Wood litter vs paper litter for long haired bunnies

[Lemonsoup]

What is the experience out there of owners with wood litter versus paper litter when it comes to long haired bunnies? With long haired bunnies, from what I’ve read, the paper litter can get caught up in their wool. But I am concerned that the wood litter breaking down into sawdust isn’t an ideal situation for bunnies with their super sensitive noses.

We currently have the wood litter and whilst it’s great from a smell perspective (we literally can’t detect a urine smell coming from the litter at all) – our little angora does spread it about when he jumps in and out – but at least they don’t matt up under him. I’m just wondering if the paper litter will get caught.

[Hive-n-Honeycomb]

Have you tried potty training bunny?

I have seen people put a light layer of Timothy hay on top of the shavings to avoid eating the pieces or scattering them about. In the same turn, I have seen that backfire and cause them to start eating the pieces thinking it was then all food.

[JackRabbit]

I don’t have long haired bunnies per se, but one of my girls has super thick longer butt fur that has a tendency to mat if not brushed down there daily. Best thing we’ve found to keep litter in its proper place (and not stuck to fur) is the litter screen from the Binky Bunny store. The screens have also saved us a ton of money on litter since my boy is a digger, and we use wood pellet litter with a layer of fluffy paper type litter over it with the screen on top (plus a pile of hay for munching). As far as litter type goes, the type is irrelevant with the screen, but pelleted paper litter like Yesterday’s News doesn’t turn to sawdust and doesn’t fluff and stick like regular paper type litter.

[ThorBunny]

I second the advice for litter screen! Even if your bunny does not dig, this can really help save litter and prevent it from leaving the pan. I use wood pellets as well under my litter screen, and my lop (with normal hair, but a slightly fuzzy bum) does not get anything stuck to her.

Edit: I also wouldn’t worry about the sawdust. At least for me, the pellets only break down when they are peed on so any “sawdust” is wetted down and does not float about to get in noses. More of an issue is hay dust, but that is unavoidable 

[Wick & Fable]

Before having a litter screen, I’d go nuts with the paper pellets Wick would track everywhere. I made my own using knit plastic mesh.

The answers provided in this discussion are for general guideline purposes only. The information is not intended to diagnose or treat your pet. Seek the advice of your veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist.

[Lemonsoup]

Thanks everyone. I’ll definitely order one of these litter boxes and screens. And I’ll get a hay feeder for his indoor set up too since his outdoor hutch hay fever doesn’t work on our indoor pen and I’ve been putting the hay into the litter box. So not only is he spreading around the litter when he jumps out, but his undercarriage has hay stuck to it all the time. And he’s matting up a storm.

He’ll be due for de-sexing soon – so when that happens, he’ll be getting a hygiene trim from his vet!

[Author]

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