when do you clean litter boxes

[Deleted User]

As I am subjected to continuous scrutiny for smells my rabbits might be the origin of , I am trying to figure out the best time to clean my rabbits. There are 7 living in my basement at this time. I clean them in the early a.m. I was wondering if it would be cleaner to change their litter in the evenings before bedtime instead? Do rabbits potty more often during the night or the day time? Let’s say they use the litter box more often at night, then it would make more sense to change their litter in the morning so for the soiled litter not to sit all day soaked and smelly. (really, I don’t smell anything bad about them unless I skip a cleaning) I think many people just associate the visual of rabbit droppings with a bad smell. It depends on litter material, too, I often use shredded newspaper which doesn’t control odor, so I have to change it more frequently.

I know many don’t need to change the litter daily, especially with just 1 bunny. But for those with multiple rabbits, what time of day do you clean them?

[RachelB]

I clean my bunnies litterbox in the morning. I think that they use it lots more at night so by the morning it looks pretty full. I also just use newspaper (a few folded pieces covered with some hay for munching) and if I wait more than 2 days its really stinky (I dont notice but my bf does). So to keep up a pattern for them I change every morning before work (unless I oversleep).

[Sarita]

Well for me it’s more of a matter of my schedule. I change mine every 4 days in the evening. For instance this week it was on Wednesday – next week on Monday and Friday and then on Wednesday so it’s about every 4 days.

I don’t think it matters the time of the day you do it as far as the mess that’s made – I don’t think they really have a schedule anymore than we do.

I have a total of 7 litter boxes I clean – 3 large and 4 medium.

I don’t find that it’s always a matter of the litter boxes in my house either – I have some rabbits that are not good at using their litter boxes for various reasons (health mainly) so I find that washing the rugs that these particular rabbits are on (which is why they are on the kind of rugs I can wash) when I do litter boxes helps with the odor control too. It makes my life more difficult but I feel better changing the rugs more often now.

[katie, max & penny]

mine use the potty most often in the night, so i clean them in the morning- 2 times a week.

[bunnytowne]

I clean Cottons box in his house 2x a week.   The ones outside his cage 1x a week for they dont’ get as soiled as quickly.

Ruby has only 1 litterbox.   She only seems to want 1.   I had 2 and she we’ed on the floor.     Beings that she only uses 1  I change hers 2x a week plus I scoop out only the soiled litter as it gets wet.     Otherwise she will smell and be wet.   I definitely don’t want her wet from sitting in it 

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

If your having odour problems (I know we don’t notice any smells but maybe the significant others are complaining?) you can put a box of baking sode in the room (not so they can access it) and the other thing I do is put baking soda on the very bottom with paper towels over it, then litter. That REALLY seems to do the trick

[Deleted User]

I might try the baking soda, because it’s a grated litter box anyways. For my rabbits, I use stal-dry, it controls odor really well (bentonite based but again they have no access to it because of the grate) but right now I’m out, so I’ll give the baking soda a shot.

[Sarita]

What type of litter do you use Petzy?

I’ve heard of the stal-dry too and the rescue I used to help at used it – they weren’t good at using it all the time though, but they had good intentions :~)

[Lara]

I clean mine at night usually, just because that’s when I have the time to do it. I used to change them every day, but since I switched from Yesterday’s News to Care Fresh at the suggestion of my vet, I find that they can go twice, almost three times as long before they even start to smell! Also, Care Fresh is easier on the little bunny tootsies. (This is the main reason for the switch. Calypso developed an allergy to the floor cleaner I used to use and refused to go in the litter box because it hurt his sore feet.)

I also keep an open box of baking soda near the cage, which really does wonders.

[Deleted User]

Sarita, I love this stuff called Stall-Dry but I wouldn’t use it if the rabbit had access to it. It isn’t an edible or digestible litter material as are the paper-based ones. But it controls odor so well and it is very economical. I get 40 lbs. I think for twelve dollars.

Here is the link

http://www.absorbentproductsltd.com/stalldry_canada.htm

 

[jerseygirl]

Thanks Petzy. I recently realised myself that I don’t actually have to use wood pellet litter for same reason – grated boxes. Was wondering what alternatives had good odour control – so there’s my answer. Betonite is a mineral isn’t it? I’m wondering about disposal.

Maybe have your housemates describe what they can smell exactly. Surely it’s not the angel buns!

[Beka27]

My thought would be to clean in the morning (in your situation…) so the whole day, the house is smelling fresh. At night they can potty to their heart’s content… and then you can clean again the next morning… Also, this way if someone goes downstairs during the day, the boxes are not filled to capacity. It might take some creative scheduling to allow yourself extra time in the morning, but I think it’d be worth it. In the evening you could go down and hang out, and not have to worry about cleaning after a long day at work or whatever…

For my buns, I clean out litterboxes on Tuesday and Friday. Tuesday because it’s garbage night… so the old litter heads right out the door. Friday b/c I don’t have to worry about cleaning boxes over the weekend, and if friends or family drop by to hang out over the weekend, the boxes are relatively clean.

[RachelB]

Ive been thinking of adding bakingsoda to the bottom of my litter boxes. My question being if the bunnies decide that they want to dig (which mine never have in the box) and somehow got to the bakingsoda would it be bad for them to ingest? Is it a better option to put a contaner of it up on a high shelf in the kitchen instead?

[Deleted User]

Posted By jerseygirl on 08/28/2009 11:40 PM
Thanks Petzy. I recently realised myself that I don’t actually have to use wood pellet litter for same reason – grated boxes. Was wondering what alternatives had good odour control – so there’s my answer. Betonite is a mineral isn’t it? I’m wondering about disposal.

Maybe have your housemates describe what they can smell exactly. Surely it’s not the angel buns!

He says that he can smell their tray. Probably he can a little bit, but as long as he sees me making an effort it should be under control.

I was wrong about the bentonite. Stal-Dry contains diatomaceous earth which is not the same thing, but both are clay type minerals I believe.  I chose the Stal-Dry because of price mainly (I change mine very often) and it isn’t dusty at all. It’s biodegradable, I compost mine. It is messier than wood to clean, though, it becomes like wet sand and won’t scoop, I line with a sheet of newsprint underneath to make it easier.

I know the Stal-Dry from my friend who had a wet floor in a shed outside and uses the stuff to control this problem. It is very hygienic, bugs can’t live in it like they could in wood materials.

I would use a dust-free cat litter material also under the grate but they are way expensive.

 

[Deleted User]

oh, ya, can you tell ? I can’t work the block quote feature at all! Any hints??

[QueSará]

I do not mean to be harsh, but do NOT use baking soda in the litter tray.  It is far too dusty, and will cause some serious respiratory aggrevation if the bun inhales any.  And with their love of digging, I’m sure they would find it quick enough.  Also, baking soda contains a good deal of salt, which is not terrific in a buns diet in any high quantity.

What do you clean the litter tray out with?  I always spray with a half vinegar, half water solution, which kills a lot of the smell.  If you do this with a little spray bottle every other day or so, it should help the smell a lot.

[Sarita]

I agree with QueSara about the baking soda – what type of litter are you using Rachel?

[Deleted User]

The vinegar does work great. I wipe my grate down with it when I change the litter in the morning. Honestly, I think the smell that is there is mostly hay and it just reminds my bf of a barn!
I agree that baking soda should not be placed within reach of the bunny’s inhalation range. Good point.

[jerseygirl]

Pee on hay can get a bit whiffy IMO. Petzy, I looks at the link you gave and read about the diatomaceous earth. Funny, as this is second time this stuff has come on the forums. Member Kafrn knows quite a bit about it thru her work. It seems to have multiple uses.

Here’s a tip:  When your BF is sleeping, apply a bit of essential oil with a q-tip to the insides of his nostrils.  That way he’ll smell nothing but that.  J/K!!!!!!!!!!!

[Deleted User]

Jerseygirl, i’m up for this essential oil trick as there is nothing more I can do to make my rabbits any cleaner. No peeing on hay any more either, I really became strict!!! But their feet are super white, well, Deirdra’s, that is…
Do you have the link to the other discussion on Stal-Dry?

[jerseygirl]

Sorry, should have been more clear. I meant diatomaceous earth had come up few times. I’ll send you msg.

[BinkyBunny]

I scoop up the poop, urine soaked litter and hay every morning and add new scoops of fresh litter to the remaining “okay” litter. Since Jack has been drinking so much more with his special 10% juice/water mix in addition to his regular water (vet recommended to prevent a bladder stone from returning) then his litterbox sometimes has to be fully dumped. However because his urine is so diluted now it doesn’t smell very much.

Then once a week or twice a month (depends on how icky things get), I will do a full box soak and clean.

I think HAY and wood litter can also make things smell “rabbity” without there ever being really any offensive smell. Sometimes people a hay and wood smell with a “Barn”, and then it’s an automatic association as “dirty” if they aren’t used to it.

What really helps is adding very fragrant types of herbs to the area – to their hay box or the corner of the litter box. Fresh cut Rosemary, Basil and Mint are great. I sometimes cut a bunch of rosemary from the front yard and hang it off the back of the door. (I normally have a oscillating fan on low that also spreads that scent throughout the room.

I also recently discovered Oxbow Botanical Hay and it smells like a yummy fragrant tea, and a little of that as well the box now.

I am conscious that I may get used to a “smell” and so when friends come over that I know wouldn’t be afraid to offend me, I ask if it smells. And so far, they always say no. And when newer people come in and check out the bunny room, the most common “unsolicited” comment is “It doesn’t smell like rabbits at all” which I take as a compliment, yet at the same time it makes me realize how strong it is in many peoples minds that they expect rabbits to be smelly pets.

[Deleted User]

BB, I will get some fragrant herb to put there, that’s a good idea. I did see this tip in your info page a while ago but I never worried about smells in the past because I had only 2 rabbits here. I was already thinking of Glade scent stories for my basement but I think my boyfriend is allergic to scented products and I doubt it is good for animals. One of dogs from the past broke out in hives after sleeping by a Glade plug-in at a relative’s house.

[Furface]

cilantro is another smelly herb that my buns like.

[Deleted User]

I have a mother who is into herb gardening… I’m going to get her to mail me some dry….

[sally]

I do my two every other day, simply becasue they live in our lounge, and Mouse does make a right mess of her cage and needs sorting almost as soon as I have cleaned it!! Only occasionally will I get a whiff of a bad smell, but to be honest, its not that bad of a smell, just like others have said, its just a barn smell, reminds me of trips to farms as a kid, so it doesnt really bother me!The thing with my 2 is territory pooping, they keep doing that and despite putting a tray in thier fav spot to do it, they still poop on the floor, so using dustpan and brush a lot in that area!
We do have a freshmatic thing that is on the other side of the room, and it sprays out every 30mins which i think helps, and I use shake’n’vac when I hoover, so that helps too. Sometimes it may whiff but I dont think its a really gross smell, people who arent used to it, just smell a bit and think they are dirty!!

[RabbitPam]

I’ve always scooped out the new poos in the morning, spread around the clean part of the litter onto the soiled part, and dumped the whole pan out every couple of days. Sammy needed a new litter pan because she was peeing over the back corner, so I got her a rectangular one this past month with a very high back. Well, it solved the problem, but it’s too big to fit through the cage door! I need to change my litter cleaning style. Used to pull it out and dump it into covered trash pail.

I found a scooper that sits in a closed holder like a toilet brush holder. It’s really good for reaching in, scooping both poos and wet used litter. She is like Mark’s bunny, Maryanne. She only uses one corner of that pan, not even the whole thing. So I scoop out her corner, then push or scoop in fresh into that spot. It doesn’t smell at all that way. Mark once said he was late for work and realized he could just spin the box around and she had a fresh corner to pee in.

[sdrabbitlvr]

I clean my rabbits’ litter boxes in the morning, because they seem to use it more at night. I find that the boxes stay fresher if I change them in the morning, also, but that’s just my rabbits. I think it differs from rabbit to rabbit, actually. Find what works best for you and your buns.

I use Yesterday’s News, which seems to work well as far as odor control goes.  You could try it, if you want and see what u get.

 

Good luck!

[HoppyBinkies]

I’ve only had Maddy a week now, but I change her box everynight. I tried going two nights, but noticed the next day that I could definitely detect an odor. And she’s in my bedroom, so that’s kinda ewww. So, everynight I change her box. I plan to soak it in vinegar and water about once a week. I use newspaper, with a little hay on top, for her bedding. She loves to shred the newspaper, and I’m scared she’d ingest any types of commercial bedding. So we stick with the newspaper, and nightly litterbox changes.

[JessicaS]

My husband changes our 3 bunnies’ box every evening. We use yesterday’s news as the litter (they sell it in our grocery store), then a cooking cooling sheet, then a ton of hay. We have no smell, so it is working well. The yesterday’s news is very absorbent because it is pellets of recycled newspaper. We are really happy with it.

[BinkyBunny]

I also mix in Yesterday’s News with Aspen Supreme and it works very well with odor!

[Author]

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