I'll bet you didn't know we can be litterbox trained!
(or did you?)

Did you know that rabbits can be litterbox trained just like cats?  We can.  Young bunnies or old ones (like me, the Wascal Bunny!) can be trained to go potty in a litterbox.  Actually, us older bunnies learn faster than the younger whippersnappers.   (Ha! Let's hear it for the senior citizens of the world!!)

One of the things you need to do at first to help any bunny learn to use a litterbox is to observe where we like to go potty, usually in a corner, then put the litterbox in that place.  If we already have that area designated as potty territory, it will be easier for us.  Some bunnies like to go potty in more than one area of their home or territory, so it helps if you put a litterbox in both places.   If you don't have a wire-bottomed cage with a tray underneath (and we hope that you don't actually - see "Cages, Pens and Housing"), you also need a litter box inside the cage for those times we're in there.  In the instances where your bunny likes to mark his or her territory by going potty in several places, don't despair that you have to keep litterboxes in all those places forever.  As your bunny gets accustomed to its home, it will eventually use only one litterbox, usually the one in its cage or pen.  Then you can remove the others one at a time if you have several.

There's one important thing you need to know about this whole litterbox thing though.  Be careful of the kind of litter that you buy.  We rabbits like to eat just about anything that is put in front of us, and that includes litter.  Don't buy the kind that is "clumping" litter (the kind that when your cat goes potty in it, it clumps into a ball so it's easier for you to clean out of the pan).  If a rabbit eats it, it will clump in their intestines and make them very sick, sometimes making us require surgery to get it out if, that is, the clumps don't kill us first.  Also be careful of litter that has dusty clay in it and softwood bedding with pine or cedar in it because these things have the potential of causing respiratory or liver disease in rabbits.  The best kind of litter to use for rabbits is made from citrus peels (if you can find this kind).  And then there's a litter called Yesterday's News.   It's made by Purina, and it's made from recycled newspaper that is perfectly safe for us if we chew on a piece or two.   We use Yesterday's News in our house.   Another thing that makes really good litter in our pans is hay, but be sure to line the bottom of the pan with newspaper for easier cleaning.  With hay as our litter we can eat and go potty all at the same time.  It might sound disgusting to you humans, but we rabbits have discerning noses and know which pieces of hay in our litterboxes we can eat!

While we're learning how to be litterbox trained, and even sometimes afterwards, we may get urine on your carpet.  This is not to be worried about excessively.   Use white vinegar (plain old household white vinegar) and a cloth to clean the spot.   It will remove the stain and the odor!

More information about litterboxes, litter, and litter box training can be found here on the House Rabbit Society's web site.

Recipe for a Perfect Bunny Litterbox

In a plastic litterbox tray that is at least twice as big as your bunny (preferably 3 times bigger for lots of room to move around):

1. Line the bottom with paper towels.
2. Cover the paper towels and bottom of the tray with 2-3" of your choice of litter.
3. Cover the litter with your bunny's favorite hay for munching while pooping.