Here are the some of the best rabbit litter for odor control:
- Arm & Hammer Natural Paper Bedding
- So Phresh Odor-Control Crumbled Paper Small Animal Bedding
- Oxbow Animal Health Eco-Straw Litter
- Kaytee Clean & Cozy Extreme Odor Control
- Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter
How do I keep my rabbits litter box from smelling?
Rabbits are very clean animals. And many first time bunny owners may be surprise to learn that their pet bunny can actually be litter box trained, very much like a cat. Rabbits tend to go in a specific spot, making them naturally suited for litter box training. Once your rabbit is well litter box trained, she can have free reign of the home and will come back to her box to pee or poop.
Rabbits bathe themselves constantly, and don’t produce much body odor. A smell bunny is usually due to their cage not being properly cleaned. But it could also indicate a health problem.
Rabbit’s urine has a relatively high amount of ammonia. This is not to be confused with rabbit spraying. Both male and female rabbits spray to mark their territory. But this only happens with intact rabbits. If your bunny is neutered, spraying shouldn’t be a problem.
The smell of your rabbit’s urine can fluctuate, and both females and males can have equally smelly urine. One of the best solutions to this is to litter box train your rabbit. If your rabbit only goes toilet in the litter box, then the smell would be more contained. It also makes clean-ups easier. Keep the litter box clean and inviting to use. This will make sure your bunny doesn’t go toilet elsewhere.
There are two types of droppings you’ll notice from your rabbit. One is a firm and round pallet that doesn’t smell much. The other type of droppings is called cecotropes. Rabbits reingest cecotropes to get the nutrients they need. If your rabbit is healthy and have a well balanced diet, you usually don’t see much cecotropes around, since they have been consumed.
Smelly diarrhea or runny poop indicates a serious health concern. Bring your bunny to the vet immediately if you noticed this. Obesity or other ailments like arthritis can affect the mobility of your bunny. If your bunny is unable to move to clean herself well, smell can start to build up.
Guides like this help you care for rabbits who can’t clean themselves well. Remember that you should never bathe a rabbit, at least one who is healthy and capable to clean themselves.
All in all, maintaining a clean and tidy area for your bunny will keep nasty smells from building up. Change out the litter often, and refill it with fresh substrate. Here are a few options if you’re looking for the best rabbit litter for odor control.
Arm & Hammer Natural Paper Bedding
This 100% natural paper substrate is multi-purpose, versatile and most importantly soft on the paws. It can be used as a litter substrate in your rabbit’s litter box. It can also be used in their hutch for burrowing and substrate purposes.
Infused with baking soda and activated charcoal, this substrate neutralizes odors and keep the box smelling fresh longer. Regular cleaning is recommended to remove wet spots.
Use this substrate with a litter box liner to help absorb liquid. This will also make cleaning up a breeze. Just make sure the liner is properly covered and your bunny is not nibbling and ingesting it.
Ingesting large quantities of paper substrate can cause blockage in your rabbit’s digestive track. You’ll always need to add a layer of good old hay on top of any litter substrate, especially those that are not nibble friendly. However, paper substrate does absorb effectively, making this a good choice.
Paper substrate is quite absorbent and is also widely available. Disposal of used substrate is convenient too. Simply put it into the trash. Better still, add it to your compost heap as natural paper is biodegradable. And they make a nice addition to your compost mixture.
So Phresh Odor-Control Crumbled Paper Small Animal Bedding
Made from recycled paper pulp, this substrate is environmentally friendly because it’s made from recycled paper. It absorbs smells and liquid waste well. The substrate is infused with baking soda and offers good odor control. Like all paper substrates, it is dust free. It makes for a great hypoallergenic option for those allergic to litter dust.
The product is scented however. As a general rule of thumb, scented products are not ideal for pets. Especially small pets like rabbits, with weaker and more sensitive digestive systems.
Cleaning up after your rabbit is easy with this substrate as it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the litter box. It also doesn’t clump or stick to the sides of the box. This makes the substrate last longer but also means that you don’t need to scrap to remove the litter. A longer lasting substrate helps keep costs down.
Disposal is easily done by scooping wastes from the litter box into the bin along with your other household wastes. They are also compostable, and can be buried in your garden for composting.
Oxbow Animal Health Eco-Straw Litter
If paper isn’t your thing, then trying this straw-based litter that’s also great for odor control. These pellets are made from compressed high-fiber wheat straw. The pellets absorb liquid well and make for easy clean-up.
This straw litter is made from wheat straw which has a better absorption capacity compared to paper substrate. It can absorb up to 300% of its weight in liquid. This litter is dust free and can be composted or disposed of with your household trash once used.
Since this litter is paper free, it is safe for your rabbit to nibble on, eliminating the threat of blockage. It also contains no harmful chemicals or bleaches. As a bonus, wheat straw is naturally mould resistant, so you don’t need to worry about fungus or mould infestation. They store well in a cold dry place.
Kaytee Clean & Cozy Extreme Odor Control
This is a great option for the rabbit who loves to burrow. The substrate is lightweight and extremely soft. It absorbs liquid well, up to 6 times its weight. It has excellent odor control features and can last up to 14 days.
Although you can use it up to 14 days, you’ll still need to spot clean and remove any soiled litter at least once a day. This will help a lot with odor control. Refill the litter as you’re removing soiled litter. And you should toss out all the litter every 2 weeks or so. Wash the litter box with warm soapy water. Dry it and start again with fresh new litter.
The substrate contains artificial fragrance to help with odor control. In general, it should be safe. However, you should always err on the side of caution when you first introduce this litter to your rabbit.
Start slow if your rabbit is new to this litter. Slowly incorporating this litter into the existing litter that your rabbit is familiar with. Pay close attention to any signs of rash, itch, or discomfort your rabbit may be displaying. Stop using the litter immediately if it happens. Consult your vet if you’re concerned that your bunny may be developing an allergic reaction.
Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter
This well-known brand of pet litter is an old favorite among cat parents. Made from highly absorbent recycled paper and it provides great odor control capabilities. Although It is a rated safe option for cats, it might not be the same for rabbits. Because rabbits are nibbles, you need to watch that your bunny is not consuming a large amount of this paper litter. That might lead to blockage in her sensitive tummy.
Regular spot cleaning is advised to keep odor level in check. This litter is affordable and definitely won’t break the bank with the constant replacing of litter. This litter is almost 100% dust free, which is great for you and your rabbit’s respiratory health.
Because of the size of substrate granules, tracking is minimum. The granules are large enough that they don’t get caught in between your bunny’s paws. This paw-friendly substrate also encourages burrowing and litter box use.
When spot cleaning, simply remove the wet litter and replace with fresh litter. Once every 7-10 days, toss out all litter and wash the litter box to remove any lingering smells. The lack of dust makes cleaning much more convenient. Dispose of used litter by composting, or toss it into your household garbage.
Cleaning up after your rabbit
Rabbits do well living an indoor life, especially during harsher climates. They don’t strive in extremely hot or cold weather. If you spend time socializing with your bunny on a daily basis, she can become part of the family, much like a cat or a dog can be.
They are actually very clean animals and are constantly grooming themselves throughout the day. While this means routine bath time is not needed, you’ll still need to clean out their enclosure or hutch.
Bunnies, in general, don’t have a bodily odor like the musky scent dogs develop on their coat. The main odor from indoor rabbits is their enclosure or hutch. If indoor rabbit odor is something that concerns you, here are two key things to help you keep it to a minimum.
Litter box training
Litter box training ensures their droppings and urine is confined to just the litter box. Once your rabbit learns to use the litter box, the rest of their enclosure should be fairly clean. They’ll not be laying in spots with urine or droppings, and have it stick to their bottoms or feet.
Litter training your rabbit will also make your life much easier. You cut down a significant amount of time in your daily cleaning routine. Daily cleaning would consist of spot cleaning the litter box, as compared to cleaning out the entire enclosure if your bunny is peeing/pooping everywhere.
Neutering
Neutering your rabbit will help reduce or stop spraying behavior. Females and males bunnies will mark their territory with an almost skunk-like odor. It is definitely not a pleasant scent and is more difficult to get rid of.
Oftentimes when the rabbit enclosure smells really bad, it most likely is this spray odor. The only feasible and permanent solution to the problem is neutering your bunny. Neutering not only helps with the spraying behavior but also improves the urine odor. Not only that, bunnies that are neutered tend to live longer and have lowered risks of some diseases.
For the weekly cleaning, you’ll need to clean out their litter box and enclosure completely. To remove odor and sanitise the litter box or enclosure, you can use warm soapy water or diluted white vinegar for cleaning. A vinegar wash will reduce the build up of calcium and ammonia from urine. Be sure to rinse thoroughly and dry them before replacing them.
Litter box liners like this and this are a great addition if your litter substrate is not sufficiently absorbent. Liquid will flow to the bottom of the pan and be quickly absorbed by the liners. These litter box liners usually come with odor control features too. And having them in the bottom of the pan will help you get through the week with just spot cleaning the litter box.
Make sure to cover the liner completely with rabbit friendly litter substrate. These liners usually contain some amount of plastic to make it waterproof on the bottom-side. Ingesting plastic is a no-no for your rabbit’s sensitive digestive system. So keep the liner completely covered and keep an eye out if your rabbit starts burrowing into the substrate.
