8 Amazing DIY Rabbit Litter Boxes You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
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Owning a rabbit has various challenges when it comes to dealing with their waste. Setting up a litter box is an integral part of indoor bunny ownership. The good news is that you can usually just use a large cat litter box, which can be quite inexpensive.
But if you would like to make your own litter box setup, these plans can help you save money and give you nice customization options.
The 8 Rabbit Litter Box Ideas
1. Rabbit Litter Box Set-Up by Lennon The Bunny
Rabbits like to poop while eating at the same time, so many litter box setups are variations on this theme.
This one is for Lennon the Bunny. The litter bin is lined with pee pads, which are typically used for housebreaking puppies. Paper-based litter is placed on one side and hay on the other, and Lennon’s owner cleans the litter box every 2 days. Her setup makes cleaning easy, as she just rolls up the pee pad with everything inside to toss in the trash, and then she cleans the bin.
2. Your Bunny’s Litter Box by Girl With The Dogs
This video is more about installing a grid in your rabbit’s litter box, which will help keep their feet clean and make cleanup easier for you.
Keep in mind that if you are interested in installing a grid in the litter box, you should ensure that it isn’t sharp or too hard for your bun’s paws. Also, put the hay on one side, away from the litter.
3. DIY Litter Box Setups by Code Of Alice
These litter box plans don’t include adding hay to one side of the litter box, but there are separate instructions for a DIY hay rack.
An under-bed storage box is used for the litter box, along with a hardware cloth that can be covered with plastic canvas so it’s softer on the rabbit’s paws. The DIY hay feeder is suspended above the litter box.
4. Bunny Litter Boxes by Friends with Bunnies
This project doesn’t require any kind of crafting, so it’s one of the easier setups. You just need to purchase a large cat carrier and use a pee pad to line the bottom.
The cat carrier is great for any rabbits that don’t mind a covered litter box, but be aware that’s not the case for all rabbits.
5. Your First House Rabbit by My House Rabbit
This article recommends using a puppy pen to block off a portion of a room for your bunny’s use. If your rabbit is free roaming, you can use a large wood frame lined with newspaper. Then, you place the food and water bowls and the litter box made from a storage tray and a hay feeder.
6. DIY Bunny Litter Tray by House Of Nums
This litter box plan is similar to some others on this list, but a mushroom crate is used for the grate instead of the usual egg crate options.
You’ll need to use scissors or a knife to cut the crate to size and sandpaper to ensure that there aren’t any sharp edges.
7. The Perfect Litter Box by PegParade
This project is intensive and requires several materials. While the litter box used in the video is a unique oval shape, you can use any shape that you want. You’ll need elongated bolts to elevate the grid and an egg crate louver for the grid.
8. Hay Feeder and Litter Box by Instructables
This project requires woodworking skills and tools, but if you have both, this might be the right one for you. It features a wooden box to hold the litter box and hay feeder, and you just need a cat litter box to finish it.
FAQs
What Exactly Is an Egg Crate Louver?
Egg crate louvers are commonly used as grates. These are essentially light diffusers, typically for fluorescent lights. They can be found in hardware stores and online stores like Amazon.
How Large Should a Rabbit’s Litter Box Be?
It depends on the size of your rabbit, but at a minimum, the litter box should be 22” L x 17” W x 6.5” H. Most people use cat litter boxes, but storage bins and tubs can also be used.
Remember, the rabbit needs to be able to hop in, so if the walls are too high, you’ll need to cut an opening for them. The general rule of thumb is that your rabbit should be able to hop in and turn around comfortably.
What Kind of Litter Should You Use for a Rabbit?
Most rabbit owners use paper-based pelleted litter, which is made from recycled paper pressed into pellets that absorb liquid. This option is the most highly recommended.
Aspen shavings are excellent for odor control but not so much for absorptive abilities. You can also try compressed sawdust pellets, which are leftover sawdust compressed into pellets. These absorb well and do a decent job at reducing odor, though not as well as paper-based pellets. Shredded paper is one of the cheaper options, particularly if you have a shredder, but it really doesn’t absorb urine.
Finally, paper-based bedding isn’t as good at absorption as the others, which means buying more so you can layer it. It’s not the cheapest option out there.
What Kind of Litter Should You Avoid?
Many litter options that are popular for cats are not recommended for rabbits. For example, clay litter is one of the most popular options for cats, but rabbits are prone to eating their litter. If they eat clay, it can form a clump in their stomach and cause a blockage.
Scented litter must be avoided (and for cats too!) because of the chemicals used, which could be toxic to rabbits. They also have a sensitive sense of smell, and scented litter could cause respiratory irritation. Be sure to avoid cedar and pine wood shavings. While these materials are commonly used as rabbit bedding, the phenols in the wood can cause liver damage in rabbits.
Lastly, avoid any material with large amounts of dust. Too much dust will irritate the respiratory system.
Are Grids Safe to Use in the Litter Box?
Grids are never okay at the bottom of a rabbit’s cage because they spend so much time in their enclosure. It can cause pain in their feet, and they might get their paws stuck.
But grids in a litter box are okay because the rabbit won’t spend as much time in it. That said, it’s best to go with a grate made with a softer material or spend time sandpapering the surface to smooth it down.
Should the Litter Box Be Covered?
This is entirely up to your rabbit. Most rabbits don’t like being in a small, closed-in area with only one exit. Being prey animals, they prefer to always have a visual of their surroundings. But some rabbits might not mind it.
You can always try using a cat carrier that has a removable top as a litter box. This will allow you to experiment.
Is a Corner Rabbit Litter Box Sold in Stores a Good Choice?
Most of those litter boxes are far too small, especially if you want to fill half the space with litter and the other half with hay.
Conclusion
If you’re a brand-new rabbit owner or are about to be, be sure to do your research to better grasp how to properly take care of them.
Remember that when you’re putting together a rabbit litter box, you must take your rabbit’s needs more seriously than your own convenience when it comes to cleaning. It’s not worth putting the wrong kind of grate in the litter box if it means your rabbit might become injured.
We hope that you find inspiration in these tips and that your bunny will safely eat and poop to their heart’s content.
Featured Image Credit: KanphotoSS, Shutterstock
