Black plastic bag for the litter box

As you might already know from my previous entries that Cotton's litter box has to be changed as frequently as once every 2 days. Read here.

However, our "A4" sized plastic bag supply ain't able to keep up with Cotton's litter changing frequency, so we must need to think for contingency plan or plan B. Our only plan B is to buy the plastic bag from shops like SKP Pte Ltd, and this proven quite a good plan on long term basis. And so we bought a pack of 30 or so ($5.50/pack) to try.

So the black plastic will be wrapping over his litter box (this idea is not novel and quite commonly used by other bun parents), followed by a piece of pet pee pad and then filled the tray with hays and a mixture of cat litter and shredded papers. With this approach, I can even skip washing the tray!
 



Overlaying the black plastic bag on Cotton's litter box

I was initially worried how Cotton will react to this new change. Will he:
- dig and scratch the black plastic bag out?
- nip and bite the black plastic bag?

It has been 2nd day, and the black plastic bag is still hanging great. My worries is unfounded!

Updated on 13-Apr-2014:

Cotton's urine somehow was able to soak through the black plastic bag so this overlaying convenience approach does not worked for me. There was no tear at the black plastic but I must say the plastic is quite thin.
 

Recycle, reuse for Cotton's litter

I bought a portable and mini shredder recently at an IT mall fair. The shredder costs me $34 and I thought it is a good deal for its price and application for home use. This mini shredder cannot shred fast and many at a time - A4 sized paper has to be folded half to feed into it, so expectation has to be calibrated accordingly. Although it claims it can shred 3 papers at most at a time, one piece of A4 paper already make the shredder sounded it was working very hard.

My new portable and mini shredder

The shredded papers, in my opinion, are quite fine and loose. Then an idea strike into me - why not further recycle these shredded papers for Cotton's litter?

The shredded papers as final product

 

And so I did. As I learned previously, I need to introduce new things to Cotton slowly and so I mixed it with the Cat Litter in his litter tray. Typically, the 30L Breeder Celect cat litter can last me 2-3 months and now together with the shredded bits, I can use the Breeder Celect supply longer.

 

Mixing the Cat Litter with the shredded bits

The results after 6hrs of use by Cotton

Do I worry Cotton will eat the shredded bit? No. He doesn't even eat the cat litter or his own poo.
Will the shredded bits have ink leaching issue? Not likely and definitely much hygienic than newspaper

It's really a win-win situation - being green, save monies and yet confidential and important document properly disposed. How clever. :p

 

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.

:)

Taking care of Cotton

Taking good care of Cotton is now my priority. Giving him the best without breaking my wallet is just as important. Cotton may not have the best of things in his earlier life but he sure be pampered by me and Uncle Hubby from the rest of his life.

His litter, I bought 30L cat litter Breeder Celect ($29);
Initially I bought CareFresh Ultra pet bedding because I read online somewhere that Cat litter is not suitable for rabbits as they contain zinc dusts which can cause breathing problems to rabbits. Cotton is used to having newspaper as his bedding which SPCA is also using. So there was a transition to let Cotton used to non-newspaper bedding. After consulting the vet that as long as the cat litter is made of recycled paper, then it should be fine for Cotton. Breeder Celect is definitely cheaper than using Carefresh Ultra bedding, in my opinion.

His diet, I bought Oxbow Western Timonthy Hay as his main diet;
Later, I bought Oxbow Alfalfa Hay with the intention to let him have an alternative main diet but later learnt from the vet that Alfalfa is not suitable for older rabbit. Alfalfa has high calories and is therefore suitable for growing young rabbits (below 07 months) and lactating rabbits. But I could, however, still able to use Alfalfa as small treats for Cotton. He loves Alfalfa Hays because it is sweet tasting and Cotton, like all other rabbits, has sweet tooth.

His supplement/treats, I bought Oxbow Natural Sciences Senior Support as per Vet recommended and fresh vegetables. I have tried Chye Sim, Lettuce and Xiao Bai Chye but he did not like them at all. I bought Burgy treats and he likes them so far but can only give him on once a week basis.

Cotton drinks a lot of water per day such that about 500mL of water intake for 8hrs period. So we have 2 water bottles for him to tide him through the day while at we are at work. Cotton has a certain devoted preference when using his water bottle - he will only drink one bottle and finish it before drinking from the 2nd bottle.

Cotton doesn't like his cage floor be laid with anything - newspaper or towel. He will push or kick them away. He prefers the original cage base and it seems that his paws are larger to be stuck in those holes. I let Cotton does whatever he likes since it's his territory.

Basically, Cotton is quite easy to maintain and my local pet store also sells me Oxbow products at an affordable price. My handsome Cotton is now in tip-top healthy condition.