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What size rabbit litter tray do you need?
Size up, not down. PetMD's vet-written guide gives 23 × 30 cm (9 × 12 in) as the minimum for one rabbit and 38 × 46 cm (15 × 18 in) for two, with sides low enough to hop in easily. The San Diego House Rabbit Society goes further and says trays sold for rabbits are often too small. It matches cat tray size to rabbit weight.
| Rabbit | Tray to use |
|---|---|
| Small, under 1.8 kg (4 lb) | Medium cat tray |
| Medium, under 4.5 kg (10 lb) | Large cat tray |
| Large, over 4.5 kg (10 lb), or a bonded pair | Giant cat tray, a large storage box or a builder's mixing tub |
A rabbit likes to sit in its tray and eat hay for a long time, so it needs room to turn round and stretch out with hay in there too. If your rabbit perches with its back end hanging over the edge, the tray is too small. For a giant breed such as a Flemish giant, a large storage box with one side cut low is usually the only thing big enough.
Check the tray fits through your enclosure door before you buy it, and measure the corner it will go in.
Corner trays, high-sided trays and trays with a grate
Shops sell several shapes. Here is how they compare, reasoning from what the sources say about size and feet.
| Type | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Corner tray (triangle) | Fits neatly into a hutch corner | Usually too small for anything but a small rabbit |
| Large rectangular cat tray | Most rabbits; cheap and easy to clean | Low sides let litter get kicked out |
| High-sided tray or box | Rabbits that spray or kick litter | Keep one side low enough to hop in |
| Tray with a grate (grid) | Keeping feet off wet litter, stopping digging | Hard grates press on the soles of the feet |
| Tray with hay feeder attached | Hay right where the rabbit toilets | Many are small; check the floor area |
| Wooden or metal tray | Looks tidy, metal is tough | Wood soaks up urine; metal can be cold and loud |
What to put in a rabbit litter box
Put a layer of paper-based litter or pellets in the bottom, then a big layer of fresh hay on top. Rabbits eat while they toilet, so the House Rabbit Society recommends hay in the tray, and PetMD says to put a handful in each tray. The San Diego House Rabbit Society suggests a bundle of hay about the size of your rabbit each day, lightly packed.
| Litter | Safe? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Paper pellets or paper-based litter | Yes | Absorbent and safe if nibbled; our first choice |
| Wood pellets, heat-treated, no additives | Yes | The RWAF says heat treatment removes the harmful oils; check for silica |
| Oat, wheat or alfalfa-based litter | Yes | Listed by PetMD and House Rabbit Society chapters |
| Newspaper under hay | Yes | Good for rabbits that eat litter |
| Clay or clumping cat litter | No | Can clump in the gut and affect breathing |
| Silica or crystal litter | No | Not safe to eat |
| Corn cob | No | Poorly absorbent and can block the gut |
| Pine or cedar shavings | No | Aromatic oils can irritate the airways and affect the liver |
| Scented litter or litter with baking soda | No | Additives rabbits should not eat or breathe |
For more on materials across the whole enclosure, see our rabbit bedding guide.
How much litter to put in a rabbit litter box
About 2.5 cm (1 in), enough to cover the bottom completely. That is the depth the San Diego House Rabbit Society uses. The litter's job is to soak up urine under the hay, so a deep layer mostly wastes money. Add hay generously on top, especially at the end where your rabbit sits to eat, and add more at least once a day.
Setting up a rabbit litter tray, step by step
- Watch first. Most rabbits pick one corner as their toilet. Put the tray in the corner they choose, not the one you prefer.
- Choose the size. Use the table above and pick the bigger option if you are unsure.
- Add the litter. About 2.5 cm (1 in) of paper or safe wood pellets, covering the whole bottom.
- Pile on hay. A generous layer over the litter, more at one end, so the tray is the best place to eat.
- Add droppings. Put a few of your rabbit's droppings and a little urine-soaked bedding in the tray so it smells like the toilet.
- Add more trays. One per toilet corner while training, and one on each level or in each room your rabbit uses.
- Keep it fresh. Top up hay daily and change the whole tray every one to three days.
Neutered rabbits learn far faster. PetMD says spaying or neutering at around 4 to 6 months makes litter training much easier. Our step-by-step guide to litter training a rabbit covers the training itself.
Indoor and outdoor rabbit litter trays
House rabbits usually need one tray in their enclosure and one in each room they roam, at least to begin with. Once your rabbit uses them reliably, you can take away the extra training trays. Outdoor rabbits in a shed or large hutch use trays too: put them in the toilet corner, use paper pellets with straw or hay on top, and check them more often in summer, when a wet tray draws flies. The Scottish Government guidance says to replace wet or dirty litter every day. Our rabbit shed guide shows where trays fit in an outdoor layout.
A dirty tray in warm weather is the start of flystrike: flies lay eggs on a soiled back end, and maggots hatch within hours. Keep outdoor trays clean, check your rabbit's bottom twice a day in summer, and ring a vet at once if you see maggots.
How to clean a rabbit litter tray
Never go more than two or three days without a full change, says the San Diego House Rabbit Society, and PetMD suggests a quick scoop of wet patches every day. Clean when your rabbit is out of the enclosure, not while it sits there.
- Daily: scoop wet litter, add fresh hay
- Every 1 to 3 days: empty the whole tray into the bin or compost
- Spray with a 50:50 mix of white vinegar and water, leave a minute, then scrub
- Rinse with clean water and dry completely
- Refill with fresh litter and hay
- Weekly: soak and scrub off any white urine scale
Rabbit urine leaves a hard white scale that won't wipe off. A longer soak in neat white vinegar loosens it, then a scrubbing sponge does the rest. Used paper litter and hay can go on the compost heap.
Our rabbit cage cleaning guide covers the rest of the enclosure.
How much is a bunny litter box?
A tray is one of the cheapest things you will buy for a rabbit. A plain large cat tray or a storage box costs little at any pet shop, supermarket or DIY store, and is often bigger and better than a tray sold for rabbits. The ongoing cost is the litter and hay, which our rabbit cost guide includes in the monthly budget.
Rabbit litter tray questions
What is the best bedding for a rabbit litter box?
Paper-based litter or paper pellets, or wood pellets made for pets or stoves with no additives, with a thick layer of hay on top. House Rabbit Society chapters and PetMD agree on these. Avoid clay or clumping cat litter, silica crystals, corn cob, and pine or cedar shavings.
How much litter should I put in a rabbit litter tray?
About 2.5 cm (1 in), enough to cover the bottom completely, then a generous layer of hay. The San Diego House Rabbit Society uses this depth. Deeper litter wastes money, because the rabbit mostly sits on the hay and the litter's job is to soak up urine underneath.
How big should a rabbit litter tray be?
Big enough for your rabbit to sit, turn and lie in it with hay. PetMD gives 23 x 30 cm (9 x 12 in) as the minimum for one rabbit and 38 x 46 cm (15 x 18 in) for two. Rabbits over 4.5 kg (10 lb) or pairs need a giant cat tray or a large storage box.
Can I use cat litter for my rabbit?
Not clay, clumping or crystal cat litter. If eaten, clumping litter can block the gut, and clay litters can affect breathing. Some paper or wood pellet cat litters are fine, but check the label for silica, scents or baking soda, which the Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund and House Rabbit Society chapters say to avoid.
Are rabbit litter trays with a grate a good idea?
They can be, with care. A grate keeps feet off wet litter and stops digging, but a hard grate presses on the soles. We would only use a smooth plastic grate, keep hay on top of it, give plenty of soft flooring elsewhere and check the feet weekly. Skip it for heavy, rex or older rabbits.
Why does my rabbit sleep in the litter tray?
Usually because it feels safe, it is next to the hay, or the tray is the most comfortable spot. It is normal, but keep the tray very clean so the rabbit isn't lying in urine, which can scald the skin. A sudden change in toilet habits, or straining, needs a vet.
