Litter Training Cotton

Litter training Cotton is really a breeze for me because I suspected that at his senior age, he might already have a stable toilet habit. And he has proven my 'theory' right. 

On his first night at his new home with us, he was able to recognize which one was his litter box (I do not need to place his poops at the litter box to hint him) because I placed a container at corner of his cage and in the container, I layered a newspaper (most bottom), Carefresh Ultra paper bedding and then the Timothy Hay. I learnt and read online for many tips how to setup a rabbit litter box by the way. However, Cotton was not used to the Carefresh Ultra paper bedding and started digging it out/away. I remember that SPCA uses newspaper in their rabbits' cubicles so my strategy changed and tore the newspapers into stripes and mixed with the paper bedding.

 

Initially I used more newspaper stripes and lesser paper bedding and gradually decreased on newspaper and increased the paper bedding until eventually, Cotton gotten used to paper bedding in his litter box. I saw pee pad at Daiso and decided to try to use as the base for the litter box to facilitate my cleaning purposes. The newspaper would tear when wet so it's pretty disgusting and messy to empty his litter box into the plastic bag and plus newspaper ink easily blacken Cotton. Pee pad is not enough to absorb Cotton's 2days of urine (he really pees a lot!) but it makes it wrapping up all his soiled litter content easily and no mess.  

Of course, all litter training credits is not due to me because as some websites also have mentioned as well that senior rabbits have in some ways cultivated their toilet habits/preference at their age. This makes litter training with Cotton a real breeze.

Let's go to the pictures! The picture below is the usual Day 0 which I always prepare to change Cotton's soiled litter box. Cotton has 2 litter boxes - one is Burgundy Red colour and the other is Turquoise colour as show in the picture. Having 2 litter boxes is more for convenience reason so that I can instantly exchange the soiled litter box with a clean ones. Cotton, as a typical rabbit, is inquisitive whenever I am at his playpen territory and touching his litter box. Did I share with you that whenever Cotton feels threaten or fearful for his life, he would hop to his litter box and stay there. Maybe he trusts his only odour...haha

 

Day 0: Prepare fresh litter box for Cotton

I knew which spot that Cotton will pee so by trial and error, I have managed to 'train' Cotton to pee on a certain spot in his litter box. The orange arrows indicated are where the cat litters recycled papers are placed and where Cotton will pee. You see, as he eats his hay, pees and poos all in the same tray, I need to organize his litter box such that he would pee and poo at certain spot(s) within the box and eat his hay at another spot in the same box. To do that, where his hay is placed is important - his hay is always lined at the side and none at the litter paper so that when Cotton eats his hay, he will only have a certain position. See picture below....Ta-da!...as rabbits eat and eliminate (shit/poo) at the same time, so my strategy works on Cotton.

 

 

Look, what happened to Cotton's litter box in next few hours/days....

After 24hrs: Orange arrows indicate where his majority of his poops and urine (see the yellowish stain) be found

Another fresh litter box and after overnight use of it

Typically I need to change Cotton's litter box once every 2-3days or at times, once a day. It depends on how much soiled his litter box is. In those days where he has his fresh vegetable meals, he will drink less and thus, his litter box can last longer. (Update: To ensure Cotton does not become picky with his food and not eating his hays, I feed him fresh vegetables on alternative weeks). Sometimes like once a week or so, I will give him a spoonful of pellets. I keep his pellets as treats especially after I have combed him so that he will be more cooperative with me during grooming session.

:)

Enticing and Preparing Fresh Vegetables for Cotton

I tried green leafy vegetables like Chye Sim, Lettuce and Xiao Bai Chye and Cotton would not touch them after a few sniffs. After much readings and seeking advices from experienced buns parents at Facebook group, I tried herbs like Mints and Cotton loves it. 

But I want him to eat his leafy vegetables and not be picky with his food. So I got inspired by one of the bun parent who used dill (herb) wrapped with vegetables to feed her buns. She used a satay stick to do the rolls but I wonder if Cotton will be clever enough not to eat the satay sticks. So instead, I use Timonthy Hay to secure the wrap. Ok enough words, it's pictures time!

Experiment leafy green: Sweet Oat, Herbs: Coriander and Celery (strong aroma which Cotton loves)

Always wash the greens especially the herbs, organic or not!

You know sushi making? Lay the washed green leaf well and cut the herbs into smaller lengths as seen on picture below. Line the herbs on top of the green leaf. 

Then roll the leaf at one end and I prefer to start at the leafy tip because is easier. You will hear some cracking of the leaf stem and that's normal, so don't stop and keep rolling. Then I secure the roll or wrap with the timonthy hay by piercing through the leaf. See picture to see the end product. 

The meal is ready to be served! I usually feed Cotton once a day on weekdays at evening time after work. On weekends, I'll feed him twice a day - morning at 8-9am and evening at 7-8pm. I read that the amount of fresh vegetable should be about the size of your bun's head. 

"Yummy!" said Cotton.