Buzz
Tackling your rabbit's messes can be quite the chore. Litterbox training is a game-changer, but setting up the right kind of litterbox for rabbits is key. Creating a cozy litterbox setup encourages your rabbit to use it. Given rabbits' penchant for digging, incorporating a grid over the litter can be helpful. This keeps your bunny's litter inside the box and off your floors!
Steps
Utilizing a Colander and Bowl Set
Acquire a large colander and bowl set. It may sound unconventional, but an inexpensive plastic colander or strainer set can serve as an excellent litter box for your rabbit. Scout for a budget-friendly plastic colander and bowl set either at a retail store or online. The upper part comprises the colander (a bowl with holes), while the lower part is the bowl itself.
- When selecting a bowl for your rabbit's litterbox, ensure it's sizable enough, yet with sides low enough for your rabbit to access easily.
Wrap the bowl with a plastic liner. Using a plastic bag as a liner can simplify cleanup! Alternatively, you can opt to skip this step and wash the bowl once a week instead, if you prefer not to use a plastic bag.
- When emptying the bowl daily, make sure to empty its entire contents. Keep a stash of plastic bags handy if you choose to line the bowl.
Pro Tip: Dispose of your rabbit's litterbox contents in your yard or garden for excellent, cost-free fertilizer!
Layer the bowl with 1 in (2.5 cm) of newspaper pellet litter. Newspaper pellet litter is the safest option for rabbits. Alternatively, if newspaper litter pellets are unavailable, you can use wood stove pellets devoid of accelerants.
- Avoid using clay, cedar, or pine litter in a rabbit's litterbox. The dust and fumes from these types of litter can pose hazards to your bunny.
Position the colander and bowl in your bunny's habitat. Once you've lined the bottom of the bowl with litter, place the set in your bunny's enclosure. Situate it in the corner where your bunny typically relieves itself.
- If your rabbit will be outside its box for an extended period, ensure to place the colander and bowl litterbox outside of its enclosure.
Crafting a Custom Grid for a Litterbox
Purchase a large plastic litterbox designed for cats as your foundation. Most bunnies will find a standard-sized litterbox suitable. Visit a nearby pet store to acquire one. However, if you have two bunnies or one weighing over 10 lb (4.5 kg), opt for a jumbo-sized litterbox instead.
Hint: If the litterbox's sides are too high for your rabbit, carve out a 12 by 4 in (30 by 10 cm) section on one side. This modification will ease your rabbit's entry.
Acquire a plastic crate or wire grid that fits snugly inside the litterbox. You can buy a plastic grate designed for litterboxes, fashion a piece from a plastic crate to fit, or procure or craft a wire grid to suit your litterbox. A mushroom crate or a fluorescent light cover can be repurposed effectively for this purpose.
- Ask for a used mushroom box in the produce section of your local grocery store if you're creating a plastic grid.
- To craft a wire grid, buy a fluorescent light fixture cover from a hardware store.
- Ensure any grid you use has narrow wire or plastic and a smooth surface to prevent injury to your bunny's feet.
Trim the crate to ensure easy insertion into the litterbox. Employ sharp scissors for plastic or wire cutters for wire. Adjust the plastic or wire grid so it fits into the litterbox with approximately 0.5 in (1.3 cm) of space between the grid's edges and the litterbox all around.
- Wear safety goggles when cutting wire. Cut through one wire at a time in a straight manner to avoid creating sharp edges.
Layer the litterbox with 1 in (2.5 cm) of recycled newspaper cat litter. This type of litter is safest for your bunny. Add enough litter to cover the bottom of the litterbox.
- Avoid clay, pine, and cedar litters, as they can emit dust and fumes that pose risks to your bunny.
Position the plastic grid atop the litter and cover it with hay. Once you've filled the box with 1 in (2.5 cm) of litter, place the custom grid over it. Then, add a layer of hay. This will attract your rabbit to use the litterbox.
- Opt for Timothy hay, as rabbits adore it!
Introduce the litterbox into your rabbit’s enclosure. Once the litterbox is ready, position it inside the rabbit’s enclosure. Place it in the corner where the rabbit typically urinates and defecates.
- Remember to remove the box from the enclosure when your rabbit is out playing.
Pointers
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Allow your rabbit to explore the litter box at its own pace; never force it. Patience is key during this process.
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Be understanding if your rabbit takes longer to learn litter training; every rabbit learns at its own pace.
Essentials
Utilizing a Colander and Bowl Set
- A large colander and bowl set
- Small plastic trash bag
- Newspaper pellet litter
- Hay
Crafting a Custom-Fit Grid for a Litterbox
- Large plastic cat litterbox
- Plastic crate or wire grid
- Scissors or wire cutters
- Hay
