In a hurry? Check out our favorite type of litter, the Wood Pellet Litter. Find out why below, and the other types to consider.
In the world of pet care, rabbits are one-of-a-kind. Our delightful, furry friends require a delicate balance of comfort, cleanliness, and safety, which begins at the bottom of their litter box— what kind of litter should you fill it with? Today, we will explore the very best litter for rabbits and how these top-rated options can make a world of difference in your bunny’s health and happiness.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore what to consider when selecting the best litter for rabbits. From odor control to absorbency and safety, we’ve got you covered. Read on to discover our recommendations and make an informed decision for your furry friend.
Part 1: What To Look For When Choosing Rabbit Litter
To ensure you make the best choice for your rabbit, here are some vital factors to consider:
- Non-Toxic and non-clogging: This is the most important part! Rabbits are known to nibble on various objects, so it’s crucial to choose a litter that is safe if ingested accidentally. Avoid litters made with harmful chemicals or additives. And be sure to avoid clumping cat litter, since it’s easily available in stores.
- Absorbency: Choose a litter that effectively absorbs moisture and urine. This feature helps maintain a clean and dry living environment, reducing the risk of bacterial growth and reduces odor.
- Odor Control: Rabbits are generally clean animals, but like any pet, their urine can produce an unpleasant smell. A good litter material will neutralize some of the odor.
However, if you have an issue with odor, it isn’t just the litter that will help control it. We talk about how to control odor with pet bunnies in another article. - Irritant-Free: Rabbits have sensitive respiratory systems, making it important to select a litter that does not have pine oils and is low in dust. This will minimize the risk of respiratory issues and ensure a healthy living space for the bunnies and you.
Avoid pine shavings because this unprocessed wood contains pine oils that irritate the bunny’s breathing.
Part 2: Best Types of Litter for Rabbits
- Wood-Based Pellet Litter: The best rabbit litter is arguably, wood pellets, also known as woodstove pellets, are made from materials like pine or aspen (softwood) or hardwood. These can often be found as:
– pine cat litter, non-clumping with 100% pine
– horse bedding pellets at farm supply stores
– or wood stove pellets at grocery and hardware stores
Pelleted wood are absorbent and are best of the bunch at controlling odor.
They are kiln-dried processed into pellets, which removes the harmful oils from the wood, especially softwood.
To make sure they are safe for rabbits, check that there are no additives and no added chemicals. Go for 100% hardwood or softwood pellets only, with no accelerants.
To control odor, you’ll want to change the bunny box once every 2-7 days. These frequent changes are cost-effective with this type of litter. They can be found in bulk 40lb bag for a low cost. The < 20lb brand bags are also cheap compared to the other safe options below. - Straw-Based Litter: Some rabbit owners opt for straw-based litters due to their natural appeal. Straw pellets are highly absorbent and dust free. The only downside is it’s more expensive than wood stove pellets.
- Paper-Based Litter: Made from recycled paper, it’s an excellent option for rabbits with respiratory sensitivities and is environmentally friendly since it’s recycled.
However, it is not as good controlling odor. It is also more expensive than wood pellet litter.
Always get the cat size bags (with no additives) because the small animal sizes aren’t realistically enough for the sizes and frequency of changing your bunny litter box. - Wood Shavings: This type of litter isn’t recommended by us because it’s not absorbent like the wood stove pellets. It’s easy to make a mess of, for humans and rabbits. As well, the unprocessed plant oils can irritate the rabbit’s sensitive nose.
Here we will review 7 popular brands of rabbit litter: Which one is the best?
- Small Pet Select All Natural Pellet Litter
- So Phresh Fast-Absorbing Paper Pellets
- Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter
- Kaytee Critter Litter
- Kaytee Wood Pellets
- Small Pet Select Aspen Bedding
- Carefresh Small Pet Bedding
Finding the Best Litter for Rabbits
Below are the top 7 popular options of litter for rabbits. We also have a post about the best rabbit litter boxes to put them in.
Small Pet Select All Natural Pellet Litter
As an animal lover, I always want the best for my pets. So when I choose products, I gravitate towards those that are natural and toxin-free. That makes the Small Pet Select All Natural Pellet Litter a great natural litter option for our rabbit friend.
This small animal pellet litter is made from all-natural materials, so it’s free of chemicals, toxins and safe. I appreciate the natural composition of this product, that is made from compacted pine and is both recyclable and compostable.
When it comes to absorbance, it is the best type of litter on the market. The wood pellets are absorbent enough to control odor. As with any rabbit litter, you want to top up a thin layer before you change all of the litter at once every 1-7 days.
Pros:
- 100% natural, Phenol-free processed wood
- Biodegradable and compostable
- Absorbent pellets
- Wood scent is light and pleasant to have around
- Pellets need less storage space, and can be neatly stored in your favorite tote box
- Very affordable of all the litter options for rabbits
Cons:
- Straw litter is more absorbent
- Need to check the package for no added chemicals
So Phresh Fast-Absorbing Paper Pellets
So Phresh Fast-Absorbing Paper Pellets is one of the top-rated options among rabbit owners because of its odor control capabilities and its high absorbency rate. This litter not only locks liquids in but traps those stinky stenches too.
The material itself is eco-friendly which is a huge plus, but it’s not 100% natural as it contains baking soda. Baking soda works wonders to control odor but also has the ability to make your furry friend sick if they eat or excessively inhale it.
If you are worried that your rabbit will ingest the litter pellets, this might not be the right choice for you. Still, it’s worth noting that this product is hailed as safe for all animals, including rabbits.
This odor-fighting blend accomplishes what it sets out to do. But, if your rabbit tends to nibble, it might not be the best product for you.
Pros:
- Biodegradable and compostable
- Fragrance-free
Cons:
- Baking soda is dusty and can be inhaled
Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter
Purina’s Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter has also proven to be an excellent option for rabbits and small critters too. It is another paper-based option, but this one is made from environmentally friendly recycled paper. So if you’ve got a cat, rabbit, ferret, or guinea pig, this one may be the best pick.
Purina does have a Yesterday’s News formula designed specifically for rabbits, but it’s essentially the same formula in a smaller bag and is more expensive. So grabbing a bag of the cat version is the more economical choice if you’d like to buy this brand for your rabbit friend.
This one also delivers fantastic results in the odor control department and is fragrance-free to boot. You don’t need to worry if your nibbling bunny decides to eat any of these pellets. There aren’t any ingredients in the product that will cause your pet any harm, which might make this the best litter for rabbits who tend to snack in the litter box. One thing that’s important to note, is that it can be harder to scoop when wet.
Pros:
- 100% recycled paper
- Low-tracking
- U.S veterinarian recommended
- 3x more absorbent than clay
- 99.7% dust-free
- Biodegradable and compostable
Cons:
- Non-scented
- Can be hard to scoop
Kaytee Critter Litter
Kaytee specializes in premium products for birds and small animals. With their line of nutrition and care products, Kaytee is committed to the comfort and safety of your little critters. This is a brand that I love!
The particles are made out of bentonite clay, a natural clay with super absorption powers. Bentonite clay is found in most run-of-the-mill clumping cat litters. However, it has much larger beads of clay. In my opinion, it is a little trickier to clean in comparison with the wooden pellet variety. So keep that in mind.
Kaytee’s Critter Litter is an ideal product to use when you’re potty training your rabbit. It is made of clay and a much lighter color than your average pellet format, so it’s easier for you to find the areas that need to be spot cleaned and make sure that your rabbit uses it in general.
Pros:
- All natural bentonite
- Absorbs 10x its weight in liquid
- Good for potty training
- 99% dust-free
- Expensive
Cons:
- Challenging to clean when wet
- Should not be ingested
- No odor control
Kaytee Wood Pellets
Yet another excellent product option by Kaytee, these wooden pellets are made from 100% natural aspen and pine fibers and are proudly made in the USA. We love a natural product, and this one has become a staple for many rabbit owners everywhere because of its incredibly effective absorbing qualities.
Compared to the previous Kaytee Critter Litter, these wooden pellets win in the odor-fighting department. So if you’ve been struggling with stinky ammonia smells and profound odor control is what you are seeking, this could be the holy grail of rabbit litters you have been searching for.
Additionally, this product is safe for your rabbit friend and does not contain any additives, toxins, or artificial colors and fragrances. So if your precious bunny tries to eat these pellets, there’s nothing to be worried about. Suitable for bunnies of all ages, it is also amazingly easy to clean too!
Pros:
- 100% odor control guarantee
- 100% natural
- Easy to clean
- Biodegradable and compostable
Cons:
- Pellets produce dust
- Strong smelling
Small Pet Select Aspen Bedding
Small Pet Select’s Aspen Bedding is unique compared to the previous products because it can be used as both a litter and bedding. It’s a versatile and premium quality product, made of all-natural aspen wood and no additives or toxic ingredients. It’s good for not only your pet but for the planet too.
The versatility is what sells me on this one. Bunnies love this stuff. It makes a soft surface for them to lay on, and they even love gnawing the larger chips of wood (which is safe and beneficial, too).
But most importantly, back to the topic at hand — it works wonderfully as a litter with odor minimizing capabilities. Aspen wood has a natural woodsy scent that will mask the stink and keep your home and bunny’s cage odor-free.
This product also has a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you are unhappy with the product for whatever reason, you can request a full refund.
Pros:
- 100% satisfaction guarantee
- Use as bedding or litter
- Woodsy scent overpowers odor
- Made of natural aspen shavings
- Biodegradable and compostable
Cons:
- Pricey
- Shavings stick to your pet’s fur
- Gets wet quickly
Carefresh Small Pet Bedding
Carefresh Small Pet Bedding is also ideal for litter or bedding for your rabbit. Made out of reclaimed paper and untreated wood, the fiber is incredibly soft with a proven formula to control odor and suppress ammonia smells for up to 10 days. Some call this bedding the softest there is.
This product is an excellent alternative to standard wood shavings as it is much less flimsy and more absorbent. It absorbs the moisture while remaining dry. Regular shavings, on the other hand, can get quite wet and require more frequent cleaning. These fibers will hold up better to liquid and won’t stick to your pet’s fur as easily, causing a mess.
Carefresh bedding comes in a variety of colors, something unique to this list. White is an excellent option because you can immediately see which parts of the litter need cleaning. Or, if you want to try something a little more fun, spruce up your bunny’s cage with a splash of blue, purple, or even rainbow confetti colored bedding.
Pros:
- 100% natural paper and wood fibers
- Eliminates odors for up to 10 days
- Variety of colors
- 2X more absorbent than wood shavings
- Biodegradable and compostable
- 99% dust-free
Cons:
- Strong smelling
Rabbit Litter vs Rabbit Bedding, What’s the Difference?
There are many different products out there that can be used for both bedding and litter, such as the Carefresh Smart Bedding mentioned above. So new pet owners can get confused. What’s litter? What’s bedding?
Although some products can be used for both, it’s essential to differentiate between the bunny’s litter and the rest of the cage. Sure you can use the same product throughout. But if you do, it might be trickier to potty train your rabbit as they won’t know exactly where to go. They might think the whole cage is fair game, leaving more for you to clean up. You may also want to read my article about the best rabbit indoor cage or the best rabbit outdoor hutch.
Litter
When it comes to filling your rabbit’s litter, you want something absorbent, odor trapping, and easy to clean, like pellets. I think that for this particular purpose, wood pellets do the job best.
Some other materials worth mentioning: aspen shavings and paper pellets. Alternatively, you can use shredded paper or wood shavings for litter, but I think these materials are better suited as bedding because they tend to get wet and are trickier to keep clean.
Bedding
When it comes to bedding, shredded paper and wood shavings work marvelously. They are soft and make the space cozier for your pet (i.e., Carefresh Small Pet Bedding, Small Pet Select Aspen Bedding).
If you were to use pellets as bedding, it wouldn’t be as comfortable for your bunny. Alternatively, it’s common to use blankets or fleece as bedding if your rabbit is litter trained.
Litter Cleaning and Disposal
One of the many ways to keep your rabbits healthy is to keep their litter clean.
Cleaning
When it comes to cleaning your rabbit’s litter, there is more to it than just scooping out the waste. The more often and the more thoroughly you clean your bunny’s litter, the more that they will feel inclined to use it.
After emptying the litter tray or pan, give it a good rinse. You can then soak the tray in a mixture of white vinegar and water. The acidity in the vinegar will break down the calcium build-up created by urine.
The longer you let it soak into the tray, the easier it will be to scrub off all the buildup. If you’re looking to do a heavy-duty clean, you can soak it for a day and use a replacement litter tray in the meantime.
Vinegar is also an antibacterial agent that eliminates bacteria. But don’t worry, it’s not harmful to your pet in any way if your rabbit does come into contact with it. In fact, vinegar is an often-recommended flea prevention treatment for bunnies.
Disposal
After emptying the soiled litter from the tray, there are several ways you can dispose of it. If you are working with an organic litter product, you can utilize it as mulch or add it to your composter.
Additionally, you can dispose of it through your municipal green waste program. It’s nice to know that the products you are buying are eco-friendly and reducing your footprint.
Another bonus… fertilizer! Rabbit poop makes an excellent fertilizer. You can add it directly to your gardens. It does not require composting. Believe it or not, rabbit manure is four times more nutrient-rich than that of a cow or horse. Who knew your little bunny had the magical ability to improve soil structure!
Conclusion
To conclude, when it comes to the best litter for rabbits. I am going to go with product #1, the Small Pet Select All Natural Pellet Litter. As I mentioned previously in this review, I believe pellet litters to be superior when it comes to absorbing capabilities, and they are also just much easier to clean.
This one ticks all the boxes. It’s made of 100% natural materials and is incredibly safe for your pet. These pellets are made of pine, but they are kiln dried and free of phenols. So there’s no need to worry here.
The litter also has superior absorbing capabilities because of the unique density of the pellets. The density also means they take less space to store. All in all, it makes for happy bunnies. And with happy bunnies, come happy owners. I hope this article was informative and armed you with enough information to make a confident purchase decision.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about the best rabbit litters:
Can Cat Litter be Used for Rabbits?
According to the Animal Humane Society, the use of clay clumping cat litter can be dangerous for rabbits. If ingested or inhaled too frequently, clay is harmful to their health.
But certain natural cat litters are an exception to the rule. Like the Purina Yesterday’s News Non Clumping Paper Cat Litter mentioned above. Litters made of paper fibers are commonly used in similar products explicitly designed for bunnies, so they are safe.
Is Rabbit Bedding and Litter the Same?
There are products that can be used for both litter and bedding, making your job as a pet parent a bit easier. But, there are particular products that are best for each need. The main difference is that your rabbit’s litter needs to be more absorbent as it lines their litter tray. Bedding should be softer and cozier to keep your bunny comfy while they rest.
Is Pine Litter Safe for Rabbits?
Pine wood stove pellets are safe for rabbits, but straight pine shavings should not be used. Untreated pine shavings can alter the enzymes in your bunny’s liver, which in turn can affect their ability to metabolize any veterinarian-prescribed medications. They may also increase your pet’s risk of cancer. Instead of using pine shavings, try a safer alternative like aspen; aspen is safe for bunnies to chew and offers similar benefits to other wood shaving bedding options.
Should I Put Hay in my Rabbit’s Litter Box?
It’s normal for rabbit owners to add a little bit of hay to their pet’s litter boxes to encourage the rabbits to use the litter. They also just generally have a habit of chewing while doing their business. You can put a thin layer over their litter or, alternatively, place a hay dispenser in the litter area.
If you are going to add a layer to your bunny’s tray make sure the material you are using is natural and organic. If there’s any chance of toxicity and it’s not a natural litter, don’t cover it in hay because that only puts your pet at risk of ingesting something they shouldn’t.
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