By rabbit behaviour therapist Stien - Kontent Rabbit
Practical tips from rabbit behaviour therapist Stien
Litter training. Perhaps not the most glamorous topic to discuss, but one that every rabbit owner has to deal with. Because as cute as rabbits are, their droppings all over the living room are not so cute.
Fortunately, there is good news: rabbits can be litter trained! And quite often, they’re already halfway there by nature. Sometimes they just need a little push from you.
Rabbits are quite tidy by nature
Rabbits are actually quite tidy by nature. In the wild, they use a specific spot to do their business, usually deep inside their burrow. Not because they’re neat, but because it’s clever to keep their scent in one place. You can make great use of that natural habit when training your pet rabbit. It all comes down to timing, the right spot, and—most importantly: a litter tray that makes sense to your rabbit.
Choosing the right litter tray
Start with a suitably sized litter tray. Many standard triangular “rabbit trays” are too small. A good litter tray should be large enough for your rabbit to turn around easily and sit comfortably. Do you have multiple rabbits? Make sure they can all fit together. Otherwise, you run the risk of one rabbit claiming the box and the other no longer daring to go in.
A good option for this is this cat litter tray. It may seem strange to use a cat litter tray for a rabbit, but this model is roomy, has a low entry and is easy to clean. The edges are high enough to prevent accidents, but low enough for young or older rabbits to hop in easily.
- Choose a spacious litter tray where your rabbit can sit and turn around comfortably.
- If you have multiple rabbits, make sure they can all fit together
- A cat toilet often works better than a small rabbit tray.
Choosing the right bedding
Not all bedding is suitable for a rabbit litter tray. So you need to be careful when choosing bedding. Avoid clay-based cat litter. If ingested, it can clump in the stomach and cause serious blockages. Opt for wood or straw-based pellets instead. These are safe, absorbent, and control odours effectively.
“I personally use Flamingo brown wood pellets. They’re natural, dust-free, and highly absorbent – perfect for rabbit litter trays. Spread a two to three cm layer in the tray. This keeps it clean, makes it comfortable for your rabbit, and allows you to change it easily every day."
Hay is part of the process
Many people don’t realise this, but rabbits prefer to do their business while eating. It might sound a bit odd, but it’s completely natural behaviour. You can use this instinct to your advantage by placing a hay rack or a handful of hay above or next to the litter tray.
A great choice is the Flamingo Snack Meadow Hay. It smells wonderfully fresh, comes from natural meadows, and is rich in fibre. Fibre isn’t just great for digestion, it also helps keep your rabbit’s ever-growing teeth in good condition.
By placing hay near the litter tray, you make that spot more inviting and increase the chances that your rabbit will use it consistently.
Where to place the litter tray?
Observe your rabbit’s behaviour closely. Where does it already tend to urinate? Often, this will be in a corner of its enclosure or at a specific spot in the living area. Place the litter tray there and keep an eye on it.
If your rabbit urinates elsewhere, clean the area thoroughly with a mixture of water and vinegar to remove the scent, and consider moving the tray to that spot. Essentially, your rabbit’s behaviour indicates what feels logical to it, and the more you go along with its cues, the quicker it will understand.
Litter training your rabbit
1. Start in a small space
Always start in a small space. Place the litter tray in a corner of the run. Rabbits feel vulnerable when urinating and naturally choose a corner where they can sit with their back to the wall.
2. Hang up a hay rack immediately
Hang a hay rack above the tray to create a positive association.
3. Does your rabbit urinate outside the litter tray?
Wipe the area with kitchen paper and place it in the litter tray. Clean the spot with a water and vinegar solution. Vinegar removes the scent and prevents your rabbit from returning there. Do the same with droppings: collect them and place them immediately in the tray. The quicker you do this, the better your rabbit will understand that this is the right place.
4. Does your rabbit always go to a different corner?
Then a second litter box might be useful. Once they understand the principle, gradually expand the space and eventually place multiple trays around the home or garden.
Why isn’t my rabbit litter trained?
Several factors can interfere with litter training:
- Not neutered
- Tray too clean or too dirty
- Stress or environmental changes
- Medical issues
One of the most important is that your rabbit is not neutered. Unneutered rabbits use droppings and urine to mark territory. Spraying is a form of communication. Castration helps to greatly reduce this behaviour. For both males and females.
Another reason may be that the litter box is too clean. If you clean it thoroughly with soap or vinegar, the familiar smell may disappear and your rabbit will no longer recognise the tray as a toilet. On the other hand, a litter box that is too dirty may also cause your rabbit to refuse to use it. Rabbits are tidy animals and do not tolerate overflowing toilets. A full weekly refresh usually strikes the right balance.
What If litter training suddenly regresses?
If your rabbit suddenly starts going outside the tray after previously being reliable, it's wise to take a closer look. Perhaps something has changed in the environment: a strange smell from a new pet, visitors, or even a new smell from a dish you have tried can disrupt your rabbit's routine. A move or a rearrangement of the enclosure is also a common cause.
There may also be a medical issue at play, such as a urinary tract infection. Pay attention to whether your rabbit is urinating more frequently, appears to be in pain, or is restless. If in doubt, always consult your veterinarian.
Browse all products featured in this blog
In collaboration with Kontent Rabbit
I’m Stien, a certified rabbit behaviour specialist, nutrition advisor, and owner of 7 rabbits. Having experienced so much with them, I know how challenging it can be to understand what rabbits truly need.
Because it’s more than just a hutch and some pellets, as is unfortunately still often thought. They want to explore, play, and be themselves. That's why my mission with Kontent Konijn is to show the world what wonderful pets rabbits are.
In collaboration with Flamingo Pet Products, I’m sharing some practical tips in this article to help you litter train your rabbit. A happy rabbit starts with a healthy foundation and a suitable living environment.