Litter Training a Rabbit

If you adopt a rabbit as a baby, you can begin training him to use a litter box. Once the rabbit is properly trained, he can roam throughout the house just like any other housebroken pet. Some people claim their pet rabbits use a box with more dependability than a litter trained cat. This will give your pet rabbit much more freedom, and he will be much happier than if he were confined to a hutch or cage. Your pet rabbit will enjoy mingling with the family, and you’ll enjoy watching his antics. Litter training a rabbit can be accomplished in three easy steps. With a little patience and perseverance, litter training will be successful, and your rabbit will be able to roam free in your home.

Step One

Litter training should begin with cage training. It’s best to cage train your rabbit as soon as you adopt him. Although an older rabbit can be litter trained, training is the most successful when a rabbit is adopted as a baby. If you want to litter train, consider adopting a pet rabbit around the age of eight weeks.

Purchase a large cage for your rabbit, along with other necessary supplies, small animal bedding, a shallow plastic box, a scoop, and non-clumping cat litter. Don’t place the pan in the cage immediately. Simply line the cage with an adequate amount of small animal bedding. Rabbits are actually very clean animals, and they tend to eliminate in one corner of their cage. After a few days you’ll see where your pet is relieving himself.

When you’ve determined the area of your rabbit’s cage that he’s using to relieve himself, simply fill the cat pan about a third of the way full with cat litter, remove the soiled bedding, place some of the soiled bedding into the training box, and place the box in the area the rabbit was using as a potty spot. Hopefully he’ll begin using the litter box instead of the floor of his cage.

Don’t be discouraged if your rabbit doesn’t take to litter training right away. Keep encouraging your rabbit to use the box by moving it to the area he chooses for elimination. Remove the soiled bedding, and place some of it into the box. Eventually your rabbit will catch on to litter training, and you’ll be able to allow him a little more freedom.

Step Two

After your pet rabbit starts using the litter box in his cage, you can take him out of his cage and begin providing him a little more freedom in your home. Choose a room in your house that can be closed off. The room should have a washable floor. A bathroom or utility room might be perfect for step two in litter training.

Place the rabbit’s box in the room along with food, water, and a comfortable bed. Hopefully your rabbit will use it when he has to relieve himself rather than the floor, but if he has a couple of accidents, don’t give up. As he becomes used to his new surroundings, he may temporarily forget where he is suppose to relieve himself. If your rabbit has an accident outside his litter box, simply place the droppings in the box, and show him where to go. Wipe up any messes, and with any luck, your rabbit in training will begin using the litter box instead of the floor. Once your pet is using the box in his little room, you can consider widening his world.

Step Three

After you’re confident your rabbit will use his litter box, place his food, water, and the box in an accessible area of your home, and give your rabbit the freedom he has been waiting for. Keep an eye on your rabbit to make sure he’s finding his litter box, and don’t be discouraged if he makes an occasional mistake while he’s getting used to his new environment. After a rabbit begins using a litter box, unless he is sick or the box is inaccessible, he should use his box on a regular basis.

Clean the litter box once a week or as often as necessary. You’ll be glad you took the time in training your rabbit because you’ll find that cleaning a litter box is much easier than cleaning bedding from a rabbit cage. You’ll also enjoy the company and companionship of your rabbit and the love and enjoyment he provides.