Can My Rabbit Use Cat Litter? What You Want To Know

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Rabbits are cuddly, lovely and make wonderful pets. Nevertheless, they are often fairly messy, and their cages require each day spot cleansing. Rabbit homeowners ought to deep clear their rabbit’s cage or hutch at the least as soon as every week, or else it’ll odor fairly disagreeable, which brings us to our query—can rabbits use cat litter?

The reply isn’t any, as you shouldn’t use most cat litter merchandise for rabbits as a result of cat litter can comprise dangerous substances. There are a couple of which can be protected for rabbits, however for probably the most half, it’s higher to make use of different means. Learn on to be taught in regards to the most secure sorts of litter to make use of in your lovely rabbit.

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Why Can I Not Use Cat Litter for My Rabbit?

Most cat litter will probably be dangerous to your rabbit. A number of exceptions, resembling Feline Pine, are protected as a result of they lack harsh chemical substances, cedar and pine shavings, and unnatural toxins. If you happen to put unsafe cat litter in your rabbit’s litter field, your rabbit might ingest a few of it, which may trigger intestinal blockages. Cat litter is commonly scented, which is unhealthy in your rabbit’s digestive tract. Utilizing cat litter is just not advisable for rabbits as a result of doubtlessly dangerous and poisonous substances.

Big white rabbit sitting in a cage — Picture Credit score: berdiyandriy, Shutterstock

What Sort of Litter Ought to I Keep away from?

Here’s a rundown of litter you need to keep away from for the protection and well being of your rabbit.

Clumping litter: In case your rabbit eats clumping litter, it could actually clump contained in the digestive tract, which may trigger critical and life-threatening points.
Clay litter: Rabbits have delicate respiratory techniques, and clay litter is dusty when stirred up, which your rabbit will do when he makes use of the litter field. Rabbits are obligate nostril breathers because of their respiratory development, making them liable to respiratory illness.
Corn cob litter: This kind of litter has no actual profit—it doesn’t take in odor, it doesn’t management odor, and if ingested, it could actually trigger an intestinal blockage.
Pine or cedar shavings/chips: These kind of materials emit phenols that may trigger liver injury if inhaled.
Swheat Scoop litter: This litter supposed for cats could cause all types of issues in your rabbit. As we all know, rabbits usually eat litter, and this litter comprises wheat, which is excessive in carbs and may trigger weight problems in your rabbit. This litter can even trigger diarrhea, a bacterial imbalance, and extreme fecal manufacturing.
Any scented litter: After all, keep away from scented something in your rabbit, particularly litter. Only a tiny bit could cause respiratory issues in your rabbit.

dwarf rabbit digging a hole — Picture Credit score: Viktoria Szabo, Shutterstock

What Sort of Litter Is Finest for Rabbits?

Now that we’ve established that almost all cat litter must be prevented, what kind of litter is greatest? Rabbit urine is powerful, and also you want a litter that absorbs nicely and doesn’t enable your rabbit’s poop and urine to stink up your home. Along with needing good absorption, the litter must be protected and non-toxic to your rabbit as a result of, as beforehand acknowledged, rabbits usually eat litter, and utilizing cat litter in your rabbit is just not well worth the danger to your rabbit’s well being.

One of the best sorts of litter to make use of are compostable. You should buy protected litter made particularly for rabbits, resembling pelleted wheat straw, that’s all-natural and protected if consumed.

Another protected rabbit litters embrace:

Wheatgrass-based litter pellets: This kind of litter is absorbent and controls odor nicely.
Paper litter (fluffy or pelleted): Paper litter is absorbent, does nicely to chop down odors, and is innocent if ingested.
Compressed sawdust pellets: These pellets are extremely absorbent, management odors, and assist comprise bacterial development. The pellets are made out of hardwood mud, which isn’t poisonous as a result of phenols are eliminated in the course of the manufacturing course of (kiln-dried).
Newspaper: Newspaper is straightforward to make use of and absorbent however doesn’t management odor.
Aspen bark litter: This litter gives affordable odor management.

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Conclusion

Most industrial cat litter, particularly clay and clumping litter, is unsafe in your rabbit. It’s greatest to stay to all-natural merchandise, resembling wheatgrass-based pellets and paper litter. Compressed sawdust pellets work nicely as a result of they provide wonderful odor management and assist comprise bacterial development. Newspaper is a rabbit proprietor’s favourite, however the one downfall isn’t any odor management.

In the end, the perfect choices are all-natural merchandise that won’t hurt your rabbit if ingested but in addition present odor management.

Featured Picture Credit score: Seika Chujo, Shutterstock

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