Do Rabbits Smell?

[Cookiebaker]

And can you house train them??

Last night, I was showing my hubby those absolutely cute pictures of Thelmer, and that led into a discussion. He maintains that they really stink (a guy's way of putting it) and I think that you can house train them so that they don't go while you have them out of their hutch or crate whatever.

[Daisylover]

I have 8 bunnies living inside and they do not smell...and it's not because I'm "immune" to the odors. I would guess that whoever told you this, IF they had a bunny at one time, didn't take good care of it.

The litter boxes should be kept cleaned. In summer I will do that twice a day!!!! I also put baking soda in the bottom of the litter box then the litter. I do not use newspaper to line the litter box with because I have found that that is a contributing factor to litter box smell. Rinsing the litter box out with a small amount of white vinegar will neutralize any odors. The vinegar is also good if there is a urine accident on hardwood, tile or lineolum floors. The vinegar smell dissapates very quickly.

Bunnies are highly suspectible to reproductive cancers, esp. the females. Another benefit of spayed and neutered bunnies is that their urine is less strong, so on top of spaying/neutering being very healthy for them it cuts down on litter box odor too. BE sure however that you have a vet specializing in bunnies.

You might check out www.rabbit.org. The House Rabbit Society has many topics and is considered to be THE experts in house rabbit care.

Good luck with your bunny and don't let anyone talk you out of keeping the bunny inside. Living indoors also leads to a longer, healthier life and the more you interact with a bunny, the more charming, playful and loving he will become.

[PJ's Mom]

Daisylover, what kind of litter do you use for your buns? Right now, Rottie is using pine shavings for Thelmer, and we were wondering if cat litter would be better.

[Daisylover]

Pine and cedar shavings should NOT be used for bunnies. The urine mixes with something in the wood and gives off a cancer-causing gas which will kill a bunny or any small animal over time. See www.rabbit.org as the House Rabbit Society has sent out an alert on this.

Any paper-based litter is great, but kind of expensive. CareFresh and Yesterday's News are excellent and what I use. Corn Cob based litter does nothing to control or absorb the urine. There is a wheat-based litter on the market now but I haven't tried it yet.
The baking soda really helps with odor control.

Hope this helps.

[PJ's Mom]

It's a big help, thank you! We're already using Carefresh for Herbert (the guinea pig) so using it for Thelmer isn't a problem. Thanks again!

[Daisylover]

I also should have said that yes, you can use clay litter BUT it cannot being the clumping kind (that would kill a bunny when it clumps up in his gut), and it cannot have chemicals in it.

So you can use the cheap stuff. The problem is, for some unknown reason, bunnies LOVE to eat their litter. My rabbit specialist vet says that a "little" Carefresh is ok, but if the bun is eating a lot there's a problem......I just have no idea what "a little" and "a lot" are.... What I have done when $'s are tight is put the baking soda down with an inch or so of clay litter on top of it and then put an inch or so of CareFresh on top of that.

Bunny #8 is really a sanctuary bunny I have been nursing back to health...for whatever reason she likes to sit in her pee and as a result has urine scald on her fanny and has lost all of her fur down there. The way I overcame THAT wlittle foible is we bought her a kiddie wading pool and out down a layer of newspaper, then baking soda, then clay little and the top layer is several inches of shredded paper. THese layers draw the moisture down and keeps her dry and all her fur has grown back....sometimes I am just too clever!!!! (). So what I am saying is you could use shredded paper as well as clay litter. It would need to be changed pretty often to avoid developing an ordor.

Then there's other folks I know who just use timothy hay in the litter box and that way the bun can eat and do his thing at the same time. The bunny WILL NOT eat the soiled hay.

And don't get disgusted if Thelmer ends up eventually sleeping or lounging in his litter box....we aren't sure why but bunnies just love to do that. Personally I think they feel safe in something that has sides to it. And it's all the more reason to be sure to keep the litter box clean! Good luck! He sure is a cutie!!!!

[Heather Wallace]

Hi Everyone

Another idea for lining litter trays, wood based cat litter, it is great. I was told not to use wood shavings or sawdust because there is to much dust within them and the buns inhale it. I have found it to be good and less messy too.

[Karen]

We use Carefresh for Miss Hoppy, and put down a layer of hay on top of that, which she sometimes eats, sometimes pushes off the litter box, sometimes rearranges around her cage ... a snack, a safety measure, and a toy all in one package!

I have been told bunnies should not have any kind of clay-based cat litter because of the dust that rises from it. Bunnies heads are low to the ground, unlike cats, and the clay dust can make them very sick.

Miss Hoppy does not smell at all, and when her litterbox starts to, we clean it! You could enter our home and not know we have a bunny (but then you'dsurely wonder why there was a plate of salad (actually parsley and other greens) on the floor under the kitchen table!

[Rottieluver45]

WOW!I`m flattered that you show other people pics of my Cute Thelmer!

[zippy-kat]

Originally posted by PJ's Mom
Daisylover, what kind of litter do you use for your buns? Right now, Rottie is using pine shavings for Thelmer, and we were wondering if cat litter would be better.

Got a paper? Got a paper shredder? You've got bunny litter! (or at least the kind we use in Sophie's lavoratory )

Paper isn't as absorbant as Carefresh...but Soph is a big time litter-eater. The paper passes thru w/out a problem (just watch out for ink...)!

Billie the bun talking : WHAT ?? ME STINKY ??? GET OUT OF HERE !!!

hahaha

[ChewmonkeyBC]

HI,
I used to have a Rabbit,Alexas,.......rabbits dont stink,normally its thae cage if it isnt cleaned often,Rabits seem to be very clean rabbits..my mom had a rabit Hersey that was litter box trained and would not go unless he was in his littler box which was a paint pan that we filled with tore news paper....

Kay


FCR

[Daisylover]

Yes, Karin, you are correct about clay litter being too dusty. I had forgotten that aspect. Thanks for the reminder.