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Rabbit Litter Training
Rabbits
naturally prefer to have a specific site for elimination, so you can easily
train your bunny to eliminate in a litter box. If you plan to keep your rabbit
in a
large enclosure or cage, simply observe where he/she is eliminating, and
place
a litter box there. Most rabbits will continue eliminating in the same place,
even
though
the topography has changed by adding the litter box.
If
you plan to allow your rabbit to roam around the house, even part of the time,
follow
these
steps:
When you first bring your pet home, confine he/she to the general area where
you
want ithem to eliminate. This area can be its cage, a specific room, or some
other
area.
As soon as your rabbit picks a specific location in the area to eliminate, place
a
litter box there.
If your bunny does not use the litter box, it may not like the substrate
(litter)
you
have provided. Try something else.
Once your rabbit has learned that the litter box is its toilet, it may move the
litter
box
to different locations. If you prefer that your rabbit not move the litter
box, tie or clamp the box in place. Otherwise, let your pet put the box
where he/she wants it.
If the rabbit is going to be allowed access to a large area of the house, it
will
probably
be necessary to offer multiple boxes spread throughout the house.
Rabbits
do not bury their excrement the way cats do but instead leave their fecal
pellets
lying on top of the litter while the urine soaks to the bottom of the box. In
addition,
rabbits
may spend a lot of time in their litter boxes, just lying or sitting in them
this
is normal.
Rabbits
may eat their litter, so the type of litter you provide is important. It is best
to
avoid
clumping litter, pine or cedar shavings, and clay litters with deodorant
crystals
since
consumption of these litters could harm them. Instead use hay, straw, pelleted
food,
nonclumping unscented cat litter, peat moss, aspen bark, or other nontoxic,
nonclumping
litters.
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