remove any residual odors. If your rabbit urinates outside the box on the carpet, you can use an enzyme cleaner.
It is important not to clean the cage or litter box when your rabbit is inside; this is your rabbit’s space and territory. Invading their space or taking them out of their area can cause them not to feel safe and make litter box training difficult. When your rabbit is out of their enclosure, feel free to clean during that time, so you aren’t forcing them out inconveniently. Your rabbit will likely supervise.
Encouraging Your Rabbit
Ensure to include a few droppings and a towel soaked in rabbit urine inside their litter boxes or litter pans. Also, put one of their favorite herbs like rosemary or basil in it too, to encourage them to get in.
Litter Training Maintenance
After meal times, this is probably the time your rabbit starts to feel like pooping.
Each time you see your rabbit lifting its tail to poop outside their litter box, shout no or clap once and nudge him toward the litter box. You can place half their body inside the box, but don’t force them. Let your rabbit learn on its own as force will make it see the litter box as punishment.
Allowing your pet to voluntarily use its litter box helps them learn how to do things on its own.
Cleaning The Litter Tray
It’s required to clean your pet’s litter box daily to encourage them to use it. This applies to any kind of pet as well.
You can use vinegar to get tough stains off your bunny’s litter tray. However, some rabbits don’t like strong smells. So, rinse the litter box well to remove all the odors from the detergent and add a few droppings.
Litter box training rabbits take some time and effort but all of it is worth it in the end.
Now you know how to litter train a bunny. It takes at least one week for the easy ones but it could take a while longer for a stubborn rabbit. You’ll also find that older rabbits are easier to teach compared to younger ones as they have better a attention span.
You need to have patience and be observant in order for the training to be effective. Litter training is a hundred percent doable!
How to Litter Train Your Rabbit
As soon as you get your rabbit, have a litter box available for them to use. Keep in mind your rabbit might not be great at using their litter boxes regularly until after they are spayed or neutered at 4-6 months of age. Spaying and neutering will significantly reduce your rabbit’s natural inclination to mark their territory with urine.
Follow the below guidelines to successfully litter train your rabbit:
- Begin training by keeping your rabbit in a small area or their enclosure. Start with at least two litter boxes—smaller one in the corner of the enclosure and a larger one in their free-roaming space. Your rabbit should still be able to move around the cage, lie down, and stand up inside the cage outside of the litter box. If they cannot, you most likely need a bigger enclosure.
- Place a handful of hay in each box.
- If your rabbit goes in a different corner of the enclosure, move the litter box to that section.
- Litter box training should continue mainly in the cage for the first few weeks. After that, rabbits will start using the litter box and form a habit. Keep your rabbit in the enclosure when unsupervised.
- If they continue to use the litter boxes regularly after a few days, you can start to increase their space in other rooms.
- If you notice that they head to a corner of the room where there is no box or lift their tail as if they are about to go to the bathroom, gently herd them back to their enclosure or nearby litter box. You can even take a hands-off approach and move a different box to that area instead of trying to catch and herd them.
- You can remove other training boxes if they regularly use one box.
- Scoop the litter box daily and deep clean once a month.
It is important to understand that rabbits mark their territory with urine or feces. The litter box can meet those needs of marking. Keeping your rabbit away from upholstered furniture and beds is a good idea until after neutering, and a litter box habit is well established. Post-teen spayed or neutered rabbits are less territorial and are much easier to keep potty trained.
Do not reach in and grab a rabbit from inside a litter box or place them directly inside one; rabbits can start to feel like their area isn’t theirs or that it is a punishment to be in there. This may lead to rabbits going to the bathroom outside the litter box and their enclosure. When you open their enclosure, let your rabbit decide when they want to come out on their own. Walking behind them is okay to herd them back to their space gently.
How to potty train a rabbit
Step 1: Line the floor beneath the box, because even the best-trained rabbit can have accidents.
This makes cleanup easier, not to mention, it protects your flooring from stains.
Step 2: Use food to encourage your rabbit to use the litter box.
Rabbits are funny little creatures in that they prefer to eat while they poop. Place a bundle of hay on top of the litter. The scent of one of their favorite noshes will be irresistible, and your bunny will be much more likely to use the litter box.
Step 3: Teach your rabbit to use the box.
If your bunny insists on going potty outside her litter box, absorb the urine with a paper towel, pick up the poop, and place both items in the litter box. This helps your bunny accept the idea that the box is where she should potty from now on.
Step 4: Move the box to your rabbit’s favorite place.
Does your rabbit insist on going potty in the same corner? Try setting the litter box there. Sometimes it’s better to let your rabbit tell you where she wants to go rather than try to force the issue.
Step 5: If your rabbit urinates and leaves droppings throughout your home, have her spayed.
This is the best way to stop it. Spraying is a territorial behavior, and spaying (or neutering) rabbits curbs the instinctive desire to mark their territory.
Step 6: Learn your rabbit’s “I’m about to use the bathroom” body language.
If she lifts her tail or shifts into a seated position before going potty, scoop her up and put her in the litter box. Accidents may happen, but it’s one of the fastest ways to train any animal to use its designated bathroom space.
Tips to consider when litter training a bunny
Step 1: Prepare for trial and error.
Bunnies can be more finicky than cats when it comes to their litter, so you may have to try out a few combinations before getting the litter box just right. Start with around 1 inch of your chosen litter and cover it with rabbit-safe hay.
Step 2: Protect the area.
Rabbits aren’t as precise as cats, so invest in a tough rubber or plastic mat to go underneath the box. Ensure it’s thick enough that your rabbit can’t chew through it. You’ll have an easier time mopping up small accidents, and you’ll also keep excess hay or litter out of your carpet.
Compiled & Shared by- This paper is a compilation of groupwork provided by the
Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
