Ammonia is released when urine is left in one location without being cleaned out. Any cat litter that contains silica or clay will always put rabbits at risk for intestinal blockages. Clumping cat litter, in particular, is a strict no-no for rabbits. Alternatively, you could also add hay on top of the litter. Always check the ingredient’s list on a package of litter. Rabbit litter is one of those that can be used right away because they aren't "hot" like cow or horse manure. Some alternatives to cat litter include newspaper shavings, compressed wood shavings, and hay. While sometimes considered as a safer alternative to other types of cat litter, crystal cat litter can be harmful to rabbits. This is a natural and expected behavior, but inappropriate litters can put your rabbit’s health at risk. Swheat Scoop Litter should not be used since rabbits will often ingest it. These materials consist of paper and natural wood. Here are some things you should consider when looking at a brand or type of litter for your rabbit: Rabbits tend to chew on their litter more often. Of all cat litters, crystal cat litter is the most susceptible to being ingested. Even if your rabbit does not eat the clay, the dust from this litter can also be harmful. Again, rabbits tend to chew on their litter. Cat Supplies Cat Country Litter 10Lb (5Pk) Most effective Pet Provides for Rabbit House owners Suppose your spouse and children is thinking about introducing animals to the domestic. Hi guys, welcome to our channel! As the rabbit becomes more reliable, give the rabbit more free time and larger space. Cats and rabbits are different animals, and cat litter is designed with cats in mind, not rabbits. Then, fill the other side of the litter box with your chosen litter. For example, place a 3-foot-tall 1-inch mesh chicken wire fence around the area with the bottom 6 inches dug into the ground. Then place the bunny in the litter box and let the rabbit jump in and out. Also, using litter with cat litter is not recommended because the rabbits’ urine and feces, which do contain these chemicals, would also be inhaled. To maximize effectiveness, use the litter in conjunction with fencing. When ingested, clumping litter will expand in the stomach. At best, this will lead to blockages. For rabbits who like to dig, feel free to increase this to 2 to 3 inches thick. Place the feed area near the litter box and even put a handful of his hay in front of the box so that your rabbit is near the box as he eats. This litter should be spread at least 1 inch thick. Also, it smells terrible anyway (but maybe that’s just our personal opinion). If ingested, it clumps up inside the digestive system and can be fatal. Any additions and mixtures to these materials to make them more absorbent or easier to clean can pose a risk to rabbits. Both are made with recycled paper on top of being non-toxic and chemical-free. Adding hay to their litter box increases the chances of a rabbit actually using their box. Both are also completely biodegradable. Don’t use CatWorks, a litter made from oat hulls, which when ingested has caused fatal zinc poisoning. Exercise ample caution in selecting the right litter for your cutie. These are safe because the phenols have been removed in the process to produce them. There are claims that wood causes liver disease. The most common woods used in cat litter are pine and cedar. If the rabbit goes in … Using the cardboard, sweep the hay to one side with one hand. This can make clean-up harder, as hay can be easily mixed in with the litter. Rabbits have a more sensitive respiratory system than that of cats. Get the Correct Litter Box. Aspen is better, but still not good. Rabbit-safe litter brands include: Carefresh, Cat Country (but not CatWorks or other cat clumping litters), Critter Country, Crown Animal Bedding, Aspen Supreme, Good Mews, Natural Harmony, Gentle Touch, and ECOfresh. Capacity: 10 … Kokemuller is an authorized substitute teacher and holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Iowa. While there are some types of cat litter that rabbits can use, most should be avoided. Michigan State University Science Theatre: Why Shouldn't Pregnant Women Clean the Cat Litter Box? Paper pellets are one of the most recommended litters for rabbits. Paper is also highly absorbent, making it a good and safe alternative for other types of cat litter. When breathed in, this dust can cause respiratory issues in rabbits. For bunnies under eight months, alfalfa is great to add as well. These are available in sizes ranging from small, all the way to giant. Cat Country - an organic grass-based pellet. These litters will neutralize those strong urine odors. If they swallow this litter, their stomach will become blocked. On top of that, some woods also produce a nice smell that you and your rabbit can appreciate. If you notice any questionable additions or mixes, do your research to ensure that these additions are rabbit safe. This litter should fill about 2/3 of the box. The next step in learning how to litter box a rabbit is to teach him to enjoy the smell of the litter box. Your email address will not be published. They are small, good diggers and excellent jumpers, which makes it difficult to keep them out of your flowers and vegetables. Rabbits (Sylvilagus and Lepus spp.) And place scent repellents, such as kitty litter, around the garden. If the litterbox is too high for your bunny to get into, use a sharp pair of scissors to cut out a 12 by 4 in … Natural materials may seem like a good choice for non-toxic materials, but not all-natural materials are non-toxic. It is, however, less effective than litters designed to absorb smell and urine. When rabbits use cat litter, they are at risk of ingesting the litter. https://petsmentor.com/rabbits/can-you-use-cat-litter-for-rabbits This makes it relatively easy to clean up. Nature’s Miracle Disposable Cat Litter Box. 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. Straw alone can be used as litter in a large litterbox on the floor. While relatively minor compared to blockages, digestive problems still put a rabbit’s health at risk. Litters like clumping, crystal, and clay can cause digestive problems, and even death, in rabbits. I’ve loved rabbits for as long as I can remember, so it felt natural to share my passion for lagomorphs with a much wider audience. Some formulations can be toxic to rabbits when ingested. It is also safe when ingested, as it can easily be digested by cats and rabbits alike. However, the real danger is if the bunny ingests it. The clay cat litter is dusty and when inhaled by rabbits causes lung and liver damage and death. Most commercial litters are made for small animals, which may not meet your rabbit’s needs. ). Also, do NOT use pine or especially cedar shavings!!! To separate the hay from the litter, cut out a piece of cardboard roughly the length of your litter box. Most cat litters are not rabbit-safe. It also lessens the chances of your rabbit eating the litter reserved for them. While not as damaging as clumping litter, clay litter is also harmful when ingested. While it smells nice, there are reports that the volatile oils that give it that nice smell is actually quite hard on a rabbits … Remove brush and other hiding places from around the plants. Special order Care Fresh Litter at the Pet Barn. It’s inadvisable, though. How do you know which types are bad? Cat litter can be harmful to rabbits. A cheap alternative for a large litter box is an underbed storage box which come in a variety of colors, sizes, and heights. Clay litter can cause digestive issues, as well as blockages. These contain toxins that also cause liver damage. Used cat litter can serve as a scent repellent to help control rabbits. When clumping litter absorbs moisture, it can expand up to 15 times in size. You can encourage the use of the box by picking up any pellets dropped and popping them right into the litter box. Can a Rabbit Die from Eating Too Much? The answer lies in setting up your litter box properly. Materials: Recycled paper. My only suggestion is to look at a bedding other than cedar. Non-clumping cat litter; Wood pallets; Hay or straw; However, there are two sorts of litter that can prove harmful for rabbit such as, Clumping cat litter: It can be swallowed by the rabbit and cause internal blockage of even diarrhea. It should be noted that there are rabbit owners that are reluctant to use wood as litter. For example, Yesterday's News, a product made from recycled newspaper, safely and sustainably aborbs odor and moisture. This can lead to many messes around the house, as well as messy rabbits. This effect is observed in a study published in Science. Required fields are marked *. If he smells the urine and the excrement, he will get the point that the box has a smell to it. Instead, do your research on specific materials to determine whether or not they are toxic to rabbits. First of all, your chosen litter box should have an open top and shallow sides. This is perfectly safe for most cats, since they don’t usually eat their litter, however rabbits have different habits. Another idea is to buy a cheap large plastic tote and cut out an entryway in one or more sides. So Phresh Paper Pellet Small Animal Litter. Feline Pine, wood stove pellets, and horse bedding (similar to Feline Pine except much less expensive) are good choices. Sprinkle the used litter around the perimeter of the garden or flower bed, replacing the litter weekly. This isn’t a problem, however, as owners and breeders can pick from many types of materials available to them. Therefore, to avoid odors, litters that absorb moisture, more specifically urine, is key. Standard height litter pans and high back litter pans are good choices for most rabbits. The litter box itself can simply be a basic tray style cat litter box, readily available at any pet store and most big box stores. The purpose of clumping cat litter is that it clumps when it gets wet. A medium cat pan would be sufficient for rabbits under four pounds, while a large cat pan is suitable for rabbits under ten … The most effective way to control rabbit damage is to use a combination of exclusion, modification and repellents. Remove the cardboard box and let the content even out. For most rabbits, simply swapping out one type of litter with another just won’t work. Wood shavings also tend to be rougher on a rabbit’s feet. Rabbits often will not use an overly soiled litter … Another issue to note is that of respiratory issues. Many types of commercial cat litters, however, can be a severe risk to rabbit health. Jill Kokemuller has been writing since 2010, with work published in the "Daily Gate City." If you already have some cat litter on hand, you might be wondering if it’s safe to use for lining your rabbit’s litter tray. Some rabbits love to kick their litter out of the box. If you put your rabbit on the litter tray, there is no question that they will get dirty, but you may be exposing them to potentially dangerous chemicals. The key to keeping a pet rabbit's cage pleasant and clean is the use of a bunny-friendly litter -- along with once-a-day sprucing up. Corner Litter Pan / Litter Box When shopping for litter boxes, you will typically find two options available. You can get a covered litter box (with a hood), experimenting with different litters, or a sifting cat pan with litter under the sifting tray and hay on top, to help solve this problem. Pregnant women should not handle the litter to avoid the danger of contracting toxoplasmosis. Here are some steps to switch from one type of litter to another: Choosing a litter, setting up a litter box, swapping out one material for another can take a lot of time. When you take your rabbit to the vet, you may find out that your rabbit is allergic to the cat litter. Most cat litters are harmful to rabbits. Add in the litter that you picked out for your rabbit. My objective is to help owners to keep their pet rabbits happy and healthy. Tips Clean the litter box(es) often. But no matter how long it takes, you can rest easy knowing that your rabbit is comfortable, safe, and happy. Do not use!! 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