Bunnies no longer seem to be litter trained?

[AllieMoore]

My rabbits have always been decently okay at going to the litter box. they usually will leave poops in their cages but in their play pen (fake grass with blankets and toys and such) they were good at not leaving a mess. However they have started to poop a TON in the play pen, so I provided a litter box in the play pen. Now they fill up the play pens litter box, and as well poop in the play pen and have no started peeing on the fake grass. They also like to pee on their litter in the cages now, even though they each have a little box in their cage. I made custom litter boxes so they are big enough for them to get in and really stretch their behinds out (Thats how one of mine likes to keep himself clean while he relives himself). However they seem to just be “defiant teenagers”. My first bunny is 2 and the other one is 1, so they are old enough to be litter box trained. Does anyone have any recommendations? Im already planning on removing the fake grass since its spoiled and maybe getting just plain carpet for them that hopefully they won’t chew. How can I make my babies use the litter box again so they can have their playpen privileges again??

[Wick & Fable]

Both neutered/spayed and properly bonded? Any changes in environment?

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.

[AllieMoore]

Both are neutered, both are as bonded as two males can be. they occasionally chase each other around the play pen but they each have their own cage to go retreat to if they want alone time. They’ve lived together in the same play pen for about 7 months now, went through a long bonding process though. No changes in the environment, same food and everything, I just started to notice more of an odor and I’m having to vacuum and strip their cages almost every other day. I used to only have to change the litter box because they were so good at not peeing or pooping on the bedding. 

[jerseygirl]

By bedding, do you mean like paper or wood bedding that lines the cage?

So no changes in their environment but what about at home in general? Any new pets or any that have been pet-sat there? Any house guests recently? New baby? 

[Katie]

As I was working on litter training my girl, I removed any and all bedding in her cage.  Left her plastic bottomed cage completely bare.  And put litter in her litter pan.  That reduced SO MUCH of the problem.  Because if the whole cage is lined, how is a bunny to differ from the litter box and the rest of the area?  They don’t understand so they’ll treat it the same.  Especially if the bedding is absorbent; since it absorbs everything, the bunny then doesn’t care where he/she pees because it’s still clean.  

Bunnies are able to be litter trained because they’re such clean animals, and eliminate in one area, usually separate of where their food is and/or in a corner or two corners.  Best of luck!  I know how hard litter training can be.  I had the most stubborn girl on my hands for a while!!  

[AllieMoore]

Each cage is set up with carefresh absorbent litter, with a huge litter box taking up the back two corners. It’s a rectangle litter box. I have them locked up in their cages right now (I feel like a mean mommy) but I was trying to figure out who was soiling the litter and now that they are confined they aren’t peeing on the bedding now ? no new changes, just me and my mom live together with no other pets. I read something on another thread that said that they would clean the bedding and then wipe down the bottom of the cage with vinegar?? Hopefully that works.

[AllieMoore]

I was hoping my buns would be able to tell a difference 🙁 they used to be so good using the litter box and now they’re so naughty. I want them to stop peeing wherever they want because one of my buns just sits in it and his bottom is always wet with urine and the vet didn’t know what to tell me so this is the only thing I can think of, is that they won’t use just the litter box.

[Wick & Fable]

Use a litter screen so the butt no longer sits on soiled litter.

Can you buy a small rug or mat to replace bedding?

Litter screen example starring Wick: http://www.instagram.com/p/BaPzvpkFcN-/

Urine falls through so minimizes the wetness.

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, what is that screen made of?  Just curious.  I bought special boxes for my bun, Sirius, that have metal PVC coated grates for potty to go through.

This is what I bought!  http://www.bunnyrabbit.com/equipmentpix/litterpan_highback.jpg  
That’s just a link to the photo.  You can navigate the site for yourself to find that pan/a similar one, or just the metal PVC coated grate to go in a box, to buy.  It’s fantastic; to clean it, I just clean the litterbox as I normally would, empty all it’s contents, scrub it and the grate out in the bath tub with some vinegar and warm water, and replace some newspaper in the bottom, carefresh on top, and grate over top of it all.  

I would try removing the bedding in the cage; Sirius doesn’t have sore hocks or anything from not having bedding in her cage.  I thought it seemed mean at first, but it isn’t.  If they quit peeing wherever they want, in the cage, then there won’t be as much pee for them to get scald from.  

 Once the bedding is gone from the cage, I think they’ll figure out the difference between the rest of the cage and the litterbox.

[AllieMoore]

The litter boxes already have the wire mesh above it, I used cookie cooling racks. I am trying the no litter thing and I’ll see how it goes

[Wick & Fable]

Wick’s screen is just plastic knitting mesh, so it’s not hard or uncomfortable to stand on. It’s also extremely easy to cut for fitting and to clean.

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.

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