Bunnies Eating Litter

[tazz1227]

Can anyone help me? I use the Carfresh litter for my "kids" because I am told it is all natural and it is good for them. Since I am that good mommy I try to give my kids things that are good for them. Well they like it too much...I think. Recently I have been noticing a decrease of litter in the litterbox. So when I changed the litter yesterday, they rolled in it and pushed it like they always do on a cleaning. Then they started eating it. Eating a lot of it. Is it going to hurt them. How much is too much for them to eat and what can I do about it? I will add pictures of my cute kids Boy Boy and Girl Girl real soon. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Daisylover]

When my buns did that the vet said a "Little" paper wouldn't hurt them. I guess I'd be concerned if you are noticing a difference in the amount of litter you put in. On thing I did that works very well is I went back to the pet store and bought my buns a litter box that has a grided
tray that sits inside the litter pan (on top of the litter)....the inner tray allows poop pellets to fall through to the litter.
Then I put some timothy hay in it since they like to sit in the litter boxes and relax (and eat) plus it protects their little feet. It wasn't expensive and I really think it works so well that I bought 3 more of them.

[tazz1227]

GREAT IDEA !!! You are so wonderful !! Thank youi so much for that suggestion. They currently have 3 litter boxes. 2 are in the cage and one is at the door. Originally, they seemed to have to drop a little "present" on the way out so I put one there. Now that is their primary one. That is the one they eat, and roll in and kick around. The other one in the cage has hay in it and the other little one in there is because for some reason, there is ONE spot that they like to "tinkle" at and that is where they do it. Yes, they have me well trained. :-) But I am going to go today and find a litterbox with a grid. Thanks again, I am learning as I go along.

[Daisylover]

I hope the new litter pan works as well for your kids as it does mine. Care Fresh is really the best litter there is for buns and I think I've about tried them all. And while I admit Ithink it is a scream when the bunnies try to dig to China and throw litter everywhere, it is much easier to clean up afterwards. Good luck and let me know if it ends up working for you.

[tazz1227]

I am going today at lunch to find it and to find a kitty scratching post because the "baby" has started the digging and chewing that her older sister just grew out of !! Patience Patience...we will make it through!!

[Daisylover]

I'm a little confused by the scratching post, but whatever they use to dig up should be great.
Sorry, I've been out of town and didn't see your reply until today.... so how do your buns like the new litter tray?

If indeed the scratching post is what your buns use to dig on, another very good and maybe less expensive idea is to use new carpet scraps and put those down (anchored) in the corners or places your bunny likes to dig. I've also gone to carpet remanent/discount stores and paid a dollar each for their discontinued sample squares....they are usually a pretty good size...15 x 22" maybe??? I've also bought a remanent piece (5 foot) and then cut it up using one of those razor cutter to the size I need.
If you are unable to anchor the square down somehow (cuz when digging the buns sometimes move the carpet piece and then dig where they aren't supposed to--I have hardwood floors but others I know have "real" carpeting), I've also use heavy duty/industrial stapler and stapled a remanent to a piece of plywood. That's almost too heavy for them to move around.
Just another trick of the trade. Hope this helps.

[tazz1227]

Daisy I have looked EVERYWHERE for a litter box with the grid and I can't find it. They were not interested in the scratching post, they want their corners. I will try the carpet remnants next. I am going to leave the house to them..they are in control. I have lost it !!

[Daisylover]

I got my gridded litter pans at 2 different pet stores....Petsmart and Pet Supplies Plus. I also saw them at Petco. If you can't find one I should be able to pick one up and send it to you.
They're somewhere around $12 to $15.

[tazz1227]

Daisey, I really appreciate that but if you can tell me what the litter pan looks like maybe they can order it but if not I may take you up on your offer and send you the money. Is it a big pan. My bunnies are kindda big. I saw the one that "sifts" the litter but that is all I saw. Thanks again for everything.

[Daisylover]

That is such a great picture of your bunny kids!

[tazz1227]

Daisey, I found the litterpan, and it was only $11.99. Now I need to get some nice odor controlling litter and hope they like it. My buns do not like Timothy hay as much as Alfafa. I know they need the Timothy hay. You think it is the brand they don't like. I am going to go to the oxen site...I think that's what is called and see if they like that. I am going to use the last of my stock of Carefresh before I switch. Any kitty litter suggestions that smell good?

[Daisylover]

I like the Tidy Cat for Multiple Cats formula. The important thing with it though is not to use it in a pan that doesn't have the gridded shifting tray. Since it has chemicals in it for odor control, if the buns accidently ate it, it could cause serious problems. I also tried a new paper litter last week called Kitty Soft. It's in the form of pellets, rather than in chunks, and I thought it had great odor control. My buns liked it fine and I do not believe they attempted to eat it. I paid $5.59 for 10 lbs, which may or may not be reasonable....I can't figure out how to convert from liters and quarts (which is how Care Fresh comes) to pounds (Kitty Soft). I did a posting on it but I'm not sure anyone read it and it may be gone by now.
Yes, do pursue the Timothy Hay....my guys would not eat the Kaytee brand but love the Oxbox brand. I also saw 2 ads for a pure tim hay in the 2001-2002 Rabbit Annual magazine that came out in Dec. 01. I am going to post a message in Pet Health shortly about a problem both Bunnicula and I discovered in the past week with alfalfa based hay and pellets.
Hope you end up liking the shifting tray litter pan as much as I do.

[tazz1227]

I just put it together last night. They went in an used it. Can't tell if they were thrilled. I used the Arm & Hammer litter and I put the Timothy hay in there but I didn't take their other litter box with the Carefresh away yet. Didn't want them to suffer serious withdarw. I was scared they would be confused. hee hee I can't wait to read your posting.

[Daisylover]

I was just in www.bunnybytes.com. They have really good info on the various litters and hays that are made just for bunnies. I thought it was great that they explained the diff. hays and in what circumstances they should be fed to bunnies.

They also gave hints on how to change a bunnies diet and not stress either the bun or yourself when you decide to go to a diff. hay. It's a worthwhile read.

[tazz1227]

Hi Daisey, yes they had a lot of excellent information. Guess what? The bunnies love the new litterbox HOWEVER, "mommy" is holding back progress. I only brought 1 box because I wanted to be sure they liked it. Well they still had their other 2 boxes and the other day they litterally ate all the litter out of the box! I was so concerned but I wanted to use all of my Carefresh. Didn't want to waste it. Now I will go get them 2 more "sifters" this weekend. That can't be healthy eating that stuff no matter how natural it is.