Indoor rabbit burrowing his litter.

MrsDrink

So Bunny is just the greatest bunny ever but he's recently developed a habit that is slightly irritating and just wondered what everyone's thoughts were.

He is fully litter trained, using the litter for wees and the majority of his poos (the odd one escapes when he's bounding about). He has lots of entertainment (he adores shredding paper; and has a new box to hide in which he's quite liking) so I don't think this behaviour is boredom related.

But recently he has taken to burrowing in his litter tray kicking it out all over the place. Nothing has changed, they are the same litter trays as he has always used, in the same place, with the same litter. He does it with both clean and ... well less clean litter. He does it if we put lots in or a little bit in. Why? What is he trying to tell us in bunny language that we can't hear?

I don't want to 'punish' him by saying 'oi' (this is his signal to stop what he's doing which he responds to) because I don't want him to associate his litter trays with bad things. He does still use his litter trays, just scatters it everywhere. What are we missing? As I said it is only irritating - it's not a big problem, we can just hoover it up, but if he's trying to tell us something and we're missing it I'd rather know so we can change it.

I believe he's happy - he still licks us, and still flops in front of the TV stand. Still eating, drinking, and pooing (the important things for buns).

Thanks!

(PS he is coming up to 4 years old, and this is a relatively new habit - say the last couple of months).

Edit
This is his litter tray.

Pruflo

Ours do that in the cat litter tray !! I just assumed it was them trying out their digging desire.

Both our originals and the rescue bunny we have do it so I don't think it's anything to worry about :0)

coinxoperated

Hey!

Never had a rabbit or the situation your in here, but have you tried a litter tray with a lid?

There a few on here which have lids / higher sides:

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/category.asp?dept_id=776

I would imagine it would be pretty easy to find one your rabbit can get into easily

MrsDrink

Awww thank you for the posts... and I don't mean to sound dismissive but not sure the lid would help. The back on the litter tray he has is really tall (23cm tall - ha just got MrD to measure it) and stops it from being kicked out there. What he does is hop in - head facing into the tray and then start scratting so it comes out of the little 'step' bit to get in.
Lol I just wish he could talk to explain himself

jenhug

burrowing is what bunnies do!

MrsDrink

jenhug wrote: »

burrowing is what bunnies do!

We know. And honestly it's only a slight irritation, but it's more the fact that it's a new(ish) habit and we're worried that he's trying to tell us something and we're ignoring him.
They say cats own their humans... pah...rabbits do!! He's got us well trained.

MrsDrink

See I do wonder if he's trying to tell us his litter trays are now too small for him, but I don't know how he'd be if we totally changed them (or where on earth I'd find one with such high sides). I don't really want to change his litter (same stuff we've always used) because it's made of recycled paper so it's safe(r) if he eats it.

Hang_Tight_Harry

Give him something else to burrow in. He's trying to tell you he wants to dig and burrow. Get a massive litter tray and fill it with earth. Let let him fill his boots.

You clearly take really great care of your rabbit, but it saddens me that he is missing out on normal rabbit behaviour. Burrowing and building warrens is what they do. I still have holes in my garden from my rabbits burrowing in the lawn. They used to love the freedom of a garden with lawn to dig up and race around before lazing in the sun.

You can't ignore thousands of years of evolved behaviour.

MrsDrink

Thanks - will do this (will get an old washing up bowl and fill it).
He does burrow though, he'll happily scrat away on the hearth or his catalogues (appreciate they aren't the same as there is nothing to move).

(Also please don't assume he doesn't get to go outside - he will sit at the french doors when he wants to be let out and will go for a hop around the garden... including going to find his dandelion pot.)

Rovver125

We have 4 rabbits, two pairs, all living in our spare room. Both pairs have washing up bowls as litter trays. One of the does is the only one with this habbit but does it all the time! Like you say, not a huge problem, just slightly irritating!

She used to actually pick the entire bowl up and throw it around, which was much more irritating, but we've stopped that now with a few well placed bricks.

They all have plenty of things to dig at and to keep them amused but she seems to love the litter tray.

I did read a tip a while back about putting a wire rack, like a cooking cooling rack, or the type you get in a grill pan, in the litter tray and covering it with the litter so they couldn't dig. Haven't tried it so don't know how succesful it would be.

Go on any rabbit forum though and numerous owners have reported their rabbits doing this!

MrsDrink

Thanks Rovver... awww a wire rack but what about the wire digging into their poor tootsies while they wee & poo!

Sausage has entertained me (and himself) this morning playing with a giant cardboard box. Jumping on then in it. Happy as larry (I assume).
Photos just to show off really.