What cat litter can you use for rabbits

Rearrange her cage contents? Take her to the vet? She might grunt or lunge at you for invading her space! View this great PDF illustrating a good litterbox setup with the right materials.

When choosing a cage and litterbox, make sure the box will fit through the door of the cage! If your cage floor area is too small for a litterbox, your cage is too small for your rabbit. A box with higher sides will keep litter, hay, and waste in better.

As rabbits jump in and out of the litterbox, they can scatter droppings and litter. This might also happen as litter absorbs and swells and fills the litterbox more; the rabbit will be up higher when on dirty litter and might go over the edge. Cat litterboxes in the larger sizes usually serve well for rabbits; litterboxes designed for rabbits are usually fine for smaller breeds but are rather small for medium and large bunnies.

White vinegar is a favorite rabbit urine cleaner. Skip to content. Rabbit safe types of litter include: Paper-based pelleted litter. My preferred type, these are typically made of recycled paper that is compressed into absorptive pellets.

Most brands also do a decent job at odor control. Aspen shavings. This is a type of wood shavings litter that is safe for rabbits.

It usually does a very good job at odor control. Aspen shavings can have a strong scent too, which can deter some rabbits from using the litter box. Compressed sawdust pelleted litter. This is leftover sawdust that has been compressed into absorptive pellets. You can often buy this in bulk for pretty cheap prices. This type of litter also does a good job at containing odors, but not as good as paper-based pelleted litters. Shredded paper. The cheapest option you can find is simple shredded paper.

You can make this yourself if you have a shredder. Paper-based bedding that is marketed for rabbits is also a safe option. You will likely have to use more of this on a daily basis to make sure there is enough to soak up the urine. Pine and cedar shavings should be avoided for use in bedding or litter for rabbits.

They are toxic and can lead to liver complications. Tip: Moving the hay near the box can encourage your rabbit to use the litter box more. Pine, cedar, or other aromatic wood shavings may also be harmful to your rabbit's health. Sticking with a simple, paper-based, recyclable litter provides your bunny with a safe litter and is also environmentally friendly.

Keep the box fresh. Change your rabbit's box every day to ensure a clean, fresh box. This will prevent your bunny from heading to cleaner places to eliminate.

If your bunny does not soil his box completely within a hour period, simply add another large handful of hay the end with remaining clean hay. Never go for more than two days before giving your rabbit a fresh litter box. Paper is naturally non-toxic, chemical-free, and is also biodegradable.

Paper is also highly absorbent, making it a good and safe alternative for other types of cat litter. It is also safe when ingested, as it can easily be digested by cats and rabbits alike.

Both are made with recycled paper on top of being non-toxic and chemical-free. Both are also completely biodegradable. Wood fibers are absorbent, and most of them are safe for rabbits to ingest. Like paper, they are biodegradable too. On top of that, some woods also produce a nice smell that you and your rabbit can appreciate. The most common woods used in cat litter are pine and cedar.

Both woods are aromatic woods that can mask the smell of urine. It is, however, less effective than litters designed to absorb smell and urine. It should be noted that there are rabbit owners that are reluctant to use wood as litter. There are claims that wood causes liver disease. This is based on how, in the laboratory, scientists avoid softwoods due to its effect in the liver. This effect is observed in a study published in Science. On the other hand, wood fibers are less effective at absorption compared to paper.

If you are uncomfortable using wood shavings, whether due to claims of liver disease or its ineffectiveness, there are still other alternatives to choose from.

Here are some alternatives to consider when picking the right litter for your rabbit:. According to this study in Science Direct , refusing to use a litter box is one of the most common behavioral problems in rabbits. How do you make sure that your rabbit uses its litter box?

The answer lies in setting up your litter box properly. Here are some steps for the proper litter box set-up:. Rabbits like to munch when they are doing their business.

Adding hay to their litter box increases the chances of a rabbit actually using their box. It also lessens the chances of your rabbit eating the litter reserved for them.

Rabbits will not eat hay that is soiled but will appreciate hay set aside for munching. Add hay about 1 inch thick to one side of the box. To separate the hay from the litter, cut out a piece of cardboard roughly the length of your litter box.

Using the cardboard, sweep the hay to one side with one hand. Then, fill the other side of the litter box with your chosen litter.