How do you keep the bedding out of their fur?

[Pipper]

New here to rabbit ownership. We got two sister
bunnies they are a mix of lion head and jersy wooly
They are probably about a year old maybe just under a year.

One looks like a lion head. The other looks like a Jersey.
Both a very thick fur. They live in a large cage with the wood shaving bedding
We let them out about twice a day to run around in a playpen with no bedding.
When they are out I brush them with a rabbit brush. And they have tangles that appear constantly.
And their bedding gets stuck in the matted fur.
I brush them two sometimes three times a day.
They have a very clean cage we clean it out every other day with fresh bedding.
So the Matting in their fur is dry fur and dry wood shaving.

Is there any way to prevent the hair matting and the bedding getting stuck.
Or is there any bedding that’s not such tiny annoying pieces?

[DanaNM]

Hi there, welcome!

Wood shavings aren’t a good bedding choice for buns for that reason (pine shavings are also not safe due to the aromatic compounds in them).

Pine pellet bedding is a great option (and is safe). It is sold as horse stall bedding (or feline pine, but more expensive in that packaging). Most people also set up their bun’s area so they only have bedding in their litter box, to improve litter box habits. I think some folks with long haired breeds will often use a screen in the litter box over the bedding, for even more of a barrier to things getting caught in the fur.

. . . 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.  

[Bam]

Wood shavings are not good at all for wooly buns. I have a very wooly teddy lionhead bun, I use paper pellets in his litterboxes. Paper pellets can be used as bedding too, but it’s quite practical to litter train your buns, and the material in the litterbox should not be the same as in the living space.

In my buns living area (he’s free roam but he has his own favorite cardboard houses etc) I have fleece blankets cut into manageable pieces as bedding. He likes to dig in them and they’re easy to wash. I buy the cheapest ones I can find because they will get many holes in them and they will be washed often, so no use getting anything fancy.

The fur of wooly rabbits is as a rule “worst” before the bun has got its adult fur coat. This happens around 6 months to a year. Before that you should preferably brush the bun daily to avoid getting bad tangles. When the adult fur comes in, you can as a rule cut down on the brushing to once a week.

[Sirius&Luna]

I also have a lionhead, and also use paper pellets in the litter trays and fleeces and rugs everywhere else. He does still get hay stuck in his fluff, but that’s unavoidable really.

[Dface]

I have two very hairy babies, they’re lotter trained and i use wood pellets in their litter.

But the hay mess is unavoidable.

Brushing is everday with mine, one of them causes awful tangles in the others fur due to ridiculously bad attempts at grooming…what types of brushes are you using on them?

[Author]

Messages