​Healthy Digestion

• Rabbits produce two types of droppings; fecal pellets and cecotropes. Fecal dropping should be relatively large, round shape, firm and dry consistency, and a medium brown colour. It should crumble easily if squashed and have little to no smell. Dark or smaller droppings often indicate a insufficient fibre or a high protein diet. The cecotropes should have a distinct shape like a collection of small balls (like a bunch of grapes). They should have a slightly darker colour, look shiny and be somewhat sticky to the touch. 

• Rabbits maximise the nutritional value gained from their diet and maintain a healthy digestive system by eating cecotropes directly from their bottom. This often occurs overnight so you won't always know its happening. You may occasionally find an uneaten cecotrope on the hutch floor - this is normal and not cause for concern. If your bun regularly find cecotropes, consider the following:

  • Inappropriate diet - too much protein or sugar, or insufficient fibre leading to overproduction of cecotropes

  • Obesity - may limit the rabbit's mobility and ability to reach the cecotropes

  • Pain - older rabbits with arthritis may have difficulty reaching their cecotropes

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Healthy Fecal Pellets & Cecotrope

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​​​Normal Urine

• Normal rabbit urine can range in colour from white, pale yellow, to a deep orange/red ("rusty" colour) due to a variety of plant pigments in the diet or pigments, called porphyrins, produced by the bladder. 

• Consult your vet if you notice your rabbit straining to urinate, producing thick chalky urine (think toothpaste) or if otherwise normal urine has obvious blood. 

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Litter Training

• ​Rabbits are intelligent and can be trained to use a litter tray. Start with a small space - if the rabbit has too much room, he will forget where the litter tray is or feel the need to continually mark his territory. Only increase the amount of space as the rabbit begins to use the tray consistently. Use recycled paper or wood shavings as litter, avoid any chemical or clumping varieties as they can be toxic.

• The first few days at home, rabbit will want to mark his territory by leaving droppings throughout his new environment. We recommend keeping him in his hutch area unless you are handling or supervising. After a few days, the rabbit will begin to concentrate its toileting, usually in a hutch corner. Place the litter tray where the rabbit has chosen and put some soiled bedding in the tray. The rabbit should start to use the tray. You may need to place a brick or something heavy in the tray if the rabbit attempts to move it. You may need to place a second tray if the rabbit changes his preferred toileting spot. After some time, the rabbit will begin to associate toileting with the tray, and you will be able to increase the amount of space he has access to. He will return to the tray when he needs to toilet.

• Encourage litter tray use by placing a hay rack over the tray, or provide treats and praise for correct behaviour. Unlike other pets, rabbits dont tend to toilet after a meal as they graze continuously throughout the day. A rabbit will usually pause and lift his tail just before he urinates, or they can become unsettled and dig at your clothes if being held.  

• Sterilization can also help litter training.

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​​​​​​​Dirty Bottom?

Rabbits have delicate digestive systems and can experience cecal dysbiosis. This is when the cecotropes aren't formed properly and are often found squashed on the hutch floor or stuck to the rabbit's fur. It's often the result of an unbalanced diet, stress, or a health issue such as obesity causing disruption to the delicate beneficial bacteria found in the cecum.  Cecal dysbiosis can usually be addressed by avoiding treats, reducing pellets and greens, and increasing oaten hay. We do not recommend 'treat bars' due to the seeds and nuts and molasses content often used as a binding agent.

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True diarrhoea (watery) and mucoid enteritis can be fatal in severe cases. Consult your vet if your rabbit experiences watery diarrhoea or there is obvious mucous in their droppings.  

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Using the Litter Tray - Trouble Shooting
Toileting everywhere: My perfect rabbit has forgotten how to use a litter tray!
A quick checklist:

• How old is the rabbit? A rabbit approaching maturity may experience a rush of hormones, increasing their desire to mark their territory. This may settle with time as the hormones settle down (think teenage angst!) or you may like to consider desexing.

• Has there been a new addition to the household (new pet or family member)

• Has the routine changed

• Has the hutch, litter tray or litter material changed

• Have you redecorated or rearranged the furniture

If none of these apply, which might suggest rabbit is feeling insecure and wanting to mark his territory, it may warrant a vet check to ensure there is no medical cause. If rabbit is still learning how to use a litter tray, you may need to restrict the space he has access to. Limit him to a playpen or one room, and only expand the space accessible once he demonstrates consistent litter tray habits.

Urinating next to the litter tray

• Choose a litter box with high sides / with a hood to help make a clearer distinction between toileting and non-toiletting areas. Check that the tray is a comfortable size and not too small.

• Put a handful of hay in the litter tray or hang a hay rack above the tray to encourage the rabbit to sit in the right place

•  Don’t be too thorough in litter tray cleaning. If you disinfect or give a thorough scrub, place a small amount of soiled litter material or sweep up droppings into the tray to provide a clear signal to the rabbit.

Why has my perfectly litter trained rabbit just urinated on the couch?!
Uh-oh, this is not pleasant! The couch and bed can be victim to inappropriate toileting, as these are areas where human scent becomes more concentrated. Often the cause is territory marking when they reach sexual maturity. See the above section: ‘Toileting everywhere: My perfect rabbit has forgotten how to use a litter tray!’ for tips. Restricting access, placing a litter tray (as a temporary fix) to strengthen the association with the tray, or covering the couch with a waterproof sheet may help.

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