If you've noticed whitened streaks or yellow stains on the wall behind your bunny's house, it's probably time in order to look into rabbit cage pee guards . Any rabbit owner who has worked with a "high aimer" knows exactly what I'm referring to. You think you've got the ideal litter box set up, but then your own rabbit backs straight into a corner, lifts their tail, plus somehow manages in order to bypass the tray entirely. It's irritating, it's messy, and if you've obtained carpet or drywall nearby, it can get pretty major quite quickly.
I've spent way too much period scrubbing baseboards to not take this significantly. The thing about rabbits is that they naturally desire to use edges. It makes all of them feel safe. However anatomy means that will when they do their own business, the "arc" of the spray may go much higher and further than you'd expect for such a small animal. That's where a good set of guards arrives in. They behave as a literal shield between your rabbit's bathroom behavior and the rest of your family room.
Why Your Rabbit Keeps Missing the Tray
It's not that the rabbit is trying to be difficult. Most associated with the time, it's just physics. Rabbits back up till they feel their own tail hit some thing before they go. If your cat litter box or cage has low sides, they could think they're properly inside the "potty zone, " but their backside will be actually hovering right over the edge.
For unneutered or unspayed rabbits, this gets also more complicated. They use urine to indicate their territory. This particular often involves a literal "spray" motion where they turn and aim. Even when they're perfectly litter-trained, those hormones can make them want to put their aroma as high upward as possible. While getting your bun fixed is the greatest long-term solution for that behavior, rabbit cage pee guards are the immediate fix regarding the mess.
Types of Pee Guards You'll Come across
When you start searching for solutions, you'll realize there are a few different ways to tackle the problem. Some cages arrive with built-in guards, but let's be honest, the majority of these are too brief to actually do anything. You usually need something a bit more substantial.
Plastic Cover Inserts
These are one of the most typical. They're usually tall, clear, or opaque plastic sheets that clip directly onto the wire of the cage. The beauty of these is that will they're non-porous. When the rabbit does not show for, the pee simply hits the plastic and slides down again straight into the litter holder or the cage floor. They're super easy to clean down and don't soak up scents like wood or even cardboard would.
Metal Wraparound Guards
Many people choose metal guards, specifically if they have got a "chewer. " In case your rabbit looks at plastic plus sees a snack, metal will be the way to go. These are usually aluminum or galvanized steel strips that connect to the bottom part perimeter of the cage. They aren't always as high as the plastic material ones, but they're incredibly durable and can basically last permanently.
DIY Coroplast Solutions
If you're a lover of the C& C (Cube and Coroplast) cage style, you already understand relating to this. Coroplast will be that corrugated plastic material stuff that appears to be plastic cardboard. You can buy big sheets from it at most hardware stores for the few bucks. You just cut it towards the height you require, poke a few holes within it, plus zip-tie it to the cage walls. It's cheap, custom-sized, and works just as well as the expensive brand-name versions.
Setting Them Up the Right Way
It sounds simple—just put the guard where the pee is—but there's a little bit associated with strategy involved. A person want to guarantee the rabbit cage pee guards are usually overlapping the advantage from the litter box or the cage pan. If there's even a tiny gap between the particular guard and the tray, gravity will find a way to drip that urine ideal onto your floor.
I recommend setting up guards on at least three edges of the litter area. Rabbits love to pivot, so simply covering the back again wall might not really be enough. In the event that you've got a corner litter box, create sure the guards extend at minimum six inches past the box in both directions. It might look a little bit overkill, but you'll thank yourself when you realize you haven't had to proceed the cage to scrub the floor in weeks.
The particular Cleaning Routine
Let's talk about the particular "white crust. " If you've had a rabbit for more than a week, you've seen it. Rabbit urine is quite high in calcium supplement, and when this dries on the surface, it transforms into a difficult, chalky residue that will soap and water won't touch.
That is why your option of rabbit cage pee guards matters. You need a surface that can handle acidic cleaners. Don't make use of fancy pet shop sprays that price twenty dollars a bottle. Just obtain a spray bottle and fill this with plain outdated white vinegar.
When you're carrying out your weekly cage deep-clean: 1. Apply the guards straight down with the white vinegar. 2. Let this sit for about five minutes (this may be the secret—let the acidity do the work). 3. The white calcium will start to fizz plus dissolve. 4. Clean it off having a paper towel or perhaps a dedicated rag.
If you remain on top associated with it, the guards will stay obvious and odor-free. When you let it create up for several weeks, that calcium transforms into sort of "bunny cement" that is a nightmare to get off without scratching the plastic.
Protecting the region Outside the Cage
Even along with the best rabbit cage pee guards , accidents happen. Maybe a clip breaks, or maybe your bun chooses to do the massive "binky" and kick some litter out. In case your cage is sitting on hardwood or carpet, I always recommend a secondary level of protection.
Those clear plastic office chair pads are a lifesaver. A person can place the entire cage setup upon top of a single. They're waterproof, simple to sweep, and they don't look as messy since laying down old towels or blankets. Plus, it gives you peace of mind knowing that even in case your rabbit discovers a way to outsmart the pee guards, your own floor is secure.
A Note on Behavior
While we're discussing equipment, it's worth maintaining an eye on exactly why the particular rabbit is spraying. If your bun is normally extremely spending suddenly starts hitting the walls, it might be a sign of an urinary system tract infection or just a protest against a cage change. But most associated with the time, it's simply a rabbit being a rabbit. These people like to purpose high.
Using rabbit cage pee guards isn't just about keeping your home clean; it's also about decreasing the stress of pet ownership. It's significantly easier to enjoy your bunny when you aren't constantly worried about the smell of their bedroom. It transforms a daily chore in to a quick wipe-down, and that's a win for everybody involved.
Finding the Right Suit
Before you click "buy" on the first set of guards you see, have a quick measurement of the cage's club spacing. Some guards use clips that will are made for regular 1-inch spacing, while others are more universal. If you have a cage with vertical bars versus horizontal bars, that can furthermore change how the particular guards sit.
Also, consider the elevation of your rabbit. A tiny Netherland Dwarf only demands a guard that's maybe six ins tall. A large Rex or a Flemish Giant? You're likely to want something significantly taller. I generally find that the 10 to 12-inch guard is the "sweet spot" for the majority of medium-sized breeds. It's tall enough to catch the spray yet not so high that it prevents all the airflow or even makes the rabbit sense like they're sitting in a plastic box.
At the end of the day, rabbit cage pee guards are one "boring" pet components that you don't realize you require until you really need all of them. They save your walls, they save your nose, and they save your own sanity. If you're sick and tired of the continuous cleanup, do your self a favor and obtain a set—or DIY some with Coroplast. Your baseboards will be glad.