No More Litter?

[mocha200]

 

Has any one thought of not using litter and instead using towels or fleece? I have been watching videos on youtube of people who have guinea pigs and some of them use a cage liner called a piggie bed spread. I am not sure if I am allowed to post the link on this forum so I will tell you what they are, They are fleece sewn to a absorbent material ( like a mattress pad) then another layer  of fleece. What it does is the pee goes through the fleece and into the absorbent material while the top layer of fleece stays dry. Then when it needs to be changed you stick it into the washer.

A  few problems I though of that might happen is the bunny biting or digging up the fleece. If that start to happen I would put one of BB litter screens on top. Also the litter screen would catch the poo and hay and you could just dump the screen into the garbage once a day.

I also thought it would be nice to line my carrier with.

What do you guys think?

 

[Monkeybun]

I think it would stink up very fast, and you would find yourself doing a TON of laundry.

[mocha200]

Yes I thought of that too.

[Elrohwen]

Yeah, way too much laundry for my taste! I like that my WSP litter breaks down in my compost bin, so I don’t consider it wasted.

[mocha200]

Thanks Guys. I doubt my mom would let me put a peed on fleece in the washer every few days anyways. I was just wondering if it would work.

Elrohwen: I LOVE my horse stall pellets but the bunnies seem to be making a mes with them. They keep stepping in the sawdust and tracking it into there condo and my room. I want a litter screen from BinkyBunny but I don’t think they make one for the size of my litter pan ( I use a storage container). I might just end up getting two of the largest size.

[Stickerbunny]

I used a towel around the edges of the litter box when I first got Powder, since he had a few accidents right outside of it. It smelled awful the next day and had to be washed, leaving hay in my washing machine since it gets everywhere. Litter is soooo much easier / smells better.

[TriBun]

I agree, I had to use a towel with Rosy for a while. It had to be changed twice a day. Too much work, bleh.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Mocha, I’ve read about using that plastic screen stuff used for sewing? You can buy it at Walmart or Joannes in a big sheet and cut to size

[bunnyfriend]

What kind of horse stall pellets do you use? I know certain woods are bad for rabbits, but I’m curious because my litter costs me $8 and I’m going through two bags a week now!

[Bones]

I used fleece as bedding for my rats but I don’t think it would work very good for rabbits.

[Elrohwen]

Mocha, you can buy a thing of hardware cloth at the hardware store and cut your own – I did that for my square litter box since I couldn’t find the right size anywhere. You just need some sort of sander or dremel to shave the edges down after cutting them. It’s kind of a pain, but nice to have a custom size.

[Beka27]

I would also be concerned how this would affect potty habits elsewhere in the house. You can’t tell your bun that THIS blanket in their pen is OK to pee on, but that YOUR blanket (or sweatshirt or other fabrics) are OFF-LIMITS.

I can see this being very useful for a disabled rabbit where you don’t necessarily have any other option (for example: I know “Kamdynandsunshinesmom” has said she is doing this with her disabled bunny), but for a healthy rabbit with no mobility issues, I don’t see the benefit.

I’m also not sure if a rabbit who is used to using a litterbox would like using a blanket. My buns have a blanket in their pen and they’ve never ever peed on it.

[mocha200]

Beka: Yes I saw a talk on rabbits who had bad head tilt and they used blankets in there litter pan.
Bunnyfriend: They are safe. Tons of people on this website use horse stall bedding or wood stove pellets.

Anyways I 100% agree with every ones comments I just was curious. Hope you don’t care I ask so many questions :/

[Beka27]

You know we love the questions… and this is beneficial info for others who might be wondering the same thing!

[Sarita]

Yeah, this is popular for guinea pigs because they really aren’t litter trained. Piggy people love this. We sell them at the guinea pig rescue I volunteer at. If you’ve ever seen these guinea pig cages made of C&C cubes and coroplast, they are a stinker to clean because they are so big and bulky and when the aspen shavings become wet, they can be heavy. So the flannel and towels and stuff can be easier to clean those cages with and they are also supposed to be more cost effective since you don’t buy bedding.

But since rabbits can be litter trained it doesn’t make much sense unless as Beka mentions they are disabled and it would be perfect for that.

Mocha200, of course we don’t mind your questions…they are good ones and it’s good to see what others have to say :~) like Beka mentioned.

[mocha200]

OK thanks. I have learned SO much forum over the past few years and now I just can’t help myself from asking more and more!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

have been watching videos on youtube of people who have guinea pigs and some of them use a cage liner called a piggie bed spread.

Tell me more about this piggie bed spread???? I am so struggling to find the right bedding for my pigs…Do you have any links?
I tried straw-it stinks quickly, I tried carefresh but I’m not a millionaire and their cage takes more than two bags and this doesn’t last long at all, I’m currently trialing WSP but they take 1.5 bags (soooo like 60-75 lbs!!) and that’s just a gross waste…*sigh*

But for buns-the litter boxes don’t take up so much litter so I’ll keep using that.

[mocha200]

Kokaneeandkuhlua: Here is the link to the website: http://www.piggybedspreads.com/piggybedspreads.htm
It’s a little expensive for the bedspread, but in the long run it is WAY more cheap then bedding. If you end up getting one I would love to know how you end up like them. I am very interested in guinea pigs but my mom thinks they are ugly and smelly. I don’t understand ::sigh::

I know of some other websites that sell cage liners as well ( though I am not sure if they are as good) But if you would like me to give you the links on here or on a PM I could.

[cactuspancake]

$6/50lbs at home depot guys… great stuff! NO DUST EVER! Goes down to $4/50Lbs in Spring, and they sell it off for $250/ 2 tons lol I’m thinking about doing that…

[Lazee]

I was trying to avoid commercial litter due to the cost and with so much newspaper available to me I was shredding, crinkling up and spraying with rabbit cage odder reducer. The rabbits were using it just fine and didn’t mess with the shredded paper to any degree but the smell was still very much there and strong. I was changing pans 2 and 3 times a day so I bit the bullet and am now using the commercial pan litter and am very happy with the results but not the cost. I need to change every other day with 5 rabbits it is very costly. I wish there was some way to make my own litter but so far I have not been able to come up with good ideas..

[longhairmike]

I used to have gerbils and never spent a penny on bedding,, a few sheets of kleenex for strarters,, Afterwards I just threw all the junk mail in their cage,, they’d shred it and be good until the cage filled up too high with bedding.

[bunnyfriend]

Posted By mocha200 on 10/12/2011 12:13 PM
Bunnyfriend: They are safe. Tons of people on this website use horse stall bedding or wood stove pellets.

Anyways I 100% agree with every ones comments I just was curious. Hope you don’t care I ask so many questions :/

Ohhhh okay I know they are safe I just didn’t know if they made ones with wood that are not good for rabbits so I would know which ones not to buy (:

[Stickerbunny]

Lazee, what kind of commercial litter are you using? Don’t have to buy actual litter, wood stove pellets are the same thing and so is horse stall bedding – which is a lot cheaper than actual litter. I was using newspaper at first for Powder too cause he’d take it, but it’s such a pain to keep clean. He rejected wood pellets, so I use yesterdays news, but if your buns will take WSP it’s really, really cheap.

Bunnyfriend – the pellet process removes the dangerous part of pine and cedar (the oils basically) so they are safe as long as in PELLET form, shavings are what is dangerous.

[bunnyfriend]

Alright thank you!!!

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Kokaneeandkuhlua: Here is the link to the website: http://www.piggybedspreads.com/pigg…preads.htm
It’s a little expensive for the bedspread, but in the long run it is WAY more cheap then bedding. If you end up getting one I would love to know how you end up like them. I am very interested in guinea pigs but my mom thinks they are ugly and smelly. I don’t understand ::sigh::

I know of some other websites that sell cage liners as well ( though I am not sure if they are as good) But if you would like me to give you the links on here or on a PM I could.

Thanks!!! I am considering…I have to do a big washer drier clean whenever I do bunny laundry-mostly from the hair. Dave was not impressed when I showed him the system-guess he’s not interested in pee regularly going through the wash. So I’m still thinking. I am wondering about getting an upright washer drier that would be like an apartment set-the small kind, soley for animal laundry. So then it would be an option. But we have a beautiful front load washer and I think I would ruin it. Buuuuut I am so not finding a litter I llike using for the piggies. Right now they are on WSP with towels for comfort. (PS guinea pigs are STINKY lol but I’ll let you know how they are after the neuter perhaps they will smell better!)

[mocha200]

Haha. Ok. I will let you know if I find a cheaper website. From the reviews I have seen they are worth it, but IDK

[Deleted User]

I’m thinking about trying one of those trays with ventilated artificial turf on top.  They are meant for small dogs.  I plan to turn the turf part upside down, Baby won’t chew on it.  Has anyone tried this & how did it go?  Any thoughts?  I would start off putting the tray under the litter box, then after awhile removing the litterbox but putting some of the litter on top of the turf.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Posted By Cocoa on 10/23/2011 10:02 AM

I’m thinking about trying one of those trays with ventilated artificial turf on top.  They are meant for small dogs.  I plan to turn the turf part upside down, Baby won’t chew on it.  Has anyone tried this & how did it go?  Any thoughts?  I would start off putting the tray under the litter box, then after awhile removing the litterbox but putting some of the litter on top of the turf.

 

It seems like it would get gross, fast. The pee would go through, but the poop will still sit on top, and the bunny will likely chew it, upside down or not. Is there a reason you don’t want to just use litter? I just dump mine every couple of days, no extra cleaning or anything.

[Deleted User]

I live in a condo & would have to walk 3 stories down, then outside to a dumpster & then back upstairs.  I’m 65 & don’t want to do that anymore, especially in the winter.  The janitor picks up regular garbage at my back door, but not animal waste,  Plus it goes into landfill, which is bad for the environment.  With the turf, the pellets & urine will go into the toilet & be flushed at least every day.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Posted By Cocoa on 10/23/2011 10:54 AM

I live in a condo & would have to walk 3 stories down, then outside to a dumpster & then back upstairs.  I’m 65 & don’t want to do that anymore, especially in the winter.  The janitor picks up regular garbage at my back door, but not animal waste,  Plus it goes into landfill, which is bad for the environment.  With the turf, the pellets & urine will go into the toilet & be flushed at least every day.

 

I would be really surprised if that would work. You’d have to buy at least 2 grass things to alternate while you wash and dry one(which you’ll have to do daily),  you’ll still have to put some sort of absorbent pad underneith to catch the urine which will have to be thrown away. You also need to use hay on the litterbox for awhile (if not forever) to teach them to use the litterbox, which would make for difficult cleaning on a turf mat…And the bunny will chew on it, which isn’t safe/healthy.

[Deleted User]

Well, here’s hoping that you will be really surprised.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I don’t think you know what the setup is like.  Enter “dog potty” on a site like Drs Foster & Smith. The tray catches the urine under the grass mat.  The mat can be picked up & the solid results funneled into the toilet. Likewise the tray is picked up & the urine pored into the toilet.  The mat cannot be chewed on with the 4 corners fastened down with clips.  The rabbit already is litterbox trained & I think it would be easier than with a dog, whose been taught not to “go” inside.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Posted By Cocoa on 10/23/2011 12:56 PM

Well, here’s hoping that you will be really surprised.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.  I don’t think you know what the setup is like.  The tray catches the urine under the grass mat.  The mat can be picked up & the solid results funneled into the toilet. Likewise the tray is picked up & the urine pored into the toilet.  The mat cannot be chewed on with the 4 corners fastened down with clips.  The rabbit already is litterbox trained.

 

 

I know what the setup is like, I’ve seen the commercials and there is more than enough info on them on the web. However most of the reviews say that their dogs just plays and digs and chewed at them, and since chewing and digging is a Rabbits life, it *really* seems like a bad idea. Rabbits can chew through walls, a couple of clips might hold it down, but if it’s plastic/chewable, it can and will be chewed. Thats why a edible litter is so, so important.

 

What will you do if it doesn’t work? Or if the rabbit refuses to use it?

 

[Monkeybun]

And rabbit litter going to the landfill isn’t bad for the enviroment. It composts fast.

[Deleted User]

Things don’t compost in landfills because they get no oxygen.

[Sam and Lady's Human]

Posted By Cocoa on 10/23/2011 08:14 PM
Things don’t compost in landfills because they get no oxygen.

 

That’s actually not true, things still compost, it just takes much, much longer if its airtight (triple wrapped in a plastic bag). Rabbit waste is different than most though, the poop is “clean” enough to be used immediately in dirt as fertilizer, and if you use cellsorb or wood chips (I think even yesterdays news and a couple others are biodegradable too), the urine desolves the litter into powder so there isnt much to compost. If you’re that worried about your enviromental footprint, you can even use a litterscreen sold here at BB to seperate the litter from the poop, so you can use the poop in your houseplants and compost the rest on your own, or even use a biodegradable garbage bag.

[jerseygirl]

One thing with flushing away the contents…..bunny poop doesn’t flush very well.

I’ve used various forms of grated litterboxes. Though I do use a litter ( just newspaper now) under the grate and compost everything. With those dog litterbox systems, you might be better off not using the turf component at all. It sits on a grid doesn’t it? May as well have the bunny go directly onto that.

Or use something like this

It’s more like a conventional litterbox so a rabbit is less likely to pee over the edges.

By flushing everyday it might keep odour down but you could always add a little vinegar and water to the catch area to help. So long as that smell doesn’t cause the rabbit to avoid the box.  I use straight vinegar in a dish in the room and that helps with odour.

 

[TriBun]

Jerseygirl, where did you find that litter box? That might be the answer for Rosy’s sensitive leg. The metal screens are too hard on her.

[jerseygirl]

Sorry Tribun, it took me a while to find it again.
That particular one I found in an image search but here it is: http://www.aliexpress.com/product-fm/424425074-Indoor-double-layer-cat-toilet-dog-toilet-Cleanness-and-healthy-pet-toilet-with-mesh-plate-pet-wholesalers.html
I’ve seen this sort of thing for using wood pellets. The top part acts as a sifter to shake the broken down pellet material. I think it could be used without the litter material in top though urine will prob still pool on top a bit. If a litter material is touching underneath the grate part, that could help.
I saw similar things too that had a lower entry point. http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/23452535…t_dog.html

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