Litter Box Training

Litter box training your rabbit is as easy as training your cat. All you need a little bit of patience.

Hay is highly recommended as the most foolproof method for litter box training. Simply place a layer of litter on the bottom of a large litter box and add hay on top of it. Rabbits will sit in the litter box and eat hay while they do go. It’s natural for them to graze and go at the same time so they usually take to it immediately. If this method is used, don’t put hay in any other place, this will only confuse your rabbit as to where he/she is supposed to go. Once fully trained you can place a hay rack in any other place for them to munch on.

The safest litters are Yesterday’s News and Wood Stove Pellets, they are better for your rabbit, odor free and highly absorbent. Don’t use clumping cat litter because if ingested, it will clump in their digestive tract. Regardless of which litter you decide to use, make sure you’re cleaning the litter box regularly. During training, you may want to skip a day or two in between cleaning to help teach your rabbit where they’re supposed to go. If you are constantly cleaning it, they’ll think that it’s supposed to stay clean and won’t use it.

Confine your rabbit to a small area, preferably without carpeting, along with the litter box. Don’t give them access to any other room until they are only urinating in the litter box. Stay in the training room for as long as possible to observe your rabbit’s behavior. If your rabbit has an accident outside of the box, wipe it up immediately and place them in the litter box. This will teach them that urine belongs IN THE BOX! If your rabbit deposits any droppings on the floor, immediately pick them up and place them inside the litter box, along with your rabbit. Pet your rabbit while they sit in the litter box, positive reinforcement is always useful. When you notice constant use of the litter box, you can expand their area little by little.

Please note that young rabbits that are not spayed or neutered may be more difficult to train. Just be patient!