Rabbits can use a cat litter box as long as the materials inside are suitable for a rabbit. A rabbit’s litter box should not be set up with cat litter, but a paper-based bedding as well as a handful of hay. The size of the litter box should be dependent on the rabbit.
How Should You Set Up a Cat Litter Box for a Rabbit? While You Can Use the Litter Box Pan for a Rabbit, it is not Recommended to Use the Clumping Litter that Cats Typically Use. A Rabbit’s Litter Box, or Litter Pan Should be Set Up with a Bedding that Is Paper-Based. Once a Layer of Bedding Has Been Placed in the Litter Box, a Handful of Hay Should be Placed in the Litter Box to Entice the Rabbit into the Litter Box. Since Cat Litter Boxes Vary in Size from Small to Large, the Proper Box Should be Chosen Based on the Rabbit You Have.
The best type of pan to select for litter training your pet rabbit is just a basic, plastic, cat litter box. These are available in sizes ranging from small, all the way to giant. A medium cat pan would be sufficient for rabbits under four pounds, while a large cat pan is suitable for rabbits under ten pounds. If you have a very large rabbit, or a pair of bonded rabbits, a giant cat pan may work best. If you have multiple rabbits who are not bonded as tightly you may want to get more than one litter box.
After you have chosen your pan and you are ready to set it up, it is recommended to use a mixture of bedding and hay. Lay about an inch of paper-based bedding on the bottom of the box. It is important that the bedding is paper-based because pine, cedar, or aromatic bedding may cause damage to your rabbit’s health, especially if ingested. Once you have laid your bedding down add a large handful of hay. This will entice your pet to use the litter box, so they do not feel a desire to relieve themselves in other parts of the house. Adding a fresh grass hay gives them something to snack on while they hang out in the litter box.
Once you have the litter box set up it is important to remember to clean it well and quite often. If you don’t keep the litter box clean, your rabbit may experience health issues, or they may not even want to use it. If your rabbit has not completely used up their litter box within 24 hours of cleaning, add another handful of hay. However, you should never go for more than two days without cleaning the litter box.
When it is time to clean the litter box, do so by throwing the contents away and wash the box thoroughly. If urine has accumulated in a portion of the box, white vinegar can be used to soak it so that it can be wiped clean. It is never recommended to use cleaning chemicals in a rabbit’s litter box as it can negatively affect their health if ingested or they are breathing it in.
If you have a rabbit with special needs who struggles to hop over the side of the litter box, you can accommodate them by creating a litter box with one side cut away. This will create easier access for entering and exiting the pan. If you already have a litter box and this problem arises, cut down one side and cover ragged edges with heavy tape or cord cover so your pet does not get cut.
How Can You Get Your Rabbit to Use Their Cat Litter Box?
Sometimes Litter Training a Rabbit Can be a Little Bit Tricky. While You Have Their Litter Box Set Up Exactly How it Should be, They May Choose to Relieve Themselves in Other Parts of Their Play Area, Cage, or Even Your House. This Behavior is Less than Ideal, So You Need to Come Up with a Way to Make the Litter Pan the Desired Location for Your Pet’s Bathroom Needs. There are Several Ways to do This. Many of Which Involve Keeping Your Rabbits Space Smaller, Increasing Available Litter Boxes, and Evaluating Your Litter Box Setup.
Before you start diving into your rabbit’s litter box habits, take a look at your rabbit as a whole. If your pet is still a baby, the training process will take some time. Human babies are not potty-trained right away, so you can’t expect baby rabbits to be potty-trained right away either. Next, make sure your pet does not have a medical condition that may be causing them to urinate in places other than their litter box. If your rabbit has a condition like a bladder infection, they may need a trip to the veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment before they can move forward with training.
Once you have ruled out these possibilities, you can begin moving forward with finding the cause and adjusting your routine accordingly. If your pet rabbit has too much freedom in your home, this may cause them to urinate wherever they please. If you find the litter box you have set up is not being used as much as it should, try limiting the amount of space your pet has for roaming. On top of limiting space, try to increase the number of litter pans available so your rabbit has more options for where they can go to the bathroom.
As the habits begin to improve, you can begin to increase the amount of space the rabbit can roam. Make this a gradual process, and dependent on their behavior. Should they slip-up, decrease the amount of space they are allowed to have again. Repeat this process until they have learned their boundaries and where they are allowed to relieve themselves.
The way your box is set up may also be unappealing to your rabbit. Make sure to keep the litter box clean so your pet wants to use it. Rabbits are very clean creatures, so if the box is smelly, they may do their business somewhere else, even if it is just outside of their litter box. If you have a clean box setup with a layer of paper-based bedding and an adequate amount of hay, your rabbit may not like the hay. Consider switching the brand to another. While this may seem silly, adapting to the stubborn rabbit is important if you want them to work with you.
What Shouldn’t You Use for Your Rabbit in a Cat Litter Box?
Setting up a Litter Box for a Rabbit is Pretty Cut and Dry. There are Certain Materials You Should use, and Many You Should Not Use Under Any Circumstances. Since Rabbits Have a Habit of Ingesting the Materials in Their Litter Pan, it is Essential to Use Materials that Will Not Harm Them. We Know Not to Use Cat Litter, but Avoiding Bedding with Fragrance, a Base of Pine and Cedar and Other Objects is Also Recommended for Your Pet’s Health.
Another material that should not be used for rabbit litter boxes is newspaper which may be confusing, since it is recommended to use paper-based litter. Rabbits tend to eat this and make a mess out of it by kicking it around the litter box. Aspen wood particles are also not recommended as they stick to a rabbit’s fur, which may cause a mess by tracking the stuck-on remains all over the house.
