Pet Rabbits Are Easy To Housetrain

House rabbits are a lot of fun.  And luckily, pet rabbits are relatively easy to house train.  Their personal preference is generally for cleanliness.  They are just a bit more difficult than a cat and far easier than a dog to train. 

Older rabbits have better-established personal grooming habits and will most likely take to litter training more easily than a young rabbit.  But with a little patience, even a young rabbit will learn to use the litter box sooner or later, probably sooner.

Spayed and neutered rabbits are easier to litter train than unaltered pet rabbits - yet another reason to spay and neuter your pets.  Unaltered pet rabbits who are litter trained at an early age may regress and need a refresher when they hit sexual maturity.

How To Litter Train A Pet Rabbit

Get a high corner box especially for pet rabbit cages.  Corner boxes take up less space than other shapes.  And if you don't use a high one, you will cringe every time he jumps out of the box and flips his back feet as he does, flicking litter everywhere. 

Choose a litter that is safe for rabbits.  Do not use clay cat litter, for example, because it can be harmful if you rabbit decides to eat it.  Never use a clumping litter or litter with deodorizing crystals where a rabbit could possibly eat it.  Although many different types of litter may be used in trays under cages and carriers where your rabbit cannot reach it, special attention must be made to the choice of litter for inside the litter box itself.

When you first bring your pet rabbit home and he is staying in his rabbit cage fulltime do not place a litter box in his cage.  Instead, observe his favorite place to use.  It will almost always be the back left or back right corner.

Place the litter box in his favorite spot.  You will find it always best to work with your pet rabbit rather than to demand your own way (or, demand your own way by making him think it's his choice!) 

If he decides that you've provided him with a nice comfy bed rather than a litter box, then you may need to provide an even more inviting bed for him.  You can try another litter box or a resting mat or something else to make him want to choose another resting place.

Once you let him out of the rabbit cage, keep him confined to a small area that has a litter box (more than one, if needed).  After a while, you will figure out which is his favorite and can remove the rest.

Expect a few dry, nearly odorless droppings from time to time no matter how well litter trained your rabbit is.  They are very easy to sweep away (just keep a brush and dustpan combo handy).  If your rabbit is successful in urinating consistently in his litter box, then you have 98% of the problem taken care of anyway. 

If you are holding your rabbit and he becomes restless, it may be a sign that he is about to urinate.  Try to be sensitive to the signals your rabbit is giving you.  Also, if your pet rabbit raises his tail, he may be just about to urinate.  Place him gently and without much fanfare in his litterbox.

Never scold or punish a pet rabbit.  It will not have the effect you want.  Simply make his favorite options those that are okay with you.  And a little praise and positive attention when he does the right thing never hurt.

Supervising Your Pet Rabbit

Even well trained pet rabbits must be supervised, however, at about the level needed for a human toddler.  Pet rabbits can bite through electrical wires and drown in the toilet. They can ruin your carpet by trying to dig a hole in the "ground."  All of these problems can be avoided by only allowing your pet rabbit to be out of his rabbit cage when he is being actively supervised.  I do not recommend giving a rabbit free run of the house.

Also, pet rabbits that have free run of the house will see your attempts to pick him up and spend time with him as a restriction of his freedom, rather than a pleasurable, more interesting time.  Let your pet rabbit live in his safe cage most of the time and then come out to play and interact with you.