Calvin’s Care Corner
Finding the Perfect Litter Box
Hello readers! I am often asked what kind of litter box rabbits prefer. Well, let me tell you, each rabbit is unique, and understanding your bunny’s personality will go a long way in helping you find the most appropriate litter box. There are, however, some basic factors to consider beforehand.
CHOOSING A LITTER BOX FOR YOUR BUNNY: The most important thing is to make sure the box is big enough for your rabbit to put his entire body in and also make sure the sides are not so high that the bunny can’t jump into it. The sides shouldn’t be too low either, as your bunny may hop in and pee over the edge! Typically, a simple cat litter box is a good place to start.
CHOOSING A LITTER: There is a wide array of litters to choose from. You can use a recycled paper litter like Yesterdays News or Carefresh. These work well at eliminating odors and are also biodegradable. However, for multiple rabbit households, recycled paper litter gets expensive and you might want to try wood stove pellets instead. These are tiny, pressed pellets of wood used for fuel. They might not be available in stores (like Agway) during the summer months; however, they come in 40 lb. bags that last for a long time!
DON’T USE CORN COB, PINE, CEDAR, OR CAT LITTER: Corncob can cause problems for your rabbit’s digestive system and pine or cedar is harmful to a bunny’s respiratory system. Also, never use clay litter designed for cats. If this litter is ingested it could be fatal to your rabbit.
Once you have your simple cat litter box and chosen litter, simply fill the box up. You may only need an inch or two of litter. (Try to avoid overfilling the box which will in effect lower the sides – we want to avoid those over the edge “accidents”!) Many rabbits like a fresh layer of hay on top of the litter each day. This is also a good idea if you are training or re-training your rabbit. This way, your rabbit is attracted to the box and will be more inclined to do his business there.
OTHER TYPES OF LITTER BOXES: If your bunny does not seem to want to use a rectangular litter box but is still using a corner of the cage, try negotiating by using a corner litter box. Typically, these boxes have a low front and are designed by pet stores for ferrets, small rabbits and other rodents. There are also various litter boxes with no rim on the front…these are very useful if you have a disabled or older rabbit who is having trouble getting into a traditional litter box.
REDUCING THE ODOR OF THE LITTER BOX WITHOUT HAVING TO CLEAN IT DAILY: You can try using different types of litter to see which will take care of the odor. You can also buy a litter box with a hood. These can be found in the cat section of your pet store and can be the answer for rabbits who are free roaming. A covered litter box looks better, too – your guests may never even know you have a rabbit!
WHAT TO DO WITH A DIG, DIG, DIGGER? This can be very annoying… your bunny uses his litter box perfectly, and then proceeds to dig it up spreading litter all over your living room floor. First, look for potential reasons why your bunny is doing this…is the litter box dirty? Perhaps your bunny doesn’t like foreign material like hay in the box. If it is just that your rabbit enjoys digging, the best solution I have found is to buy a litter box with a grated bottom. Usually, this type of litter box is actually a combination of two boxes with an inner box that has a grated surface. This helps in two ways; one, you can put most of the litter underneath the grate where your bunny can’t dig at it and two, the unpleasant sensation of digging against a grate might curb your rabbit’s love for digging. A hooded litter box can also be a good solution for a digging rabbit as it is covered entirely.
You might have to experiment with various litter boxes before you find out what is best for your bunny and your family. Rabbits are easily litter box trained, but not all of them have the same needs when it comes to kinds of litter boxes.