Rabbits can be litter trained just like cats. Litter training not only cuts down on the mess your pet makes, but it also allows you to let your rabbit roam and not have to worry too much about it eliminating in places it shouldn’t.
The two main things you’ll need for training are a high-quality litter box and litter. We will look at the best litters for rabbits on the market today so you can get off on the right foot with your pet’s litter training.
Read on to find our reviews of these products and learn how to shop for the safest and highest quality litter for your beloved rabbit.
A Quick Comparison of Our Winners of 2023
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Best Overall
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Carefresh Small Animal Bedding |
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Best Value
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Oxbow Bene Terra Eco-Straw Litter |
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Premium Choice
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Rabbit Hole Hay Ultra Premium Bedding |
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Kaytee Clean & Cozy Bedding |
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Small Pet Select Pine Pellet Bedding |
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The 9 Best Litters for Rabbits
1. Carefresh Small Animal Bedding – Best Overall
| Size | 14-L, 30-L, or 60-L |
| Materials | Paper |
The Carefresh Small Animal Bedding is the best overall litter for rabbits thanks to its high absorbency and comfortable material. The bedding is almost entirely dust-free, making it the best choice for homes with allergies or asthma. The company’s “comfyfluff” material is biodegradable as it is made of compostable reclaimed paper fibers. This natural litter is great for digging and burrowing but only performs moderately well when looking at odor control. However, one bag can go a long way as the bedding is compressed and will fluff up a lot.
2. Oxbow Bene Terra Eco-Straw Litter – Best Value
| Size | 20- or 40-lb bags |
| Materials | Wheat |
The Oxbow Bene Terra Eco-Straw Pelleted Wheat Straw Small Animal Litter is a mostly dust-free and lung-friendly litter option. It comes in 20- or 40-pound bags, making it the best litter for rabbits for the money. It’s made by compressing high-fiber wheat straw into pellets. It’s completely safe to be consumed by your rabbit, and its wheat grass fibers can benefit its digestive system. This litter will expand when wet and separate, so it’s easy and fast to scoop. Because it has some weight to it, it’s less likely to be tracked throughout your home. It has great odor control properties but can be a little dusty when first poured into the litter box.
This litter has a very strong scent that some consumers have compared to mildew or sour milk. But we think it’s the best litter for rabbits for the money.
3. Rabbit Hole Hay Ultra Premium Pet Bedding – Premium Choice
| Size | 5-cu ft or 7.0-cu ft |
| Materials | Paper |
Our premium pick, the Rabbit Hole Hay Ultra Premium, Food Grade Paper Small Pet Bedding, is a great option if you’re less concerned about sticking to a budget. Though this is very pricey, you’re receiving quite a bit of litter for the cost. It provides great absorption and odor control, meaning you’ll need to change the bedding less, further adding to its value. This soft and nestable bedding is meant for use as bedding and not litter, but because it is so absorbent, it works perfectly as rabbit litter. Finally, it is made in the USA using FDA-approved and dioxin-free virgin paper.
The biggest downfall of this litter is that it can get sticky when wet, so it may stick to your rabbit and track around its habitat.
4. Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Animal Bedding
| Size | 24.6-, 49.2-, or 85-liter options |
| Materials | Paper |
The Kaytee Clean & Cozy Small Animal Bedding expands to three times its size to extend the lifespan of each bag. It’s made with FDA-approved paper that claims to be 20% more absorbent than other similar litter options. This unscented bedding is very affordable and effective at controlling pet-related odors. In addition, its super soft paper material can make your rabbit’s litter box feel comfortable and cozy.
It claims to be 99% dust-free, but this wasn’t our experience with this product. It still produces quite a bit of dust, leaving fine white particles everywhere.
5. Small Pet Select Pine Pellet Small Animal Bedding
| Size | 25- or 50-lb bag |
| Materials | Pine pellets |
Though pine shavings absolutely should not be used in your rabbit’s habitat, the Small Pet Select Pine Pellet Small Animal Bedding is perfectly safe. These pellets are heat treated without additives or irritants, making them 100% all-natural. This budget-friendly litter features high-absorbency pellets to protect your rabbit from fur staining and sores. In addition, they’re recyclable and compostable, making them a great pick for eco-conscious pet owners.
Once the pellets have been saturated, they’re difficult and messy to clean up.
6. Kaytee Aspen Small Animal Bedding
| Size | 20-, 52-, 113-, or 226.5-liter options |
| Materials | Aspen |
The Kaytee Aspen Small Animal Bedding is made with all-natural and specially processed aspen shavings to reduce dust and wood debris in your pet’s litter. It’s made without aromatic oils, artificial colors, or chemical additives, so it’s safe for your pet to breathe in. In addition, aspen litter is naturally absorbent and provides great odor control.
Some bags may contain shavings that are too small. It also has a strong odor which can be irritating for some folks.
7. Vitakraft Fresh World Ultra Strength Bedding
| Size | 16- or 35-liter options |
| Materials | Paper |
Vitakraft’s Fresh World Ultra Strength Litter Box & Cage Small Animal Bedding is made of 100% recycled paper, so it’s safe for various small pets. The paper crumbles are absorbent and soft, keeping your bunny dry and cozy. This litter creates very little dust to keep your pet’s respiratory system happy. It controls odors very well, and the manufacturer claims you can go up to 14 days without changing the litter. However, we don’t recommend waiting that long as the litter can get a clay or mud-like texture if it isn’t changed often enough.
8. back-2-nature Small Animal Bedding
| Size | 30-liter |
| Materials | Paper |
The back-2-nature Small Animal Bedding is made of 99% recycled paper pellets, allowing moisture to pass through and be absorbed. Because it’s all-natural, this litter is biodegradable and compostable. It’s very soft so it is easy on your rabbit’s feet and joints and is made without chemicals or additives. In addition, this litter is low in dust to reduce the irritation that can occur from other types of bedding.
This litter is priced much higher than similar options we reviewed today. It’s manufactured in the United Kingdom, so it can be difficult to find in other areas of the world. The pricing is all over the place depending on the online merchant you use.
9. Fresh News Recycled Paper Small Animal Bedding
| Size | 10- or 40-liter options |
| Materials | Paper |
The Fresh News Recycled Paper Small Animal Bedding is made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper. It has a moisture control formula to absorb liquids and provide some odor control. When you’re done changing your rabbit’s litter, you can throw it in your compost bin as it’s biodegradable. It spreads easily and is simple to clean up.
This litter is advertised as low dust, but most users would argue that this isn’t entirely true. Also, while it is quite absorbent, it doesn’t control odors as described.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Find the Best Litters for Rabbits
Factors to Consider While Shopping for Rabbit Litter
Materials
Rabbits sometimes eat their litter, so it’s important to pay attention to what it is made of. The best option for rabbits is aspen shavings or recycled paper.
Aspen shavings are a great choice as they are absorbent and comfortable underfoot. Aspen is environmentally friendly and biodegradable, too. It does a decent job at controlling odors, but it can be dusty depending on which brand you go with.
Paper litter is also environmentally friendly and tends to be softer than aspen. It’s quite absorbent and is typically less dusty than other options. Paper litter is always a hit with rabbits that like to burrow or nest.
Under no circumstances should you use clay-based or clumping litters designed for cats. Rabbits cannot vomit, so if your rabbit eats some of this litter, it has to pass through the entire intestinal tract. If they’ve eaten enough of the litter, it can cause an obstruction in the stomach or intestines. This would call for emergency surgery to remove the blockage and, subsequently, a large vet bill.
Please avoid corn, wheat, or oat-based litters, as they may also cause obstructions.
You should also avoid litter made with softwood such as pine or cedar. This is because exposure to the phenols in these woods may cause liver damage.
Odor Control
Nothing says, “This house has pets!” like walking through the front door and being hit with the strong smell of urine. A litter’s ability to control odors is one of its main selling points. Look for litter that offers some odor control, but it mustn’t be scented. Scented litter can be problematic for your rabbit’s respiratory health as the chemical fragrances can irritate their lungs.
How to Set Up a Litter Box for Rabbits
A cat litter box is the perfect size for rabbits. Your pet will probably spend a lot of time in its litter box, so it needs to be big enough for your rabbit to fit comfortably. We recommend a box with higher sides as it will better contain the litter, waste, and hay.
Put a thick layer of your chosen litter on the bottom of the box. On one end, pile a heaping handful of hay. As gross as it sounds to us, rabbits like to munch away on their hay while they do their business.
Refresh the hay and dump out the entire litter box daily. If your rabbit doesn’t completely soil its litter box, add another handful of hay, but don’t go more than two days without completely dumping the box and starting fresh.
How Can I Control Litter-Related Smells?
If you find that your rabbit’s litter box is stinker than you prefer, there are some things you can do to get your home smelling fresh and clean again.
First, re-evaluate the litter that you’ve chosen. Some litter types are simply better at absorbing the urine smell.
Next, consider the size of the litter box you’re using. Smaller boxes can’t hold as much litter or hay and will soil much faster. The best litter box for rabbits is one that is actually designed for cats, as it should provide enough room for your rabbit to fit and turn around inside.
Finally, re-evaluate your cleaning schedule. You should scoop out any soiled litter at least once a day, potentially more if you have several rabbits.
An air purifier is also a worthwhile investment for any home with pets. We recommend one with a HEPA air filter as they’re the most effective at controlling pet-related scents. Additionally you can buy enzyme cleaner specialized for this types of odors.
If you're trying to find an enzyme cleaner that does it all, we highly recommend our favorite cleaner, the Hepper Advanced Bio-Enzyme Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator Spray.
It permanently removes the very worst stains and smells you can imagine and makes clean up a breeze. There's even a 100% satisfaction guarantee! Click here to order a bottle today.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding products of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
The Carefresh Small Animal Bedding is the best overall litter for rabbits thanks to its affordable price, comfortable materials, and odor control capabilities. For rabbit owners on a budget, Oxbow Bene Terra Eco-Straw combines a reasonable price with high-quality, low dust, and easy-to-scoop litter.
We hope our reviews and buying guide have shed light on the litter options you have for your rabbit. Of course, no two litters are created equal, but you can’t go wrong with any of the choices we looked at today. Remember to steer clear of clay-based options and those made with wood like pine or cedar.
Featured Image Credit: Janulin Andrey, Shutterstock
