What to do for new cage set up?

[Katie]

Hello!  It’s me, being needy and asking all sorts of questions again!  Lol.  I recently tore apart and cleaned up an old metal dog cage, and am using the individual panels of it as walls for Sirius to have an X-pen type deal!  So much more space for her, and an easier to open and get in and out of door for her, and me. Lol.  

My problem is, I started out putting a blanket down on the bottom of this set up, just over top of the carpeted floor.  The first day went well; she left it alone.  She pooped allllllll over her new pen, but I figured she would.  Although she is spayed, (she was just spayed September 19th) I figured she’d be marking it like that anyhow seeing as the area is new to her….  But to try to eliminate it, even a little, I put a second litter box in there along with her usual first one.  In her old cage, about a week or two after her spay, she had almost completely quit pooping outside of her litterbox.  I thought I was safe here!  Because my plan all along has been to wait to move her into this larger caged in area when she was better with litter training.  The main problem is she’s PEEING on the blanket.  And of course that soaks down onto the carpet….  I’m so mad….  Lol.  She was RIGHT BESIDE her litterbox as I WATCHED her pee on the blanket, just outside of her litterbox.  I scolded her of course…  But I discovered this is not just a one time peeing.  BRAT.  Brat brat brattttt!  Lol. 

For now, I’ve put a tarp down in there, to try to save the poor carpet.  What should I do?  Should I just leave the carpet bare?  Should I wait until I see the territorial pooping die down, and then try putting the blankets back in there again?  I thought maybe that, because this area is new to her, and maybe that’s why she peed on it. ??  

If blankets don’t work, which I really want them to, it looks cute, ): And she pees on the bare carpet……  What am I gonna put in the cage floor then at that point?  Should I put a tarp down and then put a blanket on top of that tarp? ???  I’m so lost lol.  Seeking suggestions here 

She has been SOOOO GOOD about not peeing when she is out of her cage running around, both with the old cage and this new one.  No poops either; knows how to use the litterbox now, finally!  So why pee on the floor in the cage?  Little snot, Lol.  I really want to give her something soft to lay on, but can’t have my house smelling yucky.

[LongEaredLions]

You can buy a piece of linoleum quite cheaply to use as a cage base. At this point, I would leave the linoleum bare for a while until she is consistently peeing in the litterbox in the cage. You can mop up the pee with paper towels and put the towel in the box. Once she no longer pees on the ground in the cage—it’s likely due to territorial-ness/new space as you said—you can add blankets on top of the linoleum.

[Sirius&Luna]

You can also try puppy pads, they’re really good for soaking up pee, and less unpleasant on a bunnies feet than just tarp. Once she pees on them you can just bin them and replace with a new one. This sounds really gross, but I used to cut out the peed on section and put it in the litter tray, so they knew where they were meant to be peeing.

[Wick & Fable]

You’ll need to train her to not pee there. While we say rabbits are litterboxed trained, different rabbits pick it up in varying ways. One rabbit may be litter trained by knowing to always go in one specific box, while another just always goes in the same location, box there or not. Your rabbit had established peeing on the blankets as a potty habit, so you need to train her out of it by moving her each time she does it back to the box.

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.

[Katie]

Wick, I moved her the one time I caught her.  I only ever saw her do it once.  I cleaned it up, placed it in the box, and placed her box in that location.  Instead, she STILL peed beside the box.  She’s a brat!  I am truly trying to train her not to pee out of the box, believe me.  Lol.  I just need advice on cage flooring until then….  Can’t have the carpet ruined 

[Katie]

I put a tarp down for now, FYI.  Much less peeing…..  Still lots of territorial poos.  Had to move her litterbox a few times but I think moving it actually helped her get the right idea. I don’t think blankets are safe still, lol.
Thanks for all your input!

[*Bearacuda*56]

Try spraying the spot where she had the accident after you clean it spray it with viniger that should deter her from going there again. I keep my buns pellet dish in one corner of the litter box and the hay in another corner of the litter box and my buns learn quickly to use the box to potty in while they eat and when not eating.

[Katie]

I do clean up her pee with vinegar.  White vinegar  And have kept her litterbox separate from her food dish since the start.  Guess it’s just a new cage set up thing for her…..  So I’m waiting it out.  She’s so stubborn.

[Katie]

Oh sorry!  I read that wrong.  Sirius seems to poo less by where she eats, so I think putting her food in her box would be counterproductive for her…..  

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