New cat using rabbit litter box

[Laura]

OK, so a friend of mine adopted a rabbit a few months ago. (A bunny I fostered!)  The rabbit, Buddy is free roam in the house, and litter box trained.  She just got a kitten about 2 weeks ago.  Kitten has now discovered she would rather use the rabbit litter box.  Now Buddy is not happy and marking his territory and pooping all around the box.

Do you think Buddy will get over it?

OR

HOW do you stop the kitten from using Buddy’s box?

I have cats and rabbits, but my rabbits are not free roam, so when I let the rabbits out for playtime I block the cat boxes.

Thanks.

Laura

[jerseygirl]

If it were me I’d aim at keeping kitty from using the box. A litterbox should be bunnies safe place & it’s own. It’s a shame Buddy might lose his habits because of this. I was trying to think of that herb that is a cat repellant but on looking it up I discovered that lavendar and lemon-thyme are herbs cats don’t like to be around. And these 2 are bunny-safe. Maybe some of these actual herbs in his litterbox? There is a lavendar scented litter I believe but not sure if real good for rabbits. I guess she could mix a little of it with regular litter. Apparently cats don’t like tea leaves either. Pretty sure rabbits ok round these too. Only thing is if Buddy objects to the strange smell of his litterbox too…

Does she use hay in the litterbox? Sometimes that is what the cats are attracted to. I guess she could try make kittys box more enticing to kitty also.

[Minty]

As far as I know, cat feces is dangerous for rabbits and they should never share a litter box.
How come the cat wants to use the bunny’s box? Is it the type of litter? Type of box? Location?
Maybe she could set up a similar type litter box so the cat will want to use it?
I would maybe block the cat off from the bunny area for the time being so the cat will learn to use its own box.

[Sarita]

I think a rabbit would not want to go in the litterbox too after the cat has pooped in it…

[Andi]

I know I’ve seen a few times that peoples cat hang out in the rabbits cages because they like eating the hay.
I am agreeance with everyones posts, trying to repel the cat from the rabbits box/area is a good start, and maybe even seperating the cat to one area with is own litter box so he learns that one is his.

[Balefulregards]

When La Chatte was alive, there were a few times that She used Coco’s litter for urinating. ( Later we found out La Chatte was in kidney failure, but that is another issue)

Coco would be FURIOUS. She would then Pee on MY bed to express her dislike of La Chatte using the rabbit litter. I eventually used a spray bottle to “discourage” the cat from using the box.

As this is a kitten, she should probably be blocking off the rabbits box as the kitten is “Learning habits” right now.

[RabbitPam]

I think I would work on training the kitten to leave the bunny’s litter pan alone. Maybe making a litter box for her more attractive. Would she like a covered pan more? If so, you can get a pan like that for her, and encourage her to go in it. Or put a bit of catnip inside to lure her into it exclusively.

[Nibbles_NZ]

I agree, you should definetly seperate areas. Maybe the kitty is using the rabbits litter box because it sees that the rabbits are doing it. With it being a kitten it is learning…maybe the rabbits are teaching. It kind of made me laugh when you said the rabbit started pooping all around the litter box. I know that it probably isn’t very funny to you and I’m sorry for saying that. I can just picture a rabbit frantically pooping all around the litter box trying to repel the kitty. That is too cute. You should just get the kitty used to it’s own box. Maybe put a few kitty toys next it the box so it is a more interesting place to be, then when it has to go the litter box will be right there and the other will be unacessable so it will have no choice.

[Lintini]

Ah this posts reminds me of the box of hay I had in the living room for Bagheera. Here comes Gandalf my Persian cat checking out everything…hops into the hay box and decides to pop a squat in it. I go “NOOOOOOOOoOOOooooooOoo” Please picture me running in slow motion in a deep, slow motion voice. lol. He freaks out and runs away. What a a weirdo that cat is.

I agree with what everyone else has said. Their boxes need to be kept separate. Cat urine is so nasty …and the fact that he contaminated my rabbits hay…you gotta be careful. I was just lucky to catch him doing it!

[KatnipCrzy]

Carnivore/cat poop is likely to be highly offensive to a prey animal like a bunny.  Your friend needs to decide how much she cares about the litter training and the health of the bunny.  Has the kitten been tested for intestinal parasites and had 2 negative results? 

[Slowebot]

My cat is obsessed with “eating” hay out of my bunny’s litter box but he hasn’t used it yet. I think the fact that the kitten is using it is hilarious. Obviously everyone has covered the dangers of it, so good luck to you and your friend! Jerseygirl, I think the herb idea is so innovative and smart! I want to put herbs on my counter now and keep my cat off counters.

[Sarita]

Hi Slowebot – we ask members to not respond to old posts – it is confusing to members :~) Thank you.

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