Litter boxes are usually considered products for cats; however, rabbits can be potty trained too. In some ways, getting a rabbit to use a litter box is similar to house training a cat or dog, but there are a few things to be careful of. Here is the best advice for potty training your pet rabbit.
When to Start Potty Training a Rabbit
Successfully house training your rabbit depends less on age and more on whether it's been neutered or spayed. Rabbits are usually spayed between four to six months old. If they are not, they can develop aggressive behavior because of their body’s hormones. This includes peeing to mark their territory. Since they are more likely to pee in all places, it is highly recommended to potty train your rabbit after it has been spayed or neutered.
This means that even older rabbits who have been spayed or neutered can be potty trained!
Supplies for Potty Training a Rabbit
Before starting potty training lessons, you must buy the materials. First, you want to get a medium-sized cat litter box or a shallow, plastic tub. The rabbit should fit comfortably and have room to move around. The size and number of boxes you need also depends on the number and size of the rabbits you have. More, or bigger rabbits, means more litter boxes.
Next, you need litter for the box. Rabbits cannot use regular cat litter, so it is important to check ingredients. Common litter made from wheat, corn, pine or cedar shavings, crystals, and clay are toxic if rabbits eat or inhale them. Clumping litter is also dangerous because it can get stuck inside a rabbit’s digestive tract if eaten.
Other natural litter works the best. Look for products made from paper, compressed sawdust pellets, oats, alfalfa, wheatgrass, or newspapers printed with soy inks. You will keep your pet safe by sticking to these ingredients.
The last thing you need to buy is hay for snacking. Rabbits, unlike most cats and dogs, often eat while going to the bathroom. You can fill half of the litter box with litter and the other half with hay or place a hay bowl next to the litter box. This ensures your furry pal can eat, but the food does not come into contact with urine or feces.
As a bonus, having hay in or next to the litter box motivates your pet to use the bathroom because they can snack at the same time!
How to House Train the Rabbit
After the litter box is filled with rabbit-safe litter and hay, you can start training! Move the litter box into the rabbit’s hutch or whichever space you have labeled the “bathroom area.”
You can place the litter box where they already do their business in their hutch or a space in your home that’s free from wires, small objects, or items you do not want rabbit pee or poop on.
Next, watch the rabbit carefully and wear gloves. Once you see them getting ready to go to the bathroom, gently move them into the box. This will train them to associate the litter box with going number one or two. If they pee or poop before you notice, you can still move them into the box along with their waste so the area has their scent. Practice this each day so the rabbit understands the new habit.
After repeating this a few times, give verbal cues to train the rabbit. If you catch them using the bathroom outside of the litter box, give them a firm “no” and gently guide them into the box. Be aware that this only works if you catch them in the act. Scolding them minutes or hours later will not teach them which behavior needs to stop.
At the end of the session, praise your pet! Compliments work for rabbits just as much as they do for dogs. After they use the litter box, shower them with praise. Encourage them even if they had an accident the last time or if they haven’t picked up the habit completely. Even better, give treats so they have a positive connection with using the litter box.
What to Avoid Doing
Potty training your rabbit has its challenges but must always treat the pet with kindness.
Avoid yelling, making loud noises, or physically harming your rabbit as punishment. While you can use a stern voice for training, you do not want to yell, stomp, hit the ground, or create other loud sounds. Similarly, you should never kick, hit, punch, or hurt the rabbit. This can frighten your pet and make them anxious, which will make training more difficult and less fun for the both of you. They may lose trust in you as an owner and are less likely to cooperate during the potty training lessons.
Final Tips for Rabbit Potty Training
Since rabbits eat and do their business in the same place, keep the area clean. Change the hay daily, use new litter every two to three days, and thoroughly wash the dirty litter box. A clean area prevents the rabbit from creating their own bathroom in another space.
Lastly, have fun. After training sessions, praise your rabbit and play games so that they know the lesson is over. Consider a game of bunny bowling or simply hanging out together. Potty training lessons can be intense and stressful for both of you, so make sure you unwind afterward.
Just like potty training any pet, house training a rabbit requires patience and kindness. It will take time before your rabbit becomes familiar with and uses the litter box. They may have accidents before understanding their new bathroom routine. Stay consistent with training and keep rewarding their behavior. Your rabbit will be potty trained in no time!
