5 DIY Rabbit Litter Box Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)

Rabbits can be taught to use a litter box just like cats. In fact, because these creatures of habit will usually return to the same spot to expel their waste, it might be easier than you think to train yours. This can prevent you from having to clean up urine and feces around the house while enabling your rabbit to keep its house and private space clean and tidy.

You will also need a quality litter box, along with a little patience. Using the 5 DIY rabbit litter box plans below, you can craft your own to match the dimensions of your rabbit’s hutch.

The 5 DIY Rabbit Litter Box Plans

1. DIY Bunny Litter Tray by House Of Nums

This DIY bunny litter tray uses a litter box with a plastic mushroom crate as the grate above the litter. The grate acts as a barrier between the litter and your rabbit, so your little one won’t get dirt on their feet, and it prevents them from kicking used litter out of the box.

You don’t have to use a grate, but doing so makes cleaning everything easier. If you do use one, ensure that it isn’t sharp, and don’t use a wire grate because it will cause sores on the bottom of your rabbit’s feet.

These plans are easy to follow and require no tools other than a pair of scissors.

2. DIY Sifting Litter Box by Floppy Cats

Sifting litter boxes effectively sift smaller pieces of litter into a bottom box and leave the remaining pellets in the top box where your rabbit pees and poops. The benefit of this type of litter box is that as the pellets break down and are scratched and kicked around the tray, the bits of sawdust will be pushed to the bottom, where they are easily removed. You still have to scoop or bag solids from the top box, but it is much easier.

This DIY sifting litter box is designed for cats, but if you have a smaller rabbit, you can adjust the design simply by buying smaller stacking boxes. When stacked, the boxes should have about 1 inch between them, allowing plenty of room for the bottom layer of pellets. Besides drilling holes in the top box, this little project has no work involved, making it easy and convenient.

3. Ikea Hack Litter Box by Nocturnal Knits

Ikea hacks are everywhere. They use an inexpensive Ikea product and modify it to meet specific needs that are usually quite different from the intended use of the item in the first place. This Ikea hack turns a rattan storage box into a discreet, hidden litter box. Once again, it was designed for felines but can be adapted to rabbits. The plans use a clear drawer liner to prevent solids and liquids from getting through the rattan and ruining it, but you could use any similar material.

This Ikea hack litter box plan is a little more difficult because you do have to cut through the rattan and clean up the frayed edges, but it is more time-consuming than it is difficult. The storage box used in the original plan is no longer available from Ikea, but the designer has an alternative, and you can use another storage container.

4. Scatterless Rabbit Litter Box by DJ Pet Channel

Cookie cooling racks are made from metal and bend to shape easily, making them a good choice for making a grate system for a rabbit litter box. Rabbits tend to kick when they walk, especially if they run when startled. If they happen to be standing in the litter tray at the time, the pellets can be kicked all over the room.

This scatterless rabbit litter box separates the rabbit from the pellets. The design uses a plastic container box, but you can use any container you already have or buy a storage container.

5. Rabbit Hay Feeder and Litter Box by Instructables

Rabbits love to chew and eat while using the litter tray, so combining a hay feeder and litter tray enables your rabbit to combine two of its favorite pastimes. This rabbit hay feeder and litter box uses a large litter box and combines dowels and plywood to create a single unit.

It’s tidy, better looking than having a plastic tray on the floor, and it effectively does the job it’s designed for. While it is more challenging than the other litter boxes on this list, if you’re handy with a circular saw and a drill, it’s still a relatively easy DIY project that can be finished quickly.

FAQ

Is It OK to Use Cat Litter for Rabbits?

It is OK to use some cat litters for rabbits, but not all are safe. You should avoid using clumping litter and avoid those that have scented wood because some scented materials are toxic to rabbits despite being safe for cats. Recycled paper cat litter pellets are usually safe for use with rabbits.

How Big Does a Rabbit Litter Box Need to Be?

The size of the litter box you need depends on the size of your rabbits and how many you have. A single medium litter tray, measuring 22 x 17 x 16.5 inches, is big enough for a medium or two small rabbits. If you need a larger litter tray because you have several rabbits or very large breeds, you may need to look for storage boxes and other solutions.

How Do You Toilet Train a Bunny?

Toilet training rabbits is easier than you might think. Rabbits are creatures of habit, and they use the bathroom in the same area. When you see where your rabbit is defecating and urinating, put a litter box there. If they use the litter box in this spot, clean it and continue to use it. Move the tray or use a second tray in the new area if they go somewhere else. It may take a few attempts to get it right, but your rabbit will eventually get the idea. You can also try hanging hay next to the tray because rabbits enjoy chewing while they’re toileting.

Conclusion

Teaching your rabbit to use a litter box will reduce the time you spend cleaning the hutch. You can use a cat litter box, but most are too large for rabbit hutches. By using one of the DIY plans we discussed, you can create something more substantial and beneficial for you and your rabbits.

Featured Image Credit: KanphotoSS, Shutterstock