Rabbit litter box problems

[wolfie]

Okay, so Benjamin always goes into his litter box to pee or poo now, but the problem is he hangs his rear end off the edge of it! So it ends up on the newspaper, not in the litterbox! He's been doing this for about a week now. He can easily fit in there, and he used to turn the other way when he went...

Any way I can train him to use it properly?

[wabbitwuver]

Hmmm...yes this is a problem....my rabbits do this but I don't really need to help this(well Spice does and so does Oreo!But Hershey is SO well litter-trained!!!!). Maybe next time you see him trying to pee that way pick him up and flip him around the other way, if he needs to go really bad he won't care what position he's in! Well good-luck!

PS- Bad old Spicey decided to pee on my lap today I gotta get her spayed soon or she'll never be properly trained!

[Aspen and Misty]

I think he needs to be nuetered for one thing, I know he is probly to young, but this will help solve alot of your problems.

For another thing the litter box may not be big enough for him. Jaxom has a litter pan that he could stretch out in and pee/poop in without going over the edge but he always did.

A way that I check is the litter pan 2 inches longer then him? If not then it's time for a new litter pan. Also, one with taller side would probly help.

Ashley

[wabbitwuver]

I thought Benjamin was already neutered? I didn't see "anything" in the pictures with his behind showing....well good advice.....a taller side would definitly be good(Know what would make a good litterbox...part of a crisper out of an old fridge, there is one lying around here somewhere and I'm just tempted to use it!

[Aspen and Misty]

I think he is only a couple months old (like 4 months or so) So no, I don't think he is nuetered.

You can buy a larger, taller litter pan for 7 dollars at the pet store (Prices may very in your area)

Ashley

[wolfie]

Thank you both. ^_^ Maybe his litter pan is too small for him now.

And no he's not neutered. He's 3 months old.

Originally posted by Aspen and Misty
I think he needs to be nuetered for one thing, I know he is probly to young, but this will help solve alot of your problems.

Actually this is the only problem he has. My good boy! ^_^ He used to try to get at the wires behind my desk, but he stopped that now. I was actually thinking that I won't need to get him neutered, since he is so well behaved (I read online that while females need to be spayed to prevent cancer, males should be neutered only to stop annoying behaviors). Or perhaps it's because he's so young?

[Karen]

It's because he's young that the serious "male" behavior hasn't kicked in yet. Do get him neutered when your vet says he's old enough, and that way he'll always be your good boy!

Miss Hoppy has always had the "ferret" litterboxes. They're triangular with two high sides and a low one, and tuck into the corner well. But she is a little bunny, not quite 4 pounds and she's been full grown for a long time now!

[wolfie]

Originally posted by Karen
It's because he's young that the serious "male" behavior hasn't kicked in yet. Do get him neutered when your vet says he's old enough, and that way he'll always be your good boy!

Ah. Thanks! ^_^ Yeah, I love him how he is - I'll have to get him neutered then.

[wabbitwuver]

I got Hershey neutered when he was 3 months old....and Sugar, the vet said the rabbit should be any age between 3-8 months....If it was dangerous she wouldn't have done it!

[wabbitwuver]

My BFF who owns Cinnamon(the father to ALL the litters my rabbits ever had) got Cinnamon neutered recently, she says he loves to be petted and handeled and uses the litterbox better, neutering DEFINITLY mellows out the rabbit and makes him a great....or should I say GREATER pet! Hershey got better too he is my best behaved rabbit! Sugar was always friendly!

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by wabbitwuver
I got Hershey neutered when he was 3 months old....and Sugar, the vet said the rabbit should be any age between 3-8 months....If it was dangerous she wouldn't have done it!

As far as I have heard rabbits should not be nuetered before the age of 5-6 months old, it runs to much risk. However, they used to say that about dog's and now they are nuetering them at 8 weeks old. I personally think I would wait, it's better to wait and have a spraying/ mean bunny who eventually will mellow out, then to have no bunny at all.

But, your vet might think diffrently, again, they are your rabbits, you may do with them as you please.

Ashley

[wabbitwuver]

To me neutering is not risky as it is done on the outside of the males body. However it does depend on the rabbit and the vet! My vet specializes in rabbits, she knows whats she's doing and talking about! If my rabbits where at risk she would tell me! The only way I know a neutering can go wrong is if he has liver problems or infection....this can happen with any age. As for spaying I definitly would wait until about 6 to 8 months! We also all know you can't get a male neutered passed the age of 4 years!

[Aspen and Misty]

Originally posted by wabbitwuver
To me neutering is not risky as it is done on the outside of the males body. However it does depend on the rabbit and the vet! My vet specializes in rabbits, she knows whats she's doing and talking about! If my rabbits where at risk she would tell me! The only way I know a neutering can go wrong is if he has liver problems or infection....this can happen with any age. As for spaying I definitly would wait until about 6 to 8 months! We also all know you can't get a male neutered passed the age of 4 years!

My rabbit vet also specializes in rabbits and doesn't do male nuetering untill they are 4 or 5 months old. A female it is 5-6 months old.

Ashley

[wabbitwuver]

All vets are different!

[Daisylover]

4 diff. rabbits vets here in Michigan recommend spay/neuter starting at 16 weeks of age. This way the hormones don't get the chance to "kick in", and more importantly, the bunnies don't really have a chance to develop bad habits..... Young rabbits also recover much quicker than older bunnies, plus it makes their urine smell less strong and calms them down dramatically, since their behavior is not hormone-driven. And, male buns can get reproductive cancers, just not nearly at the rate of the females.