Fleece Toilet

[Maggie and Rosie]

Hello

Our two buns, Rosie and Maggie, have been with us for about a month now and my partner and I are quickly learning that they can get up to all sorts of mischief.

They are allowed to run free when we are at home but they are kept in a pen at night and while we are at work. It’s a big pen (over 2sqm) but obviously we want them to be content while they’re in there.

The floor is linoleum which is hard wearing and good for mess control but, of course, it’s not particularly soft. They spread their food hay around but we sweep that up daily and replenish it to stop it getting dusty. To compensate, we had been putting a fleece blanket in there for them to lie on but the problem is one of them (unsure which, possibly both) pees and poops on it.

Poo isn’t really a problem. They’re rabbits, they poop everywhere. What’s bizarre is that they are otherwise very good about using their litter box for wee. So why is one of them peeing on the fleece?

For the avoidance of doubt the fleece is nowhere near the litter tray, nor is there any food source near it.

Any tips? We’d like them to have some soft bedding but if they’re going to pee on it rather than sleep on it we can’t use it!

[Azerane]

Some rabbits like to pee on soft things, it just seems to be the nature of bunnies sometimes. It could just be that. Otherwise for now the soft fleece could simply be causing a little bit of confusion with the softer bedding in the litter box. I would give it a little bit of time to see if it improves. Soak up any pee spots with paper towel and put them in the tray, then spray and wipe the fleece with a 50/50 vinegar water solution.

[tobyluv]

Have Rosie and Maggie been spayed? It can be difficult to completely litter box train a rabbit that hasn’t been spayed or neutered.

[MrBun&Daisy]

with my boy it was territorial when he started peeing where he wasn’t supposed to but someone suggesting putting another litter box in the spot he had picked out. if there is one main spot they are picking maybe you could put a second box there to reinforce the litter training. it worked like a charm for us. we are now trying to decide if we want to eliminate that box since they don’t use it as much. like azerane said just keep cleaning it up and getting rid of the scent. unfortunately if a bunny decides one place is their potty there isn’t much we humans can do to change their minds. also try to pick up the pellets that are in the same area and put them in the litter box. you just need to keep reminding them they already have a potty. hopefully they will get over the new-ness of the blanket and settle down.

[Maggie and Rosie]

Both spayed, and similarly when out of the pen and free in the flat they will only use their litter tray. We didn’t train them as they’re adopted, and other than the fleece they are very good.

They never pee on that spot when there isn’t a fleece. I’m thinking it may be a “soft, therefore pee” situation.

[Bam]

“Soft, therefore pee” sounds likely. My Bam was like that, a pretty long time (at least 6 months) after he was neutered. He just couldn’t resist peeing on the dog’s vet bed, so she couldn’t have one. He also peed on the soft rug in the hallway.

And then, for completely unknown reasons, he stopped. Now he can have fleece blankies and my dog can have a cozy bed, and Bam reserves his pee for the litter-boxes.

[Maggie and Rosie]

Have identified the culprit as Rosie. Caught her peeing on a cotton blanket that was covering something. Completely unashamed, watched me while she did it.

I think she just likes peeing on soft stuff. Hopefully Maggie will be a good influence and she’ll grow out of it like Bam did.

[Author]

Messages