Training your rabbit to use a litter box

What's one of the top-ten best things about your rabbit? She can be trained use a litter box (sometimes spelled "litterbox")! As a responsible owner, it's up to you to teach your pet where to go when she's gotta go.

First select the right litter box

The first step is selecting the right equipment for the job at hand. A kitten-sized litter box will work well for the average-sized bunny. If you have a diminutive three-pound rabbit, however, you'll need something a little smaller; some owners find that a nine-inch Pyrex baking dish will fit the bill.

For a bunny who likes to dig in her box (and kick the litter out of it in the process) try a covered model. You will need one small box for your pet's cage, and as many as necessary for the areas in which she has free run. Ideally, these boxes should be larger than the one in her cage.

Traditional clay litters may be readily available, but experts caution against their use, as the dust from the clay can cause respiratory problems. An organic litter made from pelleted paper is a good choice, and a few sheets of folded newspaper topped with grass hay will work great, too. Stay away from pine and cedar shavings, which emit gases that can be poisonous if breathed in by your bun. Whatever you choose, it is important that you empty, wash, and refill the box regularly.

How to litter box train a rabbit successfully

Successful litter box training begins in your rabbit's cage – the corner in which she most frequently urinates and defecates, to be precise. In this corner, place a small box with litter and some fecal pellets or a little bedding that's been marked with your pet's urine. She'll soon figure it out, but if she prefers to do her duty in a different corner, simply move the box to that corner. Don't be shocked if she decides to camp out and cuddle up in her box, as this is perfectly normal bunny behavior.

Once your rabbit has gotten the hang of it, you can start to gradually increase her territory, allowing her the run of a small area. This space should include a larger box in which you've added some litter and pellets from the box in her cage. Watch her closely, and place her in the box every now and then. Patience and persistence are the keys here.

Never yell at your pet if she makes a mistake. Clean up the mistake with an enzyme-based odor neutralizer or solution of vinegar and water, and put a litter box right over the soiled area. You may also need to add more boxes as her territory increases; if a box is nearby, she will be more likely to go in it. And don't forget, a little praise from you when she successfully uses her litter box will go a long way to reinforce her training – and earn her trust!

Litter box refresher courses

What happens if your perfectly behaved bun forgets her manners and begins to eliminate outside the box? First, you'll need to rule out the possibility of a health problem, such as a urinary tract infection or kidney disease. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect illness.

Some litter box lapses can be brought on by stress, such as a break in your bunny's routine, for example, or visitors in the home. It's important to nip this potential problem in the bud, so if your pet has missed her target two days in a row, you may need to teach a "refresher" course. Simply confine her to her cage and gradually increase her territory as she re-learns her lessons. Remember what we said about praise – and don't be afraid to pile it on when your pet gets it right!