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| Rabbit F.A.Q. |
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| The Frequently Asked Question or FAQ section will help you find answers to the most common questions. If you need an answer to something that is not here, please send mail to info@RabbitMeadows.org and let us know. We will be glad to look into your questions. | |||||||||||||
What kind of Litter should I use ? It depends on what's available in your area and what your rabbit's habits are. Keep in mind the following as you choose your litter: -most rabbits spend lots of time in their litter boxes -rabbits will always nibble some of the litter -long haired rabbits may be better off with a pelleted paper litter as many of the other types will stick to their hair -rabbit urine has a very strong odor especially if unaltered -House Rabbit Society recommends organic litters, made from plants, citrus or paper. (Some brands to look for: CareFresh, CitraFresh, Cat Country, Critter Country, Crown Animal Bedding, Yesterdays News) Stay away from litters made from softwoods, like pine or cedar shavings or chips, as these products are thought to cause lung disease, skin alergies & liver changes in rabbits who use them. Another approach is to place a handful of hay in each box, or to simply use hay as litter. Obviously, you need to change the hay fairly frequently (daily), since your rabbit will be eating it. Pros and cons of the various types of litter include: -clay litter is dusty--if your bunny is a digger, the dust can make her vulnerable to pneumonia -the deodorant crystals in some clay litters are toxic -clumping litters will clump inside the rabbit's digestive and respiratory tracts (the latter if they manage to make enough dust to breathe) causing serious problems and have led to death -pine and cedar shavings emit oils that cause lung and liver damage when breathed by the bunny -although safe, corn cob litter isn't absorbant and doesn't control odor but can be added, with the bunny's waste, to compost -newspapers are absorbent, but don't control odor -citrus-based litters work well, offer no dangers, and can be composted, but may be hard to get and expensive in some areas of the country/world -some people have reported success with peat moss which can also be composted -Many people have great success with litter made from paper pulp or recycled paper products. These litters are very good at absorbing and cutting down on odors. A litter called CAREfresh is available. You can find out about local places that carry Carefresh by emailing absorbs@absorption-corp.com or by calling 1-800-242-2287. A similar litter in a pelleted form is called Cellu-Dri 1-800-382-5001. These litters are harmless if ingested. Litters made from Aspen bark are safe and good at absorbing odors. One brand is called GentleTouch 1-800-545-9853. An economical and safe litter is the food pellets themselves. If bought in 50 LB bags, rabbit pellets are cheaper than most litters. They don't absorb as quickly, but they do absorb and they do control odor. And of course, they can be used in compost. This option may not be the best one for a rabbit who is overweight. |
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