Tootsie, my black dutch mix is impossible. It's to the point that my husband wants him gone.

We're doing a full-scale cage cleaning every day. Every day.

He's a little over 4 months and our lop is 3 months. Just babies. But we're going on 4 months of cleaning up pee every other hour.

 

When we got our lop, we built a huge nic cage but Tootsie was very territorial and we housed them separately until they could be bonded, plus- Tootsie had barely been neutered so we were waiting a few weeks anyways.

 

I finally got to the point where they could be together but we learned fast that they needed to be split up because Tootsie was STILL not litter trained and we didn't want Berry to learn from that (she naturally caught on very quickly- praise God!).

 

So we put Tootsie in a small cage because we read that if you reduce their freedom, they can usually learn better. Well, a month later he still was peeing on his bed and sleeping in the litter pan. I moved the pan to every corner when he peed there- nothing. I took out the bed- started peeing on the floor. Eventually, he'd pee in the pan.. Then sleep in it. So he was getting wipey baths every day.

 

Eventually we saw a tiny bit of improvement and frankly I felt horrible for Toots being in that little cage, so I put him back in the C&C cage. He was doing... okay.. for a while. Mostly in the pan. Only about 1 non-litter pan peeing a week.

 

I was basically okay with that- obviously wanting it to go away completely, but happy with what I could get.

But not anymore. Every time now. every time. Not even in a corner! I have all the corners blocked with... something. A bed, a little pan, food dish, water bottles- all kinds of blocks.

So he goes in the middle.

Dont even get me started on poops. I always pick them up and put them in the pan. Doesn't care. Goes everywhere. UGH!

 

What the heck. I'm so frustrated. I'm at the point where I start to cry. I had to put Tootsie back in the tiny cage. I mean.. it's so small.

 

I dont know what else to do.

I've tried SO many types of litters. Carefresh (my current one because the baby likes it), clay, paper, hay, pine pellets, "rabbit litter" from the petstore.

 

Please. I dont know what to do. I have never once to this day caught him in the act. It's like he knows.. Help

I wonder if it is a territorial thing, since there is another buns involved? Have you tried putting food/hay in the litterbox? Also, have you done any positive reinforcement when he is in the litterbox, saying good boy or treats?

With my first rabbit, I didn't know they could be litter trained for a while. So, I put towels down in her cage. I'd rather wash peed on towels than have to wipe it up all the time or clean a rabbit who laid in it-- that is the worst in my opinion!

Hmm. Silly rabbit!

Sounds like he may need to get neutered. That often helps with the litter training 4 months is perfect timing for a boy to get done too

Neutering will definitely help, but I also suggest you read this:

http://binkybunny.com/BUNNYINFO/tab...aspx 

He... IS neutered.

And I dont think it's territory anymore. He's in love with Berry. They groom each other and snuggle constantly.

I did try hay in the box, he just pushed it out and slept there.

 

I added a picture. Poor Tootsie in that little cage! But cleaning the other one every single day is awful. I have to essentially dismantle the cage to get to certain parts.

Corner litter box may also be a reason. Most rabbits like the nice big comfy cat boxes. Maybe try one of those?

Do you have any other pets? My rabbit used to leave territorial poops because of our dog. You also might wanna take him to the vet and have them make sure they snipped him properly and thoroughly.

Nope, no other pets. See that pink bin in there? That's got carefresh in it now too. Just.. sits there.

At the last vet visit she said everything looked fine. I'm just frustrated.

The pink bin looks pretty tall in the picture, like he might hit the floor above when he jumps in, maybe he would prefer a bin with lower sides for easy access?

 

Like Monkeybun said, the corner boxes are probably too small, lots of rabbits like boxes big enough to lay in.

That's his main "sleep" area.

I also have a shorter box that is on the first floor now. Berry uses it no problem but not Tootsie.

I know this may sound odd. But does Tootsie have a thing about wanting to go in a clean litter box? My bun can be silly and get it in her head that doesn't want to sit in used litter to go potty. So I'll have to keep the litter box as clean as can be. Maybe Tootsie doesn't like standing in Berry potty in order to do his business?

This may sound weird too... but my buns will only hang out in a box if it has fluffy Carefresh in it. The litter has to be packed down tightly for him to go on it. My hubby figured that one out. I wondered why he wouldn't go in the box when I changed it.

As for a cheap, low-sided litter box option, use the cardboard box lid that comes on boxes of copy paper.

I'm currently using your box idea. It works.. okay. Half the time he'll go NEXT to the box.

I'll try packing it down good. Because whenever I change it, that's when he doesn't seem to want to pee in it.
But all I do is dump it- NOT wipe it clean. Because I was thinking the smell on the very bottom would attract him to pee there.
I dont know. It's like 50-50 at this point.

Could it be his age? We found him and the vet aged him at about 2 months when we saw her (a month after finding Tootsie). So we've had him since he was about a month old. And he's a little over 4 months.

But I really feel like he should understand.

if i had a giant box full of carefresh, i'd sleep in it too. plus carefresh gets completely soiled after only a few pees.
maybe try switching to paper pellets.

I know you stated you have tried all sorts of litter, but I found my silly bunny won't pee in a litter box with pine pellets. It must be the strong pine scent. Carefresh is too darn expensive and it think it smells quicker than a pellet litter. I have to drive an hour away every 2 months to buy my picky rabbit oak pellets, as they don't have any scent.

You can also try leaving a little bit of his soiled litter when you do a litter change. Just enough to encourage him to go in it. And as others have suggested get rid of the corner litter box, but I would not get a huge litter box either. Just big enough for a pile of hay in the corner and Tootsie to get in and eat comfortably.

How long have Tootsie and Berry been bonded?

IMO the best litter is paper pellets. I use Yesterday's News.

When I was litter training my buns, after I cleaned up the pee with a paper towel, I would immediately put the paper towel in the litter box and then sit the bunny in the box. Leave the paper towel in the box until you clean it again. You could also try adding another litter box or a larger litter box. Putting hay in it often helps because bunnies love to pee/poo and eat at the same time

4 months is still quite young. Some bunnies take quite awhile to get the hang of it. I know all that clean up is frustrating but you have to be patient.

Have you tried putting some sort of tasty treat in the box? In one corner I would a little piece of cilantro or maybe a little bowl of pellets because that entices them.

have you tried a clumping litter? i know its a little controversial..
im in the process of re-training Yeti to use his little box.. but he has NEVER peed outside his box.. and i find it doesnt smell as much as otheir options..
all i can say is my bun HATES having wet feet.
maybe thats has something to do with it.?

goodluck i've got my fingers crossed for you.. i know how tough it is.

do not do not do not use clumping litter. Most bunnies eat some of their litter, and clumping or clay litters can cause serious blockages.

Also, if you see any poopies outside of the box, throw it back into the litter box. It shows the bunny that 'this is the toilet.' It worked for me. I hope you can find something that works.

Thanks for all the ideas.

I've tried quite a lot of them but there are a few I'll look into more.

What about trying a cat litter that is made of paper pellets? Would this be safe to use?

I used a clumping one once and it was a TERRIBLE failure. It made a huge mess and it didn't work anyways.

Yes using a litter called Yesterday's News will work. It's a good litter that soaks up pee very and conceals smell well. =]