The first step to effective litter training and long-term maintenance of good litter habits is a proper litter box and its contents. The properties of a perfect litter box for rabbits are:
Big enough – a litter box should be big enough for all your rabbits to fit in it and still have space to move around. If, for some reason, you can’t have one large litter box, set two smaller ones next to each other so that your rabbits can still enjoy littering and eating hay next to each other.
In a proper location – a litter box should be located out of the way so that rabbits can use it in peace. However, they shouldn’t be enclosed, and there should be enough ventilation. If your rabbits have a large space to move in, e.g. several rooms in a house, provide multiple litter boxes so that they are never too far to use their litter box when they feel the need to do so.
With a proper litter – the best for rabbits are pulp or recycled paper or compressed sawdust pellets. They are absorbent and safe. However, individual rabbits can have their own preferences and for some rabbits, sawdust pellets may be too hard. Don’t use clamping cat litters as they are highly dangerous if your rabbits eat them. Also, shavings from pine and cedar should be avoided as they release substances that are unhealthy for rabbits.
With hay – a perfect litter box should also include hay, both in a rack, basket or bag above the litter, but also on top of the litter. The hay rack/basket shouldn’t be too dense so that removing the hay blades is not too difficult. At the same time, spaces between the bars or wires shouldn’t be so big that the rabbit’s head can get stuck between them. Hay in a rack allows constant access to clean hay. However, hay should also be placed on a litter (in a large litter box, you should be able to find a spot that is least likely to be peed on). Rabbits prefer to eat with their head down, so allow them also the opportunity to show this natural behaviour in their litter box.
Clean but not too clean – regularly (preferably once a day) remove litter and hay soiled with urine. In a large litter box, there will likely be specific spots where rabbits pee, so you don’t need to remove the whole litter. Take away large piles of faecal pellets. Removing all of them won’t be possible without replacing the whole litter, but if your rabbit is healthy, that shouldn’t be needed as faeces are dry and without much smell. At least once a week, replace the whole litter and rinse the box. However, don’t clean it with any smelly cleaning products. An unfamiliar smell may prevent rabbits from using the litter box. Once in a while, you can use cleaning vinegar to remove calcium deposits, but afterwards thoroughly rinse the box.
If you have any questions concerning the litter box or if you think that you provided a perfect litter box for rabbits but your animals still don’t use it, feel free to contact me.