Rabbits are brilliant creatures. Even more so, they are willing to learn any tips and tricks you have up your sleeve! However, some people wonder if they can potty train their rabbits. After all, you do not want to clean up droppings everywhere, especially if they run rampant around your home. Even if your rabbit remains in a cage, it would be much easier to clean their enclosure if they use the bathroom in one spot.

The concept of potty training isn’t new, and whilst some people might not be knowledgeable about the idea when it comes to rabbits, it is most definitely possible.

Potty training your rabbit is relatively easy! Rabbits are intuitively very clean animals and already prefer going to the bathroom in specialized areas, so designating precise ones can be done easily with just a few quick steps!

Before going any further, it’s worth stating that potty training is easy, but you should always give an ample amount of time to mastery. Attempting to rush or force certain results on your animals may lead to accidentally traumatizing them and causing them to fear you or the litter box by association, so be mindful of how you approach the training process.

What Things Do You Need to Litter Train Your Rabbit?

 

In order to potty train your rabbit, you’ll need a safe space for them to do their business first, so a dedicated litter box is a must. Next, you’ll want the actual litter required to fill said box, and finally, a few supplies to routinely clean it up and a method to dispose of it. Afterward, you are off to the races, or the lavatory in this case. 

 

1. Dedicated Litter Box

 

Getting started is as easy as purchasing the initial litter box. Now, your selection is broad, and you won’t need any particular brand in general or even one that is specified just for rabbits, as most people commonly utilize some that are mainly for kittens. What is important is your placement of the litter box itself.

When determining the box’s placement, you’ll want to ask yourself if the rabbit already has an area in its cage that it naturally gravitates to. If you’ve already observed this, then you’ve already got half of your work cut out for you, as they will go to that area and more than likely climb into the box to relieve themselves.

Suppose your bun has no particular corner or is too young to have chosen such a spot. In that case, you can help aid the selection process by placing the litter box in a corner, filling it with about two or three inches of hay, and then adding just a little bit more in one corner of the litter box so your rabbit can happily graze while going to the bathroom (this might not seem normal to newer owners, but this indeed a common practice in rabbits, and necessary if you want lasting results.)

 

2. Rabbit Litter

 

As far as litter selection goes, you have a multitude of options, as anything from paper pellets to traditional hay will do the job. However, you’ll want to ensure that whatever your selection is, it is dust-free, as the smaller particles can get into your rabbit’s nasal cavity and lungs, causing infections or even severe internal damage.

If you have several rabbits or a larger enclosure, consider getting multiple litter boxes to accommodate your rabbits’ needs more accurately. Being forced to use the same area can prove messy, instigating fighting and other poor behavior.

Assuming you are new to litter training your rabbits, your best option of “litter” to go with will be a basic hay, be it Orchard Hay, or Timothy, you’ll be able to double down on both a source of food (assuming you have nutritional supplements and the like to go along with it) and your desired liter, effectively handling two problems in one fell swoop.

 

3. Cleaning Supplies

 

When dealing with fecal matter or any waste, it’s almost expected that you’ll need to do some pretty thorough cleaning to ensure both you and your bun are out of harm’s way. Prolonged exposure to these waste products can not only build disease but also spread germs and sickness throughout your household and rabbit population.

The most effective way to combat that is to clean your rabbit’s litter box once every other day using a very basic white vinegar and water mixture that is safe for your bun and incredibly effective at sterilizing the entirety of the area without leaving a very hefty aroma afterward.

One of the biggest reasons you want to go with the white vinegar water solution is the same nose sensitivity mentioned above. Anything harsher than vinegar can be an irritant to your rabbit or be outright dangerous for them to inhale. As such, these situations are avoided by taking the simplistic route and being wary. Some products may be listed as “Safe for rabbits” when it comes to cleaning products, but these companies may care more about sales than your pet’s safety, so be vigilant.

 

4. Litter Scoop

 

Everyone has some idea of what a litter scoop is and what its function might be. Pick one that will not only get the job done but will also keep your fingers away from touching everything you don’t want to.

You can easily pick up cheap litter scoopers online or at a local pet store. They all work the same, so you don’t need to spend an exorbitant amount of money on one. To a lesser degree, you could even use an old spatula you no longer intend on keeping if you really want to save some time and money.

 

5. Fresh Hay 

 

When you do decide to fully commit to potty training your rabbit, you’ll want to secure a stable supply of hay to supplement your litter box of choice and have enough to routinely rotate it out to avoid it building up messy clumps or running into an issue where you don’t have enough to last you.

The kind of hay you use doesn’t have to be a deluxe brand or specialized cut. Still, you’ll need a healthy amount of it, and as we went over earlier, you’ll be able to use some for both feed and the litter box, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing too much, so if you see a good deal on bulk, it might be one of the best options you can take, assuming you have a dry place to store large amounts of it of course.

 

How Do You Potty Train a Rabbit?

 

 

The first step in getting your rabbit potty trained is selecting an ideal placement for your filled box. Traditionally speaking, this will be in one of the corners of their enclosure and, ideally, the one they frequent most when they do go to the bathroom.

Throughout the training process itself, you’ll want to limit how far your rabbit can explore so you can help reinforce the behavior of going to the box itself instead of a random location, which might seem a bit cruel at first, but you’ll typically only have to do this limiting for a few weeks until the idea takes hold.

After your rabbit is regularly using its litter box, you’ll be free to let it back to its normal scope of roaming. However, during this transitional period, you’ll want to keep an observant eye on its bathroom habits if you can and make slight adjustments to the box placement if you notice it going in different locations.

Unfortunately, there is the distinct possibility that your rabbit also attempts to avoid the box, which will necessitate purchasing an additional box to test things more sufficiently. However, this should only be done as a last-ditch effort, as you don’t want to invest too much into it.

 

Can Rabbits Be 100% Potty Trained?

 

No, primarily because rabbits are territorial animals. Rabbits will mark their homes and areas with their scent, which usually comes in the form of either urine or poop, this can be relatively annoying, but you can attempt to curb the behavior by putting the poop pellets into the litter box to try to push the behavior onto them.

It’s important to note that rabbits should not be picked up and “disciplined” when they don’t go where they should go or show hostile behavior toward them that does not meet your expectations. Instead, allow nature to run its course and offer a guiding, understanding hand.

 

How Long Does It Take To Litter Train Your Rabbit?

 

In most cases, it should only take about three weeks for your rabbit to fully grasp the concept of using the litter box. If you notice it taking longer or that your rabbit is actively avoiding the box itself, you’ll want to inspect the core aspects of the process heavily.

Perhaps the litter box is too large for them to enter, or your litter of choice is uncomfortable. A deeper medical issue may cause them to lose control before reaching the box.

 

What Are the Benefits of Potty Training Your Rabbit?

 

After your rabbit has become “fully” potty trained, you’ll reap the benefits of only needing to clean the litter box deep and skip over needing to skim the entirety of the cage to ensure your rabbit has a clean and healthy living space.

Another boon is that most rabbits exhibit slightly better behaviors when they know that their bathrooms are maintained on a regular basis. They might be more inclined to cozy up to the person regularly taking care of these duties. You will also be able to handle your bun with more comfort, knowing you won’t get a handful of anything extra when playing with your pet.

 

Can You Litter Train a Rabbit That Is Not Fixed?

 

Yes, if you speak expressly in technicalities, it is possible to litter-train a dog that isn’t fixed. However, the biggest issue with this entire concept boils down to a rabbit’s urge to mark their territory being much more prominent when they aren’t fixed, as it’s about defining space and spilling over into mating habits, which are much more challenging to overcome than simply where to poop so to speak.

Another possible issue to be wary of is potty training a fixed rabbit near one who isn’t, as the constant battle of dominance (however one-sided it may be) can complicate and confuse your rabbits into being unsure where they should go, making things take longer than expected or making it difficult to achieve success at all.

 

Can You Litter Train an Older Rabbit?

 

You most certainly can, and to a lesser extent, it might even be easier than any other age of rabbit, as they are usually more set in their ways, and less likely to deviate from the spots they regularly like to relieve themselves in, regardless of how it’s changed, so a new litter box cropping up won’t dissuade them from handling their business and moving along.

 

What Gender Rabbit Is Easier to Potty Train?

 

In most cases, it’s been observed that females are easier to train than males, primarily because males use their urine to mark boundaries in territory, whilst females don’t. This also lends credibility to the above statement about the importance of spaying or neutering your rabbit before attempting to potty train them and how it can dramatically affect the process itself.

When Should You Litter Train Your Rabbit?

 

Once again, we enter the realm of technicalities because you can hypothetically begin the training process directly out of the gate as soon as you bring your fluffy new friend home. However, you’ll typically see better results and be able to more clearly define issues and behaviors at around four months old in most cases, assuming medical complications aren’t something you need to deal with.

After hitting the four-month-old benchmark, your rabbit can be safely fixed, which will allow you to curb some of the more primal marking behaviors. This is truthfully what makes things easier in the first place; the rabbit’s maturity simply allows you to glimpse certain routines more easily, even for people with little to no experience raising rabbits.