How to Litter Train Your Rabbit

Our bunnies are naturally very clean creatures who want nothing more than a warm, cosy and hygienic living space.

Litter training is not only very possible for rabbits, its also a great idea. This will keep their space cleaner and suit rabbits’ natural instincts to stay clean.

Step 1:

Start by temporarily reducing your rabbits living space. Use wire barriers to block off a few areas as this limits where they can toilet.

All bunnies can be litter trained, however it will be easier if they are neutered, as unneutered bunnies tend to spray and mark urine.

Read our blog on Introducing Bunnies After Neutering.

Step 2:

Rabbits are naturally very hygienic, so will likely already have a favourite corner to toilet in.

This makes it easy to know where to place their new litter tray. Add it into their chosen space and put in a little bit of rabbit safe litter. To encourage the use of the tray, put a little bit of your rabbits poo and soaked used bedding into the tray.

This should encourage your bunny to see the tray as somewhere safe to toilet.

Step 3:

Rabbits love nothing more than eating and pooing… at the same time!

A great way to encourage using the tray is to pop a rack of hay next to or near the tray. This way your bunny can do what comes naturally.

Remember to make the process positive and reward your bunny when they are in the tray.

Step 4:

Be patient and positive! Every bunny is going to learn at a different rate, so just allow your rabbit to understand in their own time.

It’s important to clean up any accidents with an appropriate pet safe cleaner.

Step 5:

Once your rabbit is showing consistent use of their new toileting area, you can take away the barriers and give them back the rest of their enclosure.

Rabbit toileting FAQs

Can you litter train older bunnies?

Yes! There is no age limit on litter training. As they have been with you longer, you should already know their toileting habits and favourite places.

What Can I Use as Litter?

A soft absorbent substrate is needed for toilet training rabbits.

It should have a different feel to the substrate being used within their home to differentiate it as a toileting space.

This could be straw, shredded paper, or paper pellets. It is best to avoid cat litter, as most of these are clumping clay based. These are dustier and can cause respiratory issues for your bunny.

My Rabbit Is Still Not Using the Tray

There could be many reasons why your bunny isn’t quite ready to use the litter tray. Sudden changes in their toileting environment (new litter/location etc) might be the cause.

However, if you are noticing unusual toileting habits in your rabbit or signs of discomfort, it is worth a veterinary visit.

What Tray Should I Use?

It is important that your rabbit can easily climb in and out of the litter tray. The other consideration would be ease of cleaning.

Although rabbit corner litter trays exist, for some bunnies these are a bit small and constricting so typically cat litter trays are better.

Explore our range of litter trays and accessories.

After more rabbit advice? Read about the 5 common myths about bunnies.

Or if you are new to rabbit keeping, why not check out our Beginners Guide to Keeping Bunnies.