Litter Training Rabbits

Rabbits are not dirty animals and can be litter trained, just like cats. 

 

Provide a litter tray with low sides and no top. Rabbits like to use a corner to do their business so a corner litter tray is good.

 

Put a thin layer of litter at the bottom of the litter tray, just enough to absorb wetness.  We suggest using a paper pulp litter such as “Care Fresh” which is unscented and will neutralize unpleasant urine odours. Do not use clay-based or clumping litter as these are harmful to rabbits’ respiratory systems. For outdoor rabbits you can use wood shavings.

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Rabbits like to eat and poop at the same time. So to encourage them to use their litter tray place the hay rack above the litter tray and position it so the rabbit must hop into the litter tray in order to reach the hay.

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To train your rabbit to develop good litter tray habits you must limit their space at first by using any enclosure to confine your rabbit to one area, even if you intend to give him/her free reign of your home eventually. This allows your rabbit to get acclimatised to the area in the beginning and learn where everything is. Once your rabbit is consistently using their litter tray, you can gradually expand their space. If your rabbit starts “forgetting” to use it then limit the space again until good habits resume.

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If accidents occur, which they will to begin with, then clear up urine using a paper towel and pick up any stray poos and place both in the litter tray. This helps get the message across that the litter tray is the place that they should do their business. Keep in mind that rabbits are generally not 100% perfect with using a litter tray and will sometimes leave a few droppings next to it, or may urinate over the edge. 

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You will need to be patient and persistent as litter training takes time, especially if your rabbit has learned bad habits and you are having to retrain them. 

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If your rabbit is insistent on going in a different corner to the one you chose to put the litter tray then sometimes it’s easier to give in to their stubbornness and move the tray to that corner. When rabbits consistently choose another place to go, they are trying to tell you that that’s where they are most comfortable going.

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I always recommend neutering your rabbit and one of the reasons to do this is that it will prevent them

getting into the habit of marking their territory by pooping or spraying pee everywhere.