Rabbits are naturally very clean animals and do not like their toilet to be anywhere near their food or bedding area (just like cats!). They will happily use a litter box — and in the right environment, are quite happy as 'house bunnies'.
Rabbits are very clean animals, who will groom themselves to keep clean. As long as their indoor housing is regularly cleaned, with soiled material and uneaten food removed and replaced daily, your indoor rabbits won't smell.
Their urine and feces accumulate quickly and create foul-smelling odors. Furthermore, their excessive chewing damages walls and electrical wiring, which puts houses at elevated risk of fire. Rabbits also host fleas and ticks, which cause skin irritation and spread diseases.
While you may love their spunky personality, floppy ears, and wiggly nose, the odors she causes are likely much less endearing. From the smelly cage to the lingering scent of urine on the carpet, the stink that comes with being a rabbit fur parent can be very unpleasant.
This means that in most cases a rabbit will chew and destroy furniture, wallpaper, cables, carpets etc. no matter how many toys and other distractions you may give them.
Rabbits aren't “starter pets”—they're high-maintenance, long-term commitments. While healthy adult rabbits will typically use a litterbox to do their business, they do a lot of business—and you will have to keep their box clean by changing it at least every other day.
Rabbits damage woody plants by gnawing bark or clipping off branches, stems, and buds. Young plants are clipped off up to 2 inches above the height of the snow. Trees and shrubs may be completely girdled. The character of the bark on woody plants influences browsing by rabbits.
Believe it or not, rabbits can be trained to use a litter box, just like a cat!
Bunnies tend to seek out and chew on soft materials such as wood or soft furnishings, carpet, and wallpaper for a variety of reasons. Their teeth grow constantly throughout their laves and they are always on the lookout for things to help wear them down.
Typically, rabbit damage can create big problems for yards. They gnaw plants down to the root and concentration of urine can create brown spots in lawns.
Contrary to popular belief, they are not low-maintenance pets and need just as much care and attention — if not more — as cats and dogs do. Also, rabbits are not ideal pets for small children, as they are fragile and can bite. These bunnies cannot just be let loose outdoors as they will not survive.
Rabbit urine can be removed from most surfaces using pure white vinegar or a diluted white vinegar solution. Tough or dried stains may need some time to soak, or they will require the use of stronger chemical cleaners.
While rabbits can carry parasites like tapeworm and roundworm, their waste is not known to transmit any diseases to humans. However, a single rabbit can excrete over 100 pellets in a single day, which can make a flowerbed or backyard unpleasant.
Keeping your rabbit inside
Rabbits can live quite happily indoors and they should be provided with secure accommodation where they can feel safe, sleep, use a particular area as a toilet, and be confined to when unsupervised.
Block cords and outlets with furniture so the rabbit cannot reach them. Carpet: Cover favorite chewing areas with a large ceramic tile or a plastic office chair mat. Choose low-pile carpeting that may be less tempting. Baseboards and corners: Use plastic or decorative wood corner protectors.
It's a commonly known fact that all rabbits enjoy chewing on anything within sight – chairs, beds, baseboards, rugs, etc. But how can you stop them from destroying everything around your home? To ease them away from your furniture you have to know the reasoning behind their constant chewing.
If your rabbit is pooping/spraying pee everywhere, this is probably due to your rabbit marking his territory. It's a good idea to get your rabbit spayed/neutered in order to ease territorial feelings. Sometimes rabbits deliberately pee on your couch or bed because they're showing you who's Top Bunny in the house.
Did you know you can house train rabbits? These clever house pets will happily use a litter tray, so long as it is well set up and they have been shown how to use it. You can start litter training your rabbits as early as you like but you can litter train a rabbit at any age.
In general healthy rabbits don't smell bad at all. For most rabbits, as long as you regularly clean the litter box and cage, you won't have to worry about having a smelly house.
Most rabbits love being pet. Many will calmly sit with you for long periods of time while you give them a nice massage. Petting is a great way to calm an anxious rabbit down and to bond with your pet rabbit.
In general, rabbit poop is not harmful to humans, cats, dogs, or other animals. The diseases that can be transmitted through their feces are species specific and would only pose a threat to other rabbits.
What about my health? Rabbit tapeworms cannot be passed to humans unless rabbit meat is eaten and undercooked, so this is not a health concern for the average pet rabbit owner! The rabbit pinworm is a different species to that which is found in humans.