Billie 
Posts: 19
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| 02/04/2010 03:06 PM |
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Scenario:
I remove bunny's litter box to quickly clean it. Bunny waits until I've removed it, hunches in the now-empty corner where the litter box would otherwise be located and proceeds to urinate. She's done this several times now and no matter how fast I try to empty out her litter box, it suddenly occurs to her that she needs to pee immediately.
For the last several days she's had to stay in her pen until the evening. The evening is when I let her out and start cleaning the litter box. Am I overreacting in thinking she's urinating deliberately? Can bunnies plot revenge? |
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rosalie68
Iowa, USA
Posts: 196
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| 02/04/2010 04:02 PM |
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sometimes my bunnies do that too. i don't know why. maybe u can get an extra litter box and then u can put the clean one in right away so she won't be able to pee in an empty spot. i have also let my bunnies out of their cage when im cleaning the litter box. when i step away and their litter box is being cleaned i will shut the door so they can't go in and pee until its back. |
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| Kim ---> Charlie & Jack, Julia & Zoey |
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Elrohwen
Danbury, Connecticut
Posts: 1469
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| 02/05/2010 06:12 AM |
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I imagine it's because the corner where the litter box used to be is clean and doesn't smell like her pee - in that case, she wants to mark it and make it smell like her! I don't know if there's anything you can do other than shut her out of her cage until you get the litter box back in place. |
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| - Elrohwen |
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Beka27
Forum Leader
Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Posts: 8786
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| 02/05/2010 09:59 AM |
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I'd also recommend trying a second litterbox. Have that one filled and ready to go and swap them immediately. Maybe even throw a few poops in the clean box so it's already "marked". This way you can take your time to clean it out well, and then next time swap that litterbox back in. |
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Max & Meadow |
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Billie
Posts: 19
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| 02/05/2010 04:26 PM |
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I might have to indeed get another box since she did it again last night; it just seems like an unnecessary purchase. Bunnies are expensive! |
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jerseygirl
South Australia
Posts: 6189
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| 02/05/2010 07:04 PM |
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Posted By Billie on 02/04/2010 03:06 PM
Am I overreacting in thinking she's urinating deliberately? Can bunnies plot revenge?
 No, you're not over reacting! They may not necessarily "plot" revenge (though I'm not entirely convinced!) but they do certainly communincate with pee. That's been my experience. Might be because she doesn't like you messing with her space so she pees to reclaim it. I have witnessed deliberate peeing from my Doe for a variety of reasons.
Maybe you can distract your girl when you let her out by giving her a treat (even fresh veg or treat hay) in another place and then go about cleaning her box while she's preoccupied. If you find she won't be tricked and is monitoring you, put a thick stack of newspaper in the toilet spot if she insists on doing this. Then you can just toss it if she toilets on it while her box wasn't there. She may get used to you cleaning it and get over it.
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.....as everyone took their seats at the BB meeting, I was invited to start. "Hi, my name is Kate - and I'm a Bunaholic....."  |
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Beka27
Forum Leader
Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Posts: 8786
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| 02/07/2010 06:39 AM |
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Newspapers are becoming more expensive in my area than the litter I use... they keep raising the rates. I would not consider a second litterbox an unnecessary expense, but rather something to save you time and headache. You could either use the second box somewhere else in her run area, and then clean that one first and swap it out when you clean the cage, or just stow it away until it's time to clean. Keep in mind, litterboxes should be replaced about once a year, since after a certain point, it gets harder to fully clean out all of the build-up and this can cause a smelly house even with a "fresh" litterbox. It's true that it is another bunny expense, but it's a very minor one compared to food, hay, litter, and vet care.
What kind of box are you using? Cat boxes are VERY inexpensive, you can get a medium-sized, simple one for about $5 or less. |
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Max & Meadow |
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Barbie
Posts: 1104
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| 02/07/2010 09:47 AM |
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Yeah, I would recommend a second litter box... Leroy has 4 Check Walmart. I get his large cat litter boxes there for $3  Good luck! Bunnies can definitely be little stinkers |
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Leroy and Jeannie sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G....
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Moonlight_Wolf
United States of America, Pittsford, New York
Posts: 821
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| 02/07/2010 10:45 AM |
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Haha I had to laugh at this! It's like speed litter box cleaning! Yea I would recommend getting another box. I am always afraid my bunnies will do this, so I shoo them away from the litter box area until I am done. |
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| “We give dogs time we can spare, space we can spare and love we can spare. And in return, dogs give us their all. It’s the best deal man has ever made.”
M. Facklam |
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Billie
Posts: 19
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| 02/08/2010 10:36 AM |
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Posted By Beka27 on 02/07/2010 06:39 AM
Keep in mind, litterboxes should be replaced about once a year, since after a certain point, it gets harder to fully clean out all of the build-up and this can cause a smelly house even with a "fresh" litterbox.
This is the first time I've seen that piece of advice but it seems sound. I know my Tupperware picks up stains and smells after so long.
I'm going to take everyone's advice and buy another litterbox. Unfortunately, I don't shop at Walmart so I can't get the supercheap boxes but I'm willing to cough up another 8 bucks or so to save time otherwise spent cleaning up urine. |
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wendyzski
Chicago, IL
Posts: 1190
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| 02/08/2010 08:52 PM |
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I use regular dishpans from the hardware store or even the dollar-plus store for litterboxes. |
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Balefulregards
Montreal
Posts: 554
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| 02/09/2010 08:55 AM |
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Chiming in not to give litter advice but to share that Three Separate times Yesterday, Coco stood in front of me, turned her back and lifted her tail to pee on the floor.
I am not entirely sure what i did that SO offended her, but I was clearly on the List as far as she was concerned. At the third intentional Pee, She got caged for a couple of hours. Today has been fine ( and normally she is Fine with her litter habits) but she is definitely a gal who communicates with her urine.
I suspect I failed to properly greet her in the morning, or she thought I was paying too much attention to Jackson, or Who knows, really... I did do a deep soak of Vinegar and Baking Soda on their litter pans, so she may have been protesting that they were TOO clean ( Yep, she has protested when I make the boxes TOO clean)
So my answer to "can they deliberately pee to express their displeasure?"
OH yes. |
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jerseygirl
South Australia
Posts: 6189
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| 02/10/2010 06:16 PM |
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haha Baleful. I empathize with you. I think Jersey and Coco were cut from the same cloth. (((Strength)))  |
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| .....as everyone took their seats at the BB meeting, I was invited to start. "Hi, my name is Kate - and I'm a Bunaholic....." |
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Kokaneeandkahlua
Forum Leader
Edmonton, Alberta; Canada
Posts: 8893
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Beka27
Forum Leader
Cleveland, Ohio (USA)
Posts: 8786
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| 02/11/2010 04:02 PM |
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Posted By wendyzski on 02/08/2010 08:52 PM
I use regular dishpans from the hardware store or even the dollar-plus store for litterboxes.
This is another excellent suggestion! I know many dollar stores have those big, deep dishpans that you can buy... for a DOLLAR! lol
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Max & Meadow |
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