Melon_Pip
Young Bun
Have pair of houserabbits. They've been bonded since late 2016. Mel (male) and Tilly (female). Both long ago neutered. Tilly is the dominant one, I think.
Now and then they pee outisde the litter tray repeatedly (I say "they", I'm pretty sure it's Tilly) and the only way to stop them is to take them elsewhere to the lovely rabbit sitter for a week. This gives me a chance to clean throughly and sort of re-sets their behaviour.
Well it all got out of hand because of the UK lockdown so no rabbit sitter. Eventually I figured the solution was to set up a temporary run for them in another room, so it's a bit like they've gone "away" and hope behaviour re-set. I cleaned everything in/around the temporary home and neutralised it so they didn't know where they were. However, after a few days I started to let them out so they could go outside. (Didn't let them into any other rooms though.)
They've been in temporary home almost 4 weeks now whilst I thoroughly clean and make adjustments to their usual home in the hope it'll at least be easier to clean. (It's taken ages because I've had uni deadlines and needed to source wood etc and frankly I'm struggling due to the lockdown myself so things taking ages).
For the past 2 weeks they have peed in one spot, outside the litter tray, every night. Last night I put another litter tray there (with a it of tissue soaked in their urine in it for smell!), and saw this morning they have peed outside it, on their carpet. (Tried to attach pics but can't)
WHY?? How do I stop them doing this?
I'm worried that they'll just start up again when they return to their old home. (I was planning to neutralise everything, and entire room, so again it's like a completely new home to them. Gradually increase space etc.)
Any advice welcome. I'm going to remove the carpet and clean the pee bit today. They have a different mat in their usual run, but obviously I'm worried theyll pee on that as it's awkward to remove and clean - normally I'd just do it every 4-6 months if they're not peeing on it! Any ideas of something better than a mat to go in there? It's shiny laminate floor so I have to use something. The foam squares won't be any good because they'll just eat them...
Please, if anyone can help... I'm getting desperate. I cannot spend an hour+ a day cleaning up pee.
Now and then they pee outisde the litter tray repeatedly (I say "they", I'm pretty sure it's Tilly) and the only way to stop them is to take them elsewhere to the lovely rabbit sitter for a week. This gives me a chance to clean throughly and sort of re-sets their behaviour.
Well it all got out of hand because of the UK lockdown so no rabbit sitter. Eventually I figured the solution was to set up a temporary run for them in another room, so it's a bit like they've gone "away" and hope behaviour re-set. I cleaned everything in/around the temporary home and neutralised it so they didn't know where they were. However, after a few days I started to let them out so they could go outside. (Didn't let them into any other rooms though.)
They've been in temporary home almost 4 weeks now whilst I thoroughly clean and make adjustments to their usual home in the hope it'll at least be easier to clean. (It's taken ages because I've had uni deadlines and needed to source wood etc and frankly I'm struggling due to the lockdown myself so things taking ages).
For the past 2 weeks they have peed in one spot, outside the litter tray, every night. Last night I put another litter tray there (with a it of tissue soaked in their urine in it for smell!), and saw this morning they have peed outside it, on their carpet. (Tried to attach pics but can't)
WHY?? How do I stop them doing this?
I'm worried that they'll just start up again when they return to their old home. (I was planning to neutralise everything, and entire room, so again it's like a completely new home to them. Gradually increase space etc.)
Any advice welcome. I'm going to remove the carpet and clean the pee bit today. They have a different mat in their usual run, but obviously I'm worried theyll pee on that as it's awkward to remove and clean - normally I'd just do it every 4-6 months if they're not peeing on it! Any ideas of something better than a mat to go in there? It's shiny laminate floor so I have to use something. The foam squares won't be any good because they'll just eat them...
Please, if anyone can help... I'm getting desperate. I cannot spend an hour+ a day cleaning up pee.
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