What Litter Is Safe for Rabbits?
Rabbits, unlike cats, spend a lot of time in their litter; they even eat some of it. Strange as that sounds to us, both these behaviors are natural and should not be discouraged. Due to these and other characteristics, some litters are safe for rabbits and some are not. No one can keep up with all the different litters, but if you learn the basics you should be able to make a decent choice from what's available to you. Here's an outline of what's safe and what isn't.
Safe Litter
Safe Litters include compressed sawdust pellets, aspen bedding, paper pulp/recycled paper litter, alfalfa-based litter, citrus-based litter, oat-based litter, newspaper, and timothy/alfalfa hay.
These litters are generally safe for rabbits, though if too much oat or alfalfa litter is eaten they can cause bloating. Possibly the best option for litter is to line the litter box with newspaper and fill it with hay, usually timothy or alfalfa. Newspaper by itself doesn't absorb odor well, but it makes a good lining. Most newspapers are now printed with non-toxic soy ink and so are perfectly safe. If you have any concerns check with your local paper to make sure.
Unsafe Litter
Unsafe Litters include clay litters, clumping litters, softwood bedding (e.g. pine and cedar), corn litter,and wheat litter.
All these litters should be avoided, as they pose serious health risks to rabbits. Soft woods such as cedar and pine are commonly used for rabbit bedding, but they are now known to cause liver damage. Clumping, clay, and corn litters can even be fatal if eaten.
