Litter Training!!

[Mjacqu6]

I am a first time rabbit owner, but I have had my little dudes for about 4 years now. I have had cats, rats and guinea pigs when I was growing up so I am not completely an animal newbie.

I have read every tutorial post and blog about rabbit litter training but I can’t seem to get the point across to one of my rabbits. 

I moved two weeks ago. At our last apartment the rabbit culprit would almost never urinate on the carpet, but he pooped indiscriminately.I desperately tried to litter train my little guy but it just didn’t work. I eventually just let him be and ended up vacuuming pellets twice a day for over 2 years. This time I really want to do it differently. I have been letting them get acclimated to the new place slowly. I put their cage in the kitchen and opened the door. After about a day, my big guy (Astor) climbed out and started exploring. Boston took another 2 days (I didn’t want to rush him) but eventually he left the cage and started exploring. The SECOND he left the kitchen he made a huge urine stain on my new carpet. He then proceeded to joyously explore the new space, leaving pellets every few minutes. 

It breaks my heart to see him cooped up, but I really really want a pellet free apartment. 

From what I’ve read, it seems that leaving them in a small space at first helps with the training. The next week I put up a pet gate and kept them in the kitchen. I could tell they were restless, but I was determined to litter train him. I scooped up all of his pellets and put them in the cage, and when I saw him leave one, i immediately picked him up and put him in. After a week of this he still leaves pellets all over the kitchen.

I am a huge softie so I let them out of the kitchen every two days or so so they can run and explore, but Boston shows no signs of litter training at all. He seems worse than before…

If you told me that he absolutely could not be litter trained, I would just let him out to poop everywhere because it makes me so happy to see him running, jumping and exploring but I REALLY want to do this right.

It really bothers me that my other rabbit NEVER urinates or poops outside the litter box. I know first hand that rabbits are capable… how do I impart this to the other one??? (

Did I ruin his litter training by letting him just do what he wanted at my last place?

I’ve read that litter training adult rabbits is not difficult but I have had no luck. 

Tips, info and encouragement please! I just want to do right by them…

-Matt

[Sr. Melangell]

I don’t know if this will help, but as soon as you see him about to tinkle or poop, pick him up and put him in his tray, like we do with toddler or put some of his poop in his tray and when he does use it when he is done, tell him he is a good boy, is your bunny neutered? My Olly is and it didn’t take long to litter train him and he is an adult, when he plays and wants to do what he needs to he runs into his cage into his tray, he also jumps on my bed and as soon as he needs to go he goes to his tray, I haven’t had any problems litter training rabbits really, no major problems only a few tiny ones with Olly, lol he tipped his litter tray over in the night and put it on top of his bowls and used it, because it had sawdust in and I found out he hates sawdust because he is allergic to it, hopefully someone can help you that has older rabbits, good luck.

[Sarita]

Moving to behavior.

[Author]

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