litter box update: please read!!

[emiliewasmyeve]

Hello all --

Sorry to be posting so much about the process of litter training my buns... but I need help!

Okay.. so as I've stated before, my buns have not taken to the litter box in the 2 1/2 months that we've had them. We've done everything right: hay in the box, rotating corners, etc. From reading and based on what the vet said, we'd been using Yesterday's News litter.

Well, tonight we let the buns out to run around the house. Recently, we got a 2nd kitty and she currently has a temporary litter box (with Tidy Cats clay litter) in the back bathroom. The bunnies happened upon that litter box and WENT TO TOWN! I'm not even kidding. It is like they went 1 and 2 for 10 minutes straight, covered it up, left for a minute, came back and used it again.

For the past hour, both cats and both bunnies have been playing in our back bathroom and you would think the litter box was a playground.

Here is my problem: FINALLY the buns are using a litter box. And, as strange as this sounds, I can already tell that they seem happier for having discovered it. But, isn't clay litter harmful to buns? So --- what now? They seem to have a strong preference for the clay litter! Should I mix a little of it with their Yesterday's News litter to get them started in their own box?

Please advise! Oh.. and lots of photo evidence below!

[Sasami]

Can you just use Yesterday's News for everyone? After all, it's technically a cat litter .

And you have adorable rabbits! The lighter one reminds me of Fiona when she was a baby.

[Dragonrain]

Aww they're so cute!

Clay cat litter is bad for bunnies. If they accidently eat any of it it expands inside them and they have problems digesting it which can lead to blockage and/or GIstasis. I wouldn't use any of it, because even if you mix it or something there is still a chance that they would ingest some of it.

Could you try using yesterdays news for the cats too? Then see if maybe the bunnies still use the cat box with the diffrent litter.

Maybe it's not the clay - what if you try using the same kind of box you use for the cats for the rabbits?

[kathydip]

Oh dear - bunnies just love to be difficult don't they?
I know my bunnies like to use the kitty boxes but I use wood pellet litter for everyone so I don't have a problem.
Is there any type of litter that is like clay that is safe for bunnies?
And Teddy is still pooing all over the cage I have for him but is pretty good outside of the cage. Just not outside of the other bunny's rooms. I am okay with it since it's pretty much limited to inside his cage. And lately I have been leaving his cage open so he has access to the entire front room.

[emiliewasmyeve]

The problem is that the bunnies WON'T use the litterbox w/ Yesterday's News and WILL use the litterbox with clay litter. I read around and have purchased some natural, clay-like litter that doesn't clump and is unscented. I've just put a bit of this with their Yesterday's News stuff to see what happens!