7 Rabbit Litter Training Mistakes to Avoid

While rabbits can be litter trained, it doesn’t always go as easily as we hope. Unfortunately, sometimes the choices you’re making are making the process even more difficult. By avoiding common mistakes, you can make the process smoother and convince your rabbit to use the potty for a cleaner (and less smelly) home.

1. Don’t use a litter box that’s too small

Most litter boxes marketed for rabbits are a bit on the small side. You know, the ones that are meant to sit in the corner of a cage that most rabbits can barely fit in. Most rabbits will refuse to use these small litter boxes entirely and will instead choose to use a different place to do their business.

Instead, you’ll want to buy a litter box that your rabbit can fit inside or and be able to comfortably turn around. Usually, getting litter pans made for a cat is a much better option (something like this). 

2. You forget to clean up accidents and deodorize them

Whenever your rabbit pees or poops outside the litter box, it’s important to clean it up thoroughly so your rabbit doesn’t pee there again. Sweep or vacuum up the excess droppings, mop up the urine, and use a pet-safe cleaner to disinfect the area. This helps to erase your rabbit’s scent and keep the urine smell confined to the litter box, making it more likely they’ll associate the box with the bathroom.

I recommend using a vinegar-based spray to clean and deodorize. Vinegar is pretty effective at neutralizing the smell of rabbit urine. You can make your own by mixing equal parts water and white vinegar in a spray bottle. 

Four tougher urine stains, I recommend Fizzion. This is the best product I’ve found for getting pee stains out of the carpet (it works best if you use it twice, once immediately and again after the spot dries)

3. Don’t give your rabbit too much space too quickly

If your rabbit is struggling with potty training, try starting in a smaller space. Begin by litter training your rabbit in their enclosure even if your goal is to eventually let your rabbit roam freely around the house. You can even add multiple boxes into the small space so that there is less chance of your rabbit missing the box.

Keeping the area small helps your rabbit locate the litter box when they need to go. It also promotes general cleanliness, as soiling the entire habitat will leave no clean spots for lounging (and most rabbits don’t like sleeping in pee).

Once your rabbit improves in a small area, try expanding the space bit by bit. This helps your rabbit develop good habits while keeping the litter box within easy reach. It also makes it simpler for you to monitor your rabbit, clean up after them, and place additional litter boxes where needed.

Note: by small space, I mean the size of a rabbit pen (usually something around 16 square feet). It does not have to be a space that’s too teeny tiny.

4. You let other pets invade your rabbit’s space

Rabbits will often get territorial if other animals are allowed near their space. It’s common for rabbits to spray urine all around the border of their perceived territory to let other animals know where the border is. 

This happens most frequently if you have multiple un-bonded rabbits in the same home. But it can also happen if you have cats or dogs that have access to the rabbit’s room. 

Respect your rabbit’s territory and don’t let other pets invade their cage or living area. This helps maintain your rabbit’s sense of security. Try using baby gates and completely separate rooms to create boundaries between your rabbit and other pets. 

5. You don’t get your rabbit spayed or neutered

The top piece of advice I can offer for addressing poor potty habits in rabbits is to get them spayed or neutered. Like many other animals, hormonal rabbits mark their territory by scattering droppings and spraying urine all around the area. This issue is especially common in unneutered male rabbits, though female rabbits can also spray.

Once your rabbit is spayed or neutered, they produce fewer hormones that drive territorial behavior, reducing their urge to mark their territory. You might notice an improvement in your rabbit’s litter habits soon after surgery, but it could take a few weeks for hormone levels to drop.

6. You get a litter box with too-low sides

Some rabbits are better at using the litter box than it seems. The problem is that when they pee their butt hangs over the side of the box and they pee on the floor (you’d be surprised at how far from the litter box it can get). 

The good news is that your rabbit is probably litter trained in this case, they just don’t realize (or care) the pee is going over the edge. 

There are a couple solutions you can try:

• Get a larger litter box so your rabbit isn’t sitting close to the edge
• Get a litter box with higher sides
• Place a dog pee mat underneath the litter box to act as a urine guard

7. You don’t clean the rabbit habitat frequently enough

Until your rabbit develops good potty habits, it’s important to clean their enclosure every day. Leave a small amount of pee and poop in the litter box, but ensure that the rest of the enclosure is spotless (as much as possible). Keeping the rest of the enclosure clean will help reinforce the idea that the litter box is the designated bathroom area for your rabbit.

Over time, your rabbit will improve their litter box habits, and you won’t need to clean the enclosure quite as frequently. It will also be much easier to maintain, as you won’t have to deal with so many urine stains.