cage

[ilovemypets]

should i leave shavings in the bottom of my bunnies cage or take it out to litter train her?

[Krystal12345]

You should leave the shavings in her cage. If you REALLY want to litter train her, put a small box that she can climb in, in her cage. Put the litter in the box. Put the box in her cage, where she usually goes to the bathroom. If you don't want to do that, then you don't have to do it at all. Unless you really want to. I hope I was some help!!!!!!!

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Krystal12345

[Daisylover]

Absolutely NOT!!!!

Pine and cedar shavings should never be used as bedding or litter box fill for any small animals but particularly for bunnies. The House Rabbit Society sponsored a study in which pine and cedar shavings, which are a soft wood, give off a cancer causing vapor when in contact with urine. Yes, it does take a couple of years of constant exposure for the cancer to develop but why take the chance?

Go to their website
www.rabbit.org
and they have links for all kinds of questions/problems. HRS is the premier experts on having rabbits as pets and they are a moving force in why rabbits are now the 3rd most popular house pet today. The site is free. They have excellent ideas on litter box training as well.

First of all the most important aspect of litter training a bunny is that the animal be spayed or neutered by a rabbit specialist vet. The rabbit vet is especially important because most vets do not take the classes in rabbit care and treatments and medicines that they would give a cat or dog will kill a rabbit. Rabbits are also highly suspectible to having problems with anesthesia, which again is why you need a rabbit specialist vet.

Rabbits are driven crazy by their hormones to reproduce and one of the ways they attract a mate is by pooping and peeing EVERYWHERE. Eliminate the hormones and about 50% of the problem is solved. For litter box fill you want to use a product such as CareFresh or Yesterday's News which is made from recycled paper. There are also litters made from corn cob (but it has no odor or absorption control in it) or there is also a wheat based and aspen based litter as well. (aspen is a hardwood and doesn't have the oil in it which causes all the problems). Cat clay litters especially are bad for rabbits...rabbits are close to the ground and can inhale the clay dust which causes respiratory problems. Worse yet, clumping litter will ball up in their gut and kill them in less than 24 hrs. It is not unusual for rabbits to eat a small amount of litter although no one knows why.

Young rabbits should be neutered at 16 wks of age, (we had a 14 wk old female give birth at the sanctuary) so they are sexually active at a very young age. I also believe that young rabbits, under 1 yr of age, are much like toddlers.....they are much to busy having fun and exploring their world to want to stop and use a litter box so they tend to go whereever they want.....and this is also the point where they end up getting dumped or being abandoned because most people will not tolerate this behavior. However we have found as they mature the bunnies figure out on their own that it's not cool to poop and pee everywhere essentially litter box train themselvers, but there is help and encouragement we can give them along the way.

The first trick is to realize that out of the cage, you DO NOT get to choose where the litterbox goes, the rabbit will. They tend to like corners though which is a plus. It's also advisable to start out with several...maybe 5 litter boxes scattered around any room the rabbit is allowed in. Then you watch and see which one(s) he uses the most and slowly remove the excess boxes as he decides which location is his favorite. And most people find that 2 litter boxes are required per room becuase fickle bunnies like to have a choice. Also another secret is to keep the litter box very clean...if it gets too dirty, they will not use it.

As I said go to the HRS website...they have a treasure trove of information about rabbits. Good luck! :eek:

[Krystal12345]

UMMMM....... Daisylover? Why do they even make shavings for small animals if they give off cancer things and urine? I have shavings in my guinea pig's cage, and HE'S fine!! Don't listen to Daisylover. Trust me! Shavings are FINE!!!!!!!!


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Krystal12345

[bunyfoofoo]

if you go to some website it will tell u to pit like kat litter in ihe litter box. DONT DO THAT they will eat the kat litter and they will get sick. I dont think u should give ceder to rabbits but ive never heard anything against it. i mean i give ceder to mi hamsters and they are both fine.

[Uabassoon]

Why do they even make shavings for small animals if they give off cancer things and urine?

I have an easy answer for that.. because they make money! People makes cigarettes even though they cause cancer, and they make them because the companies are making money so they don't care if their products are bad. I personally like carefresh, it's not made out of wood and it's safe for small animals.

[Krystal12345]

Yeah, I guess you're right. It probably is because they make money. Well, I put shavings in my guinea pig's cage, and he's fine. I had a hamster, too. He had shavings in his cage, too. But he got Pneumonia. But I KNOW it wasn't from the shavings. Because he was about 2 years old. My hamster's vet said that older hamsters cannot fight Pneumonia. But most younger hamsters can. I really miss my hamster.


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Krystal

[Aspen and Misty]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Krystal12345
[B]UMMMM....... Daisylover? Why do they even make shavings for small animals if they give off cancer things and urine? I have shavings in my guinea pig's cage, and HE'S fine!! Don't listen to Daisylover. Trust me! Shavings are FINE!!!!!!!!


You know what!!! Daisylover is a reliable crediable shource! Many, MANY sites say this, not just daisylover, there is PROOF! So stop jumping to conclusions.

Ashley :mad:

[Krystal12345]

Hey!!!! Listen, Aspen and Misty!!!! I said that she was right!!! Or are you blind??!!!! And besides, that was a long time ago!!! It's over!! Forget about it!! ASHLEY!!!!!!!!



Here's one for Daisylover.... I am sorry that I said you were wrong. I guess shaving are a little dangerous. But, (not trying to be mean) I put shavings in my guinea pig's cage and he's fine. I'm sorry. And, Ashley, I'm sorry, too.

So guys, just, can we pretend this never happened??

Sorry. I hope no one hates me now. (If you do, I'll just have more people hate me, other than the people at my home.)

So, if you hate me now, I won't be surprised. Bye.

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Krystal12345

[wolfsoul]

I'm confused. Where did ilovemypets say these are pine or cedar shavings? Aren't aspen shavings okay for bunnies? :confused:

[bunyfoofoo]

i donno if its ok for bunnies to have aspen shaving i have never given mi bunnies some. i just give them normal straw.