Rabbits are cute, cuddly and make fantastic pets, but they still need to go to the bathroom! Cleaning out your rabbit’s hutch can be a tedious task, and is made even worse if you have soggy bedding, urine and poop to dispose of too. These adorable little creatures can make a lot of mess and it can smell bad!
Fortunately, there are rabbit litter boxes out there that help to contain your rabbit’s mess and provide them with a clean and specialized place to go. These litter boxes can be placed in their hutch or around the house.
There are so many different types of litter boxes out there, so how do you know which one is right for you and your bun? Fortunately for you, we have complied a buying guide of everything you need to know about litter boxes and have even included some of our top picks on the market today. Keep reading on to find out more.
What Is A Rabbit Litter Box?
A rabbit litter box provides your bun with somewhere to do their business! Just like we have a bathroom, your bun needs one too. This will allow them somewhere to pee and poop without messing up the rest of their hutch or doing it around the house.
Litter boxes are usually made of plastic and are slightly bigger than your rabbit. They come in many different shapes and sizes. You fill a litter box with litter, which helps to absorb urine and keep smells at bay. This can be many different materials, such as wood shavings, paper, shredded paper or newspaper, wood pellets or clay litter. You can also use cat litter in your rabbit’s litter box.
Why Does My Rabbit Need A Litter Box?
Providing your rabbit with a litter box is a great way to keep their hutch looking and smelling fresher for longer. You can train your rabbit to go to the bathroom in their litter box and then there will be mess less for you to clean up and for them to stand in! This is much easier and more hygienic than letting your rabbit go wherever they want!
A rabbit litter box gives your rabbit a space that is their own and will make them feel at home. You can place litter boxes around the house so your bun knows they always have somewhere to go, and they don’t have to go back to their rabbit hutch every time.
Types of Rabbit Litter Boxes
There are a few different types of litter boxes out there for you to choose from. The one you choose will depend on the size of your rabbit and the space you have around your home.
Corner Litter Box
These are compact litter boxes that fit into the corner of the room. The shape helps to keep them out of the way so there is more space in either your house or your rabbit cage. These rabbit litter boxes have high backs and so are good for those bunnies who like to push their bottoms into a corner while doing their business as the urine will stay in the litter box. Unfortunately, these boxes are small and will only fit one rabbit in.
Litter Pan
This is a standard litter box that works well for any adult rabbit. It is usually bigger than a corner litter box and gives your bun more room. There are many variations of a litter pan so you will have to see which one is going to work for your bun. The downside to these litter pans is that your rabbit will most likely flick litter and poop out of the pan when hopping out of it.
Litter Box With Wire Floor
A rabbit litter box with a wire floor is easy to clean. The rabbit sits on the wire floor and the urine and droppings fall through into the tray, keeping your bunny clean. Unfortunately, these are not advised as the wire floor can hurt your rabbits paws and actually cause infection.
Litter Box With Plastic Grate
Much like the litter box with a wire floor, this rabbit litter box has a plastic grate which makes it easy to clean because the droppings and urine fall into a tray. The plastic grate is designed to not irritate the rabbit, so is a much better option than a box with a wire floor.
Litter Box With Hay Rack
A lot of rabbits like to eat while they are doing their business, so you may want to look for a later box with a hay feeder. This means they can eat happily in their box, but their hay won’t be spoiled by urine or poop and it will be kept out of the way.
Factors To Consider When Buying A Rabbit Litter Box
There are a few things to consider when buying a bunny litter box to make sure you are getting the best fit for your bun and your home.
Size
This is one of the most important things to take into consideration when buying a litter box for a small animal. If your rabbit can’t fit in it, they won’t want to use it! Similarly, you don’t want the litter box to be too big, otherwise it will just be taking up unnecessary space in their hutch or around the house, and you will end up using more litter than needed to fill it. However, if you have more than one bunny and want your rabbits to be able to use the litter box at the same time, you’ll need to factor this in.
Depth
A rabbit litter box should be deep enough that it holds a good amount of litter, without the litter and poop being pushed out every time your rabbit enters or leaves the box. If there is a tray underneath the wire of plastic rack, you’ll need to make sure it is deep enough to catch all of their waste, too.
Some rabbits prefer to back into their box and push their bottoms in. If the sides are high enough, then you may find there is urine everywhere!
Durability
There is no use in buying a rabbit litter box if it breaks very easily. Bunnies are stronger than they look and, when using it often, they may break a cheaper box
Stability
Many rabbit litter boxes come with screws or hooks to attach to the wall, so your rabbit can’t move their box around. Some like to scrabble and dig at their box, or can become quite playful and try to move it around. If your bunny is likely to do this, look for a box that has the option to stabilize it.
Ease Of Cleaning
Bunnies can be messy and you don’t want to have to spend hours every week cleaning them out! With an easy-to-clean litter box it will be much simpler. This means you shouldn’t have to take the box apart or have to remove any parts of the box for cleaning. You can simply empty out the dirty litter, wash and disinfect it and then refill.
If you’re ready to find the perfect rabbit litter box for your furry friend, take a look below at the best litter boxes, all available to you on Amazon.
Best Rabbit Litter Box — Reviewed
1) Kathson Rabbit Litter Box
Perfect for smaller rabbits, this Kathson rabbit litter box measures 11” × 9” × 6.3”. With a strong and sturdy design, this litter box is made of plastic and has a plastic grate that easily separates your rabbit from their waste. The plastic is comfortable under their paws and won’t cause sore hocks like wire grates. Easy to clean, the grate can be taken out so the tray can be washed and disinfected, and the high walls of the box means that urine can be contained for less mess and clear up. Even better, there are clips to easily attach this box to your rabbit’s hutch so they can’t move it. As a bonus, this box comes with a scooper to help you clean it!
2) CalPalmy Large Rabbit Litter Box
Approximately 17.3’’ X 13.4’’ X 7.1’’, this rabbit litter box from CalPalmy is made of 100% premium-quality, non-toxic, BPA free plastic and is safe for your bun. With a plastic grate, this box easily separates the waste, meaning it easy for you to clean and ensures your rabbit doesn’t stand in their own mess! Easy to get in and out of, this tray also has relatively high sides for catching urine. The grate can simply be removed for cleaning, too. This litter box comes with 10 pet training pads as a bonus, which you can put at the bottom of the tray to help absorb moisture.
3) M-Aimee Square Litter Box
The M-Aimee rabbit litter box is square shaped and measures 11 inches long, making it perfect for smaller rabbits and a great litter tray for your rabbit’s hutch. Small enough to keep out of the way, this litter box still provides your rabbit with a place to do their business and, being made of plastic, is stain and odor resistant. With a plastic grate, this litter box is another than separates the litter from the bunny and is easy to clean. It is very durable and even comes with cage hooks and holes designed to hold the litter tray securely to your rabbit’s cage.
4) Humorous.P Corner Rabbit Litter Box
This corner litter box from Humorous.P is perfect if your rabbit is one who likes to back into their box and push their bottom against the side. The high back contains any urine so there is less mess for you to clean up and, with a plastic grate, again keeps any poop and dirty litter away from your rabbit so they don’t stand in it. Easy to assemble and disassemble, this tray is simple to clean, too. Even better, there are hooks so you can attach this tray to your rabbit’s hutch or elsewhere in the house.
5) Ware Manufacturing Plastic Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Pet Pan
This Scatterless Lock-N-Litter rabbit litter box by Ware Manufacturing is designed to prevent your rabbit from knocking it over and spreading their mess and litter everywhere! It locks to your rabbit’s cage or hutch and will stay in place, yet is also easy to remove when you need to clean it. Made of durable, stain and odor-resistant plastic, it is safe for your bunny and the plastic grate will prevent them from standing in any poop or urine. This litter tray comes in a few different sizes, depending on the size of your rabbit.
6) Ware Manufacturing Plastic Lock-N-Litter Bigger Pan for Small Pets
Another rabbit litter box by Ware Manufacturing, this one is of jumbo size and perfect for larger rabbits or homes with more than one rabbit. With a corner design, this litter tray easily fits into the corner of your bun’s hutch or into the corner of any room. The high walls at the back are also perfect for catching urine, particularly if your rabbit likes to push their bottom into a corner while doing their business. With a low entry point, this litter box is great for older rabbits too. It attaches easily to their hutch so your rabbit can’t move it or knock it over, but it also can be taken out without any fuss for cleaning.
Best Rabbit Litter Box FAQ’s
How can I teach my rabbit to use a litter box?
Training a rabbit is never going to be as easy as training a cat or a dog, but they are intelligent animals and can be taught with the right perseverance. Be patient with your rabbit while they learn and never get angry or hit them.
When your pet rabbit is new to your home, watch where they prefer to go. Place the litter box there and see whether they naturally decide to use it. If they do not and do droppings on the floor, place both the rabbit and the droppings in the box. Pet them and give them treats to reward them. It may take time, but you will get there in the end!
One top tip to remember while litter training is let the litter box stay a little dirty while the rabbit is learning. If you keep it too clean, they will think they are not supposed to use it.
What litter do I put in my rabbit’s litter box?
There are many different types of litter out there for you to choose from. These include wood shavings, paper, shredded paper or newspaper, wood pellets, cat litter or clay litter. They all have their benefits and disadvantages so you will have to decide which is the best litter for your rabbit. Some help to absorb the urine and mess more, while others absorb the smell better.
Summary
As you can see, a rabbit litter box is a wonderful idea if you’ve got a new rabbit! Helping to keep your bun, their hutch and your house cleaner, a litter box gives your rabbit a place to go where mess can be contained. You can teach them to use it from a young age and then you will always have less mess to clear up! Don’t be disheartened if one litter box doesn’t work for your bunny. There are many different types out there and you will find one that they love and will want to use!