How to Litter Train Your Bunny (and When to Use a Reusable Rabbit Diaper)

Why Litter Training Matters

“Can you teach a rabbit to use a toilet?” is one of the questions we hear most often.

The good news: many rabbits are naturally quite clean and quickly learn to use a litter tray – especially for wee. Poops can take a little longer to organise, but with patience, most house rabbits become very tidy.

Rabbit in his home

Step 1: Choose the Right Litter Tray

A common mistake is using a tray that is too small. Your rabbit should be able to:

• Hop in easily

• Turn around comfortably

• Sit without hanging over the edges

Large cat litter trays or low plastic storage boxes often work well. Place the tray in a corner your rabbit already favours for toileting.

Step 2: Pick a Safe, Comfortable Litter

There are many different types of bedding and litter. Here are the most common:

• Absorbent pads

  • Convenient but usually more expensive

  • Some rabbits chew and shred them

  • Not as eco-friendly

• Wood pellets (the same type used in some stoves)

  • Very absorbent

  • Lock in the odour well

  • Heavy enough that rabbits don’t easily kick them out

  • Look for pellets made from 100% clean wood without additives

  • Not as comfy if not used in combination with sawdust

• Wood shavings or sawdust

  • Softer to sit on than pellets

  • Not as odour and moisture locking as wooden pellets

  • Make sure to use wood shavings suitable for pets so as not to irritate the bunny's lungs

Many guardians like to combine pellets and shavings: pellets on the bottom for absorption, a thicker top layer of safe, low-dust shavings for comfort.

Whatever you choose, avoid highly perfumed products and litter designed for cats that may contain clumping clay or chemicals that aren’t suitable for small animals.

Step 3: Show Your Rabbit Where the Toilet Is

At the beginning, your rabbit won’t automatically know that the tray is “the bathroom”. Help them by using scent:

1. Whenever they wee outside the tray, wipe it up with a bit of paper towel.

2. Put the damp sheet into the litter tray.

3. Move a few poops into the tray as well.

This way, the tray becomes the place that smells of “toilet”, and most rabbits quickly make the connection.

Important:

• Keep bedding only in the litter tray – not scattered around the cage or pen

• Clean the tray regularly, but always leave a tiny bit of used litter so it still smells like the right place
  

Giving Your Rabbit a Full, Happy Life

A rabbit’s well-being is about more than toilets. To live a full life, your bunny needs:

• Several hours of free movement outside their cage or crate every day

• A safe indoor space or garden where poisonous plants, cables and unsafe objects are out of reach

• Protection from temperature extremes – rabbits can overheat very quickly in direct sun and are sensitive to severe cold

Even when litter trained, rabbits will:

• Poop almost constantly during active times

• Wee more often when exploring new areas or marking territory

Some guardians use a second litter tray in the play area so the rabbit doesn’t have to dash back to their base every time.

When a Reusable Rabbit Diaper Is Helpful

Litter trays are ideal most of the time, but there are situations where a reusable pet diaper is more suitable:

• If not fully toilet-trained - for either wee, poo or both

• Territorial spraying – some adult males and females mark with urine, especially around other rabbits

• Travel - as an example, short trips to the vet

• Senior, disabled or post-surgery rabbits – who may have incontinence and struggle to reach the litter tray in time

• When taking part in animal therapy

• Unwanted mating - as a temporary solution

A handmade, eco-friendly rabbit diaper can be a real help here – especially when made from absorbent bamboo and cotton that is gentle on sensitive skin and can be washed at higher temperatures and reused.

Safety First: How Long Can a Rabbit Wear a Diaper?

Rabbits are not like dogs. They produce special soft droppings called caecotrophs/cecotropes, which they need to eat to stay healthy. A diaper can get in the way of this natural process.

For that reason:

• Use a rabbit diaper only for short, supervised periods – for example, a cuddle on the sofa or a trip to the vet

• If you feel that the diaper is dry, not full and not smelly, it can be safely worn for up to 2 hours

• Take regular breaks with the diaper off so your rabbit can groom properly and access their caecotrophs

• Check the skin for any redness or irritation, and keep the fur as dry as possible

If you’re unsure what’s best for your rabbit’s health, speak with a rabbit-experienced vet.