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My bunny - toilet training

22 10:33:30

Question
Hi. 2 months ago i found a rabbit on the road and decided to keep him. i think he may be an english spot. He used to be scared but he has adpated well and is free to roam around the house. He is open at all times.

The only problem that i have with him is that he only uses the littre tray when he wants to, otherwise he urinates in front or besides the littre tray on the carpet. He does not urinate anywhere else in the house. When he is about to urinate and i place him in the tray he will use it. i have also placed two littre trays one near he's cage which he uses occasionally.

My rabbit knows where the littre tray is but refuses to use it. I have tried all methods such as putting shredded paper in the tray, putting hay in the tray and keeping his tray clean once a day but making sure that he's scent is still there. BUT i still can't seem to get him to use the tray ALL the time.

Is there a anyway to teach him or is he just stubborn? please help.

thanks

Anil

Answer
Dear Anil,

If he's not neutered/spayed, then this is the first step to good litterbox habits.  You can find a good rabbit vet here:

www.rabbit.org/vets

But it does seem that he knows where he's supposed to go, but just has trouble getting in the box.  Is it possible that he has an old injury, or perhaps arthritis, that's causing him pain to hop in the box?  Observe his movements and see if he's at all stiff.  If that's the case, then analgesics from the vet might help, as well as cutting down the sides of the litterbox in spots so he can just step in, instead of hopping.

If he's not sore, then it could be that--being an intact rabbit--he doesn't want to put his scented poops and pee in a place that just absorbs the odors, so he goes *next* to it, where it will stay nice and stinky.  Spay/neuter will help alleviate this behavior:

www.bio.miami.edu/hare/spay.html

I hope this helps!

Dana