Good Potty Habits have evaporated

[Marianne]

My bunny Delilah lived alone for about 8 months. In that time she was perfectly litter trained. Pooped and peed in her litter box and kept her house nice and clean. Then she met Bentley. They became fast friends, bonded easily and started living together. Ever since Delilah and Bentley have become a couple their housekeeping and potty habits have deteriorated and keep getting worse. Bentley poops everywhere on the bottom floor (they live in a two story home). He uses the entire bottom floor as his litter box. He takes the hay spreads it around and poops in it. I think they are both peeing in the litter box though, but just today I saw a pee that was not in the litter box. They do keep the upper floor of their home pristine. Not a poop or pee in site there. But the bottom floor is disgusting – why won’t he poop in the litter box? And now I think Delilah is starting to poop all over as well since I find less and less poops in the litter box. Any ideas on what I can do – or is this just the way its going to be from now on?

[pinknfwuffy]

Sorry to hear you are having trouble. It seems like Delilah is being influenced by her new friend and may possibly be confused by Bentley’s lack of litter habits. The scent of his poops everywhere may be distracting them both from where they should actually go.

The first thing I would try is having a larger (or second) litter box, if possible. Having a bigger one may offer them more opportunities to get it right. Scoop up any stray poops and put them in the box(es) as quickly as possible. I would also clean the first floor really well with white vinegar, which will disinfect the space and remove the scent of previous accidents.

Also, try to notice if they are going more in one area than another. Wherever the bulk of the accidents are, you might need to move the box there. Bunnies often choose their own toilet area, whether we like it or not. You also mentioned Bentley moving hay and having accidents on it. My bunny did this when I first fed him hay as he thought it was a second bathroom. If might be worth trying a different litter (wood pellets, etc.) that cannot be carried away, so the litter box remains the only place with litter and toilet scent.

Good luck!

[LittlePuffyTail]

Are they spayed and neutered?

[Author]

Messages