PlanetRabbit.com

Written by Joanna Livingstone on behalf of Gainesville Rabbit Rescue. Gainesville Rabbit Rescue is a non-profit organization located in North Central Florida, dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and placement of abused and neglected rabbits. http://www.gainesvillerabbitrescue.org

Rabbits are social, clean, and cute animals that make great pets. Many people don't realize that most rabbits can be litter box trained just as easily as cats. Once your rabbit has been litter box trained, you and your bunny will both be much happier and your rabbit can begin to gain more freedom around the house.

To begin, buy a litter box that is big enough for your rabbit. Usually, a tray about 9 x 12 is a good size, but the bigger the better! If you have a small dwarf rabbit, you can even substitute with a 9 x 9 baking dish.

Prepare the litter box by lining it with rabbit litter. There are many varieties of litter that are suitable for rabbits, such as Care Fresh and Yesterday's News. Use an organic litter that is made from recycled newspaper, citrus, or another rabbit safe material. Do not use litters made from cedar or pine shavings as these can cause liver damage. Avoid clay or clumping litters as rabbits like to dig and the dust can cause severe respiratory problems for your bunny.

Put a handful of Timothy hay in the litter box. It is perfectly natural for your rabbit to nibble hay while using the bathroom, and will cause the rabbit to associate being in the litter box with the reward of delicious fresh hay.

Place the litter box in a corner of the rabbit's cage. You may have noticed that your rabbit already prefers to use the toilet in one particular corner of the cage – if that is the case, place the tray there. Always put the tray back in the same spot after cleaning it.

Most rabbits understand how to use the litter box very quickly and are trained in a few days. As your rabbit becomes more diligent about using the litter box, gradually allow the rabbit more space and freedom. Do not give your rabbit too much freedom too quickly, as it may forget where the tray is located and become confused. Feel free to provide your rabbit with additional trays to make things easier.

Tips:

Clean the litter box frequently. Use white vinegar and water to remove odors and stains.

Be consistent with cleaning up accidents. If your rabbit continues to leave droppings outside of the litter box, pick them up and place them in the litter box as a reminder that the box is the correct place. If your rabbit continues to urinate in another place, move the litter box or purchase an additional box for that area. Rabbits are smart and will usually pick up on these hints.

It is normal for your rabbit to leave a few droppings inside of the cage. This is a way for the rabbit to mark its territory.

Spay and neuter your rabbits. Neutered rabbits are much easier to train, have longer and healthier lives, and are much less likely to spray urine to mark territory.

Your rabbit may curl up and sit in the tray to relax – this is perfectly normal and should not be discouraged.

Rabbits do not respond well to punishment, so always use positive reinforcement to encourage behaviors you want. When the rabbit uses the litter box correctly, tell it what a good bunny it is and maybe provide them with a small treat.

If you catch your rabbit about to urinate in an inappropriate place, sternly say “No!” and clap your hands, then move it into the box and then reward it for using the litter box correctly. Do not yell at your rabbit, as this will just scare it and will not help the situation. Be patient and consistent in training your rabbit.

If your rabbit is litter trained and begins to urinate or dribble outside of their box, this could indicate a health problem. Take your rabbit to the vet as soon as possible.

[Editor's Note: Thanks to the Gainesville Rabbit Rescue in Florida and in particular to Joanna Livingstone for providing this article. Please support responsible rabbit ownership by donating and visiting them.]