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Toileting on sofa!

B

BeccaT

Young Bun
Having had my 2 rescue boys for just over a month they have discovered the sofa. They love bounding around & being up on the windowsill, which is absolutely fine. But they have started going to the toilet on the sofa. I have put a litter tray (with newspaper in) on there but obviously with no hay as don't want that on sofa. I have been putting any stray poo into the tray, but the urine is marking the fabric & hubby is not happy! Is there anything I can do to encourage them to use the tray (or get down & use their normal trays) so that they can still access the windowsill spot they love do much? If I can't solve it then hubby is not going to let them go up there.
(They are neutered & mainly use their other litter trays well)
 
BeccaT said:
Having had my 2 rescue boys for just over a month they have discovered the sofa. They love bounding around & being up on the windowsill, which is absolutely fine. But they have started going to the toilet on the sofa. I have put a litter tray (with newspaper in) on there but obviously with no hay as don't want that on sofa. I have been putting any stray poo into the tray, but the urine is marking the fabric & hubby is not happy! Is there anything I can do to encourage them to use the tray (or get down & use their normal trays) so that they can still access the windowsill spot they love do much? If I can't solve it then hubby is not going to let them go up there.
(They are neutered & mainly use their other litter trays well)
Click to expand...


Hi Becca - not nice!

It's a habit you definitely need to discourage and fast and firmly :) Apparently it can take as long as three weeks tor sort an issue like this, even when it's just begun, so the sooner the better.

I would (somehow or another) NOT allow access onto the sofa. Have a look at these links and see whether there's something you feel you can implement:

http://rabbit.org/faq-training/

This is an especially good article, I think :)

http://myhouserabbit.com/rabbit-behavior/top-bunny/

I realise you want them to access the windowsill, but I feel this is a hiding to nothing. I would ban all access to the sofa. At least until they are trustworthy when on it. Might take some doing - I agree with your hubby :)
 
We had exactly this problem, and couldn't stop access to the sofa (I think we are about to have it with the bed, as well). We threw a duvet over the sofa to protect the fabric, and changed the duvet cover regularly. We also made a huge fuss over him every time he hopped up - he hates being stroked/cuddled, so we went completely OTT on those until he decided the sofa wasn't worth it anymore. Would it be possible to protect your sofa in some way like that until they desist? I don't know but I suspect putting a litter tray up there will just encourage them to think of it as a place to litter.
 
Puppy panels are your best friend in situations like these. Nice tall ones. Dont look so great but a lot better that wee'd on fabric.

If you still want to allow sofa access try an old duvet and a waterproof cover of some kind (again not the greatest looks wise). Hope you manage to sort something. I once had a lovely pair of rabbits who made a neat little hole in the back of the sofa and would sit in there for hours. I did find poos but no wet patches thankfully.
 
tulsi said:
Puppy panels are your best friend in situations like these. Nice tall ones. Dont look so great but a lot better that wee'd on fabric.

If you still want to allow sofa access try an old duvet and a waterproof cover of some kind (again not the greatest looks wise). Hope you manage to sort something. I once had a lovely pair of rabbits who made a neat little hole in the back of the sofa and would sit in there for hours. I did find poos but no wet patches thankfully.
Click to expand...


This is the thing ... I don't want to advise people to have to live with such inconvenience as I wouldn't like to barricade bits of my house off from the bunnies. That's why I advocate training rather than covering the sofa with this and that etc ....

Some places are just not meant for the toilet :D
 
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