Tipping litter box?!

[JustJenna01]

A few months ago, I decided to switch my bunny’s litter to hamster bedding instead of expensive pine cat litter. I did the transition gradually, hoping my bunny, Houdini, would get used to it, but as soon as the litter box was completely hamster bedding, he would not stop trying to dump it. What he does is repeatedly lift up, shake, and dig in his litter box until all of the bedding is a mess among his hay. I have found that the only solution is to use so much duct tape to hold down the litter box that he can’t possibly move it. 

Obviously, this is a bit of a hassle when I clean his litter box every few days because I have to rip up all the tape, and reapply it. I tried misting him with a water bottle, but he only stops for a second. The only solution seems to be reverting back to the pine litter, but it’s over three times expensive and doesn’t last half as long.

Has anyone else encountered this problem? Or does anyone have any ideas for what I can do?

Any help or advice would be MUCH appreciated!

Jenna 

[jerseygirl]

What is the hamster bedding? Is that a paper or wood product?

Can you try source some wood stove pellets or pelleted horse bedding?  It’s similar to the cat litter you were using but a LOT cheaper.

If he has just decided flipping the litter box is fun  you could try sticking a litter box down permanently then putting another litter box inside that.

[JustJenna01]

That litter box inside another litter box idea is brilliant!!! Thank you so much!! I’m not entirely sure where I’ll find two litter boxes that cleanly fit inside each other, but I’ll definitely look into it. Hopefully that’ll be problem solved 

[Azerane]

Yes, using wood stove pellets or horse stall bedding is a good option, much cheaper than pelleted cat litter but the same thing

[Yoyo]

Ugh,.. your post, so reminded me of the nonsense I went through, when I first got my bun… the little turd, drove me bats@*t crazy.. he would constantly rearrange his box, and get under it, and tip it.. SEVERAL times a day..

After 2 or 3 days of cleaning it up, nonstop,.. I marched my fanny right down to Home Depot, and got some big drill bits, washers, and bolted his tray to his cage … I was over the moon, pleased with myself that I had outwitted this rabbit,… he got the last laugh haha… he would spray his urine OVER the back edge of his pan, and… pure yuck would ensue..xD  = 5 times the more work it caused me overall lol.. — My first problem was this though – I wasn’t using a high back litter tray at that time.

Anyhow,.. I changed his cage completely,.. got rid of the cage, all together, and went for a 5 panel metal bar baby gate, for his house.. and a high back, corner litter pan,.. now, I just use a bread tie to keep it in place, and, he never tips it.. he does dig in it every other day, when I put in fresh pellets, but,.. that is damage control, that I can deal with  .. I think maybe neutering helped my case some too.

Sorry the long post,.. I just feel your pain, when you posted your thread.. it can be such a PITA,.. I hope you find something that works out for you guys! ~ cheers

[jerseygirl]

Yes, he may continue to dig regardless, if he’s a young bunny. Especially when the hormones come in. Some adult buns will have nutty phases too.

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