I have had Kirby for about a year now and overall its been a wonderful experience. I've had a lot of buns in my past and this is my first one again for years for me and my son. I have to say Kirby is so affectionate, sweet, and amazing and we love the little monster to death.
Here lies the issue. Finally, after months, we have Kirby litter trained. The rabbit has a strange attraction to fabric. Every since he was a baby he would choose to drop his pellets and urine on anything with fabric (at first carpet, rugs, clothes, the couch, and my bed) Yuck, I know. I figured out to place a litter box where he was used to going, and then placing an old towel in there. I have to wash it every other day as you can imagine but he uses it for about six months now and it works well. If the litter box is not in the room then he will just go on the floor of course, but overall he is litter trained with the inevitable droppings around the litter box.
Here's the issue though. Because of changes in the house right now Kirby cannot be let roam as much in the main house and so I want to keep him in our bedroom, where its safe for the little monster to play about for as long as he likes. He could still come out to other parts of the house too but would get to spend more time out of the cage in the bedroom. It worked out really well for two days with him coming to visit in bed and cuddling, having his spots to lay and play...but he WONT use his litter box AT ALL in the room. I figured out he was going under the bed for some reason. Then, it happened. The rabbit went on the bed!!
Of course this is disgusting and I can't have that so I put him back in the cage, wondering why he didnt do that for two days and then, blach.
Well, last night tried it again and this time he went for half a day and a night, but went in this morning and there is rabbit droppings and urine all over the bed.
I threw the stuff in the washer, scrubbed down the mattress with bleach and water, and back in the cage Kirby went.
I just dont understand why he refuses to use his litter box in the bedroom. This is an important thing, though, because I cant stand leaving the poor thing in his cage all the time
We LOVE having him free to play and cuddle with us, and being such an affectionate rabbit he craves this and loves it too, but...
I know that territorial stuff and hormones can interfere with litter training, but would this affect only the bedroom? He is litter trained otherwise and doesn't show any other signs of needing neutered, like aggression or nipping, etc.
I know rabbits should be neutered anyway, but there's absolutely no way its possible for at least months, maybe more. I've been unemployed for awhile now and have a son to take care of and there's NO money left over at all! We are living at the mercy of some family right now as it is.
I kind of have a weird feeling neutering wouldnt be the answer for this problem anyway, as Kirby IS litter trained and Im not sure if thats the issue. It baffles me :nerves1
Here lies the issue. Finally, after months, we have Kirby litter trained. The rabbit has a strange attraction to fabric. Every since he was a baby he would choose to drop his pellets and urine on anything with fabric (at first carpet, rugs, clothes, the couch, and my bed) Yuck, I know. I figured out to place a litter box where he was used to going, and then placing an old towel in there. I have to wash it every other day as you can imagine but he uses it for about six months now and it works well. If the litter box is not in the room then he will just go on the floor of course, but overall he is litter trained with the inevitable droppings around the litter box.
Here's the issue though. Because of changes in the house right now Kirby cannot be let roam as much in the main house and so I want to keep him in our bedroom, where its safe for the little monster to play about for as long as he likes. He could still come out to other parts of the house too but would get to spend more time out of the cage in the bedroom. It worked out really well for two days with him coming to visit in bed and cuddling, having his spots to lay and play...but he WONT use his litter box AT ALL in the room. I figured out he was going under the bed for some reason. Then, it happened. The rabbit went on the bed!!
Well, last night tried it again and this time he went for half a day and a night, but went in this morning and there is rabbit droppings and urine all over the bed.
I just dont understand why he refuses to use his litter box in the bedroom. This is an important thing, though, because I cant stand leaving the poor thing in his cage all the time
I know that territorial stuff and hormones can interfere with litter training, but would this affect only the bedroom? He is litter trained otherwise and doesn't show any other signs of needing neutered, like aggression or nipping, etc.
I know rabbits should be neutered anyway, but there's absolutely no way its possible for at least months, maybe more. I've been unemployed for awhile now and have a son to take care of and there's NO money left over at all! We are living at the mercy of some family right now as it is.
I kind of have a weird feeling neutering wouldnt be the answer for this problem anyway, as Kirby IS litter trained and Im not sure if thats the issue. It baffles me :nerves1