Have you recently adopted a bunny? Good for you! Rabbits are lots of fun, and they really are super cute. One thing that will definitely make things easier on you as a bunny owner is teaching your furry pal to use a litterbox. A Lexington, KY vet offers a few tips on how to do this below.

Supplies

A trip to the pet store is in order. You can get a large cat litterbox. Another option is to get a cement-mixing pan. If you have a bonded pair of bunnies, make sure that your setup can fit both of them at once. It’s a good idea to get a hayrack as well. Rabbits like to eat in the bathroom. You’ll also need to get a suitable substrate. Avoid anything made from pine or cedar. Ask your vet for specific advice.

Setup

This is a case where you want to work with Floppy, rather than against her. Observe your rabbit, and see if she tends to use a certain area as her bathroom. If she does, that’s where you’ll want to put the box. At first, you may want to set out more than one litterbox. Once your furry pal is fully trained, you can remove the extra litterboxes. Set the litterbox up with a few inches of bedding/litter and newspaper. Add some soiled hay or waste: this will help your little buddy associate the box with its purpose. You may want to position it so that Floppy has to jump into the litterbox to reach her hayrack.

Training

Training will take some time and effort, but don’t be discouraged. Putting some work in now will really pay off later! At first, you may want to keep Floppy confined to a small area. Keep a very close eye on her, especially right after she’s eaten. If you see signs that your furball needs to go, pick her up and put her in her box. If she uses her box, immediately reward her with praise and perhaps a yummy treat.

Tips

Never punish Floppy for having an accident, especially in the vicinity of her box. This could backfire, and make her anxious about using—or even being near—her bathroom. Focus on rewarding good behavior instead.

Please reach out to us, your Lexington, KY vet clinic, for all of your bunny’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!