How to Litter Train a Bunny

Bunnies make great pets for older children and adults. In addition to being gentle, quiet and sweet, they are also extremely clean by nature, and they are known to groom themselves as much or more than cats. Like cats, bunnies can be easily litter box trained. Once they are housebroken, there is no need to keep them cooped up in a cage all day. All you need is a little patience and consistency, and your cuddly bunny will be a pleasure to have hopping around.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat litter box with sides at least 4 inches high
  • Cat litter
  • Pulp
  • Noncedar wood shavings
  • Shredded newspaper
  • Newspaper for lining
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Instructions

    • 1

      Purchase or build a box that is big enough for your rabbit to hop inside, scratch, turn around and do its business. Because bunnies enjoy scratching their litter, get a box that has high sides—at least 4 inches—to keep from having a litter mess around the box. Place the box in a location that is convenient to reach and away from its food and water. Bunnies prefer to go in the same spot every time they void, so make sure this spot is one that you will not mind having the litter in for a long time.

    • 2

      Fill the litter box with kitty litter, noncedar wood shavings (cedar can emit harmful vapors), shredded newspaper or pulp. If you prefer, line the box with newspaper at the bottom so that it will absorb the moisture. That way, you may simply transfer the used litter into another container and remove the soiled paper each day, replacing the dry litter, which can be changed weekly.If you cage your bunny for any part of the day, be sure to include your bunny’s box or another litter area inside the cage so that it remains consistent in its habits. Also, keep the litter or litter area clean, or your bunny will find another place to go.

    • 3

      Place your bunny inside the box, and gently stroke the fur on its back a few times. The bunny should feel relaxed and positive about its litter box, and it may even know instinctively what to do the first time you put it in. If not, confine your bunny to an area that includes the box a small distance away from its food and water, but close enough that it will not be tempted to go somewhere else to do its business. As your bunny continues to use its box, gradually increase the amount of space the bunny has until it is free to roam the home.

    • 4

      Because bunnies will go back to the same area again and again, you will need to thoroughly rinse the floor with soap and warm water if your bunny makes a mistake. The pellets are mostly dry and can be swept up into a dustpan or used in a composting heap, but the urine will begin to smell if not mopped up quickly. If your bunny continues to go on the floor, move the litter box over the area until cleaner habits are restored.

    • 5

      Be consistent! If you constantly move your bunny’s litter box around, you will send mixed messages about where the bunny is supposed to go. Try to keep the box in one place as much as possible, and remember to include the box in your bunny’s cage when it is locked inside for any length of time.