Bunny Care Guide: The Best Litter For Your Bunny
One of the more major decisions you have to make when you decide to keep your bunny is one that may at first seem trivial. Surely you just grab some litter, any litter, toss it in the bottom of the cage and have done? Well that's a fine theory, but unfortunately there are problems with it. You see, rabbits have a tendency to put everything they can in their mouths, and many litters may either cause intestinal blockages, or be poisonous to your bunny. Still other litters won't kill your rabbit, but may not be all that good at absorbing and deodorizing that rabbit pee. Here's a wee guide (puns, I crack me up) to rabbit litter.
The Good
Compressed Sawdust Pellets - These are cheap and highly absorbent.
Aspen Bark Litter - Also good, may stick to the undercoat of long haired bunnies and make a huge mess as they tramp it around the house.
Recycled Paper Litters - Good for the environment, absorbent, and good at odor control.
The Bad
Oat and Alfalfa Litter - Might be okay, might also cause a blockage in your bunny.
Newspaper - Will soak up urine, but doesn't control the odor very well. On the plus side, not a bad way to recycle your newspapers.
Deodorizing Litter - If your rabbit eats this, it is poisonous. Can be okay if used under a wire rack and the rabbit never comes in contact with it.
The Ugly
Corn Cob Litter - Sold everywhere, this is completely useless at absorbing rabbit urine, and comes with the added bonus of being potentially lethal.
Pine /Cedar Shavings - Using Pine and Cedar shavings turns your rabbits cage into a virtual gas chamber. When the rabbit's urine comes in contact with these materials, gases are released that can cause liver damage.
The Creative
Some people use old rabbit pellets as litter. This is a great way to use old feed, and it doesn't much matter if the bunny eats it, but it strikes many as a bit wasteful.
Take your time when choosing a litter, and try out various kinds. Depending on the coat of your rabbit, some litters may be more problematic than others, especially if he or she still has his or her fuzzy baby coat. Be aware too, that your rabbit will try to eat the litter if it is possible for it to, and plan accordingly. Blockages and poisoning are no fun, and are sad ways to lose a pet. Fortunately, with a little forethought, they can be eliminated.
