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Forum DIET & CARE Bedding: Is it Necessary?

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    • Kiahak
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        Hello! So, I recently got a mini Rex (although, it’s a tad big and may be a standard Rex) that is 3 months old. This is my first time i’ve had a rabbit since I was a 6 year old child, so i’m learning everything on how to take care of a rabbit.

        I’ve used the search function, explored Dr. Google, and everything else. So, I have to ask, is bedding necessary for a rabbit? Currently, I used So Phresh compressed paper pellets for the litter box, but just Katyee Clean and Cozy compressed paper bedding for the rest of the cage. The bun bun urinates in the litter box, but defecates everywhere (not really near her hay feeder though. I do keep hay in the littler box as well). I had assumed it’s because she’s currently marking her territory, as she’s only been with us for about a week. When we let her out of the cage, she doesn’t go to the bathroom (even if she’s out for an hour or so) and will hop into her cage to go defecate (or litter box to urinate) and hops back out to play some more. 

        Because I want her bedding somewhat clean, I clean it pretty frequently (by removing the pellets into the litter box), but also changing the bedding if I need to. I realize that I can go through bedding pretty quickly and it can become costly, even if i’m buying it in bulk, but I always see pictures of rabbits in their habitats that don’t seem to have any bedding. When I leave for school or work and come home, I notice some of the bedding has been pushed out of the way and the rabbit lays on the plastic of her cage. So i’m not sure if she even likes the bedding. I see people say they put down some carpet they bought at a discount store or a towel, and that’s what i’m concerned about. I’m currently trying to train the bun bun to not chew on fabric (such as carpet) for when she’s out of her cage. I’m not sure if putting in a carpet or towel to replace bedding would encourage that behavior. I don’t want to have nothing in there, because I don’t know if she’ll develop sore hocks or anything being on plastic or if that should even be a concern. I’ve also seen some people say to not have bedding, as they can confuse it with litter, but she’s semi-litter boxed trained as it is (like I said, I think she just poops everywhere to mark territory since she’s new, but only urinates in the litter box).

        Can I get any advice on this? I’d appreciate it greatly.


      • jerseygirl
        Moderator
        22338 posts Send Private Message

          Welcome!

          So, I have to ask, is bedding necessary for a rabbit?

          No, it’s not necessary. You can save money spent of that for something else.

          To get he pooping in the box more, make sure it’s a decent size and that she can only access hay by getting in it. I think that will really help.

          When I leave for school or work and come home, I notice some of the bedding has been pushed out of the way and the rabbit lays on the plastic of her cage.

          That’s pretty common. They do seem to prefer a bare surface.

          Because she is still young, I don’t think you have to worry about sore hocks just yet. (Weight and long nails can contribute to sore hocks).
          It will be easier to instill good litter habits if the cage is bare for now. Then later, you could introduce something to protect her feet. Those memory foam bath mats might be suitable, but you will need to watch if she’s a chewer!


        • Love4Bunny
          Participant
          878 posts Send Private Message

            I own two destructo-bunnies. There is no way I can keep any fabric or non-edible foamy things inside the cage (except for the hay bag). However, I do put down sea grass mats, and that works really well. Like Jerseygirl said, I also keep their nails trimmed regularly.


          • Azerane
            Moderator
            4688 posts Send Private Message

              I agree that bedding isn’t necessary, many rabbits just push it aside as yours does. Some do well with a folded fleece of memory foam mat as a soft resting area, but others don’t and are too inclined to chew.

              Enjoy the savings


            • Sr. Melangell
              Participant
              1708 posts Send Private Message

                Olly pushes his blanket or old towel to the side and sort of cuddles it, if I put shredded paper bedding in his bed he thinks its to do tinkles.
                He likes to take out his blanket sometimes and lay on the plastic of his cage or bed, so its normal.


              • CharlieTheBun
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                  When i got Charlie(4 months old) I quickly learned that putting any type of bedding down in his cage was a terrible idea because he would pee on/eat everything that looked soft and comfy so removed everything except the litterbox pellets. Then i started to let him out to run around my room and he would chew on my fuzzy carpet like crazy trying to destroy it and if he was not busy doing that he went and peed on it and it almost drove me crazy…

                  Its now a year later and i can gladly say that the issue is almost resolved. Although he stayed a bunny that dislikes soft bedding(he is still scratching off the flece from my couch when sometimes) he can now tolerate it better. He slowly lost interest in the carpet and he has a pillow wraped in a fleece blanket in his cage which he sometimes still gets angry on and chews a bit but does not pee on it. Most of his cage floor still needs to be bare and the pillow is just there just in case he would like something softer (mostly to just lean his head on it).

                  So i would say just wait it out and hopefully after she has gone trough bunny puberty she is going to get a bit better behaved and calmer.  

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              Forum DIET & CARE Bedding: Is it Necessary?