How To Train Your Rabbit To Use A Litter Box

October 22, 2021

Rabbit lovers may be surprised to learn that you can house train your floppy-eared friend. With a little patience and perseverance, it can be done. Let's take a look at how you can train your rabbit to use a litter box.

The first thing you need to do is get your rabbit neutered or spayed. Rabbits that are intact are impossible to litterbox train because they love to mark their territory and remind everybody that they’re in the mood for some lovin’!

Once your pet bunny is hormone-free, you’re ready to start the process of litter box training. 

Start by finding an appropriate litter box for their living area. The size of the litter box will depend on how much space you have to house your rabbit. Because litter boxes are portable, you can easily remove it from their pen and place it wherever you want in your house or apartment.

Rabbit litter boxes tend to have taller sides than a cat’s litter box. They will also have an opening on one side for your rabbit to easily come and go.

Line the litter box with a pee pee pad and add some unscented paper-based bedding (about 2 cups) to one end of the box. Do not use kitty litter for your rabbit’s litter box, as the dust can cause respiratory allergies, infections and damage. Wood shavings should also be avoided as your rabbit will likely chew and digest them. 

As you’re probably aware, your rabbit likes to eat and poop at the same time. This is a natural process for rabbits. So place a couple of handfuls of hay at the other end of your rabbit’s litter box. When it’s feeding time, lead your rabbit to the litter box and let them enjoy their hay. They will automatically pee and poop while munching on the hay, as it helps with digestion.

It’s a good idea to keep your rabbit’s litter box in the same place until they get used to the whole munching and pooping routine. Rabbits are fastidiously clean creatures and love a clean living space. About every two days, change the pee pee pad, paper litter and hay with replace with fresh supplies. Make sure you clean the litter box with warm, soapy water about every two weeks. If you clean it too often, it will lose your rabbit’s scent and they may get confused and not recognize it as their own special place to do their business.

When you’ve got the litter box all setup and ready to go, introduce it to your rabbit’s living space. The smell of the hay will entice them to go inside and check it out. This may take a couple of days or for those more stubborn bunnies, a couple of weeks. Just be patient. Pick up any stray poop and place it in the litter box until they get the idea.

Having a litter box makes cleaning up after your rabbit that much easier and quicker, so be consistent with your training. A clean rabbit is a happy bunny.

When your rabbit is well and truly used to the idea of going in their litter box, you can choose to move it during playtime to the area in your house where Bunny is allowed to hop and frolic freely. Just make sure you replace it in the same spot in their pen when you’re not at home to prevent any accidents.

After a couple of weeks, you’ll have a house-trained rabbit and a clean living space for both you and your beloved bunny. 

And remember, if you’re looking for your first pet bunny, check your local human society and pet rescue shelters first. There is always a plethora of bunnies needing good, loving homes.