In this article, we’ll be covering some of the best litter for rabbits:
- Kaytee Wood Pellets for Pets
- Carefresh Small Pet Bedding
- Back 2 Nature Small Animal Biodegradable Paper Litter
- Oxbow Animal Health Eco-Straw Litter
- Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter
Choosing The Right Litter For Your Rabbits
YES! Rabbits can be litter box trained. But their litter boxes and how they use them are not the same as cats. There are some things you’ll need to look out for when it comes to selecting the right litter for your rabbit. A large part of it has to do with the physiological difference between rabbits and cats.
Rabbits are nibblers and they will eat the litter. Anything that clumps is an absolute no-no. Also avoid any clay, corn, wheat, and oat based litters. Clumping litter is dangerous because it can cause a blockage in their stomach. And materials like corn are hard for your rabbit to digest.
Instead look for litters that contain ingredients such as compressed wood pellets or aspen shavings. You can also use newspaper shavings or hay, because these are much safer for your rabbit. Newspaper shavings or hay are the most cost efficient variety of litter. But they are not as absorbent and you will have to change the litter more often.
Is pine litter safe for rabbits?
No, pine litter is not safe for your rabbit. Pine, cedar, or any other aromatic wood shavings should never be used in your rabbits litter box. These shavings can cause major health issues in rabbits.
These materials contain phenols, which is a type of organic compound that can be toxic when ingested. The phenols in these woods may cause liver damage or respiratory problems for your rabbit.
Can I use cat litter for my bunny?
You can use cat litter as long as it is safe for rabbits. Any clumping litter is dangerous and you should never use clumping litter for your rabbit.
Also, some cat litters contain aromatic woods which pose many heath threats to your rabbit. When selecting a cat litter for your rabbit make sure to check the ingredients in it and research whether it is safe for your rabbit or not.
Best litter for rabbits: What to look out for
When you are looking for litter for your rabbit, make sure to look for these things:
Odor control: No one likes the smell of a stinky litter box. A smelly litter box can discourage your pet rabbit from going in the box. And that completely defeats the purpose of the litter box. Make sure to look for litter that has some form of odor control, but avoid scented litters.
Unscented: Some litters use a perfume or additive that is meant to cover the smell. But this is overwhelming for our pets and can make the litter box unwelcoming to them. Most veterinarians recommend that you get litter that is completely free of any fragrance.
Safe for rabbits: Since rabbits are such nibblers, it is important that the litter you get is safe for your bunny. Even if they ingest it. Typical traditional cat litters are made of clay which can cause a blockage in your rabbit’s digestive tracks if they eat it. Clumping litter can also pose health dangers to your rabbit’s respiratory system.
Easy cleanup and disposal: Look for a litter that is easy to clean up since it will need to be cleaned every two to four days. Also make sure that it is easy to dispose of. We recommend having a separate trash can just for litter disposal and using a new trash bag every time to keep it as hygienic as possible.
Less or no dust: A litter that is free from dust means less messes and less tracking. It is also the best hypoallergenic option for pets or owners with allergies or sensitivities.
There are a lot of rabbit litters to choose from, but these are some of the most popular products available on the market for your rabbit.
Kaytee Wood Pellets for Pets
These wood pellets are made of 100% natural wood and is recommended for all small pets, including rabbits. The wood pellets expand to absorb water, which also controls the odor. This makes it great for your pet (comfortable and scent free) and also great for you (easy to clean up).
The Kaytee Company recommends thoroughly cleaning your rabbit’s litter box weekly or more frequently by removing the pellets completely. Follow that up with washing the container with mild soap, and then replacing with fresh pellets.
This product is made in the United States and was processed to eliminate dust and debris which helps to keep your rabbit clean and healthy.
The pellets are made from aspen and pine. Some studies have shown that pine can cause health problems in your rabbit, including liver and respiratory problems. Aspen, on the other hand, is perfectly safe for your rabbit. Additionally, while this product is unscented, it does have a natural wood scent.
Carefresh Small Pet Bedding
This product is made of natural paper fiber which is safe for your rabbit. The paper fibers also make the litter extremely soft and comfortable, while also being very absorbent. It is two times more absorbent than most shavings which keeps your rabbit dry and makes for an easy clean up for you.
This natural bedding also has odor control properties. It works hard to keep your rabbit’s pen smelling clean and fresh with its proprietary technology.
Another great thing about this product is that it is 99% dust free. This makes it safe for your rabbit and also keeps your rabbits area clean and healthy. Additionally, this litter is both biodegradable and compostable.
This litter can also be used as a bedding. It provides a soft and warm material for your rabbit to get cozy in. Another bonus is that this bedding is unscented which makes it safe for your rabbit and will not affect their respiratory system.
Back 2 Nature Small Animal Biodegradable Paper Litter
This formula is completely dust free which makes it safe for your rabbit. It will not irritate their respiratory tract, or get in their eyes, ears, or nose. These pellets are also made of paper that is softened and flattened.
This litter is great for any small animals, including rabbits of any size, and it is very absorbent, while also offering odor control. This litter makes for great and easy clean up for you. It is also unscented which is great for your furry friend. This large bag has 10 liters of litter and it is one of the more affordable options.
It is biodegradable and free from any additives or chemicals, making it a great choice for your rabbit.
Oxbow Animal Health Eco-Straw Litter
This straw litter is nontoxic for your rabbit. It also is odor free and dust free. This is made with a technology that compresses high fiber wheat straw into pellets. This is great because the pellet is extra absorbent and can absorb 300% its weight in moisture. It is also very easy to clean and dispose of. This is an excellent choice for any rabbit’s home.
This straw litter is unscented but it also offers odor control and will keep your rabbit’s area clean. Another great thing is that it is dust free.
Since this product is made of natural material, it is okay if your rabbit nibbles on it. The company recommends changing this litter every two to three days to keep your bunnies’ litter box clean, which will keep your pet happy and healthy.
Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter
This eco-friendly litter is highly recommended by veterinarians. It is very absorbent and it absorbs moisture three times better than traditional cat litters that contain clay (which is dangerous for rabbits). It is also fragrance free, but it still provides odor control properties. The particles are large enough to result in low tracking. This helps keep your rabbit’s area clean.
This litter is made with recycled paper which is soft for your rabbit’s paws. This litter contains no harmful chemicals. This litter has no dust which ensures that it does not irritate your rabbit’s respiratory system and it is also easy to clean up.
Even though this is traditionally cat litter it does not have anything in it that is dangerous for your rabbit. And in fact many even prefer this litter to litter specifically designed for rabbits.
How to litter train your rabbits
Rabbits can be trained to use a litter box just like cats! Here are a few steps to getting your pet rabbit litter box trained.
1. Get a litter box for your rabbit.
Some companies advertise special rabbit litter boxes, but these are often too small. Instead, get a small cat litter box or even a shallow plastic tub. If the litter box is too tall for your bunny, cut a little doorway into it to allow your rabbit to be able to get in and out of it easily.
2. Fill the litter box with litter safe for your rabbit.
Put a thin layer of litter on the bottom of the litter box. You really only need enough to absorb any liquids. If you have cats, you may fill the box up more, but rabbits do not bury their droppings like cats do so it is unnecessary to fill it too much.
3. Put hay by the litter box
Bunnies like to eat hay while they do their business so put some hay either directly in their litter box or in a hay box near the litter box. This will help to promote good litter box habits.
4. Confine your rabbit’s space.
When you are first starting to train your rabbit to use a litter box, make sure to confine their space by using a pen. This will allow your rabbit to get used to their surroundings and become comfortable using their litter box.
Once your rabbit is consistently using their litter box, you can expand the area that they are allowed to be in, eventually giving them free reign of the house if that is what you choose.
If your rabbit stops using their litter box, start decreasing the size of their reign and using the pen (or making their pen smaller) again.
Other tips to keep in mind when training your rabbit to use a litter box:
- If your rabbit has an accident, pick up the droppings and put them in the litter box to show them that this is where they should go to the bathroom.
- Accidents do happen and sometimes rabbits will miss their litter box or go right on the outside of it. Put a plastic mat down under their litter box to make cleaning up accidents easier.
- If you see signs that your rabbit is about to go to the bathroom (lifting their tail, squatting into a seating position, etc.) pick them up and put them in their litter box to encourage them to use it.
- Your rabbit is more likely to try to “mark their territory” if they are not spayed or neutered. By getting them fixed, this will help to decrease their feelings of territorialism.
- Have patience! This is the most important thing to remember when litter training your pet rabbit. Training them takes time, so remember to be patient and persistent with them.
Training your rabbit to use the litter box will be very beneficial for you. Rabbits eat a lot (and therefore poop a lot) and by helping them to have a space where they know to use the bathroom, it will keep their pen cleaner and make cleaning their pen easier for you.
This is also important if you are planning on letting your rabbit walk around your house as if they are litter box trained you won’t have to keep an eye on them at all times. They can just explore the house on their own and become comfortable in your home.
Additionally, rabbits are naturally very clean animals and they want to stay clean, so by training them to use a litter box, you will be helping them to keep their living quarters clean.
