Rabbit Litter and Bedding

    When choosing rabbit litter and bedding it's important that you know what you're dealing with.
     What Not to Use (Litter): To start off, I do not recommend any kind of wood shavings. The dust that these produce can lead to respiratory problems. These litters are also hard to clean up. I am also against pine or cedar based litters. These litters contain oils that are bad for your rabbit, which may lead to problems involving his liver (even if your rabbit is not going to be touching the litter itself, it is still a good idea to stay clear of this).  Do not use basic clumping cat litter. If ingested, the litter clumps in the stomach and can lead to intestinal blockage. Lastly, I would try and avoid shredded paper/newspaper as it may tempt your rabbit to eat large quantities.
     What to Look for (Litter): When choosing litter, you want to find something that's absorbent, controls odor, and non-toxic. I recommend a pelleted recycled newspaper product. These are absorbent and not easy to nibble on. Before you purchase a pelleted litter, check to make sure that it is not pine or cedar based (wood based), but paper base as wood based pellets can break down into harmful dust. I also highly recommend Carefresh litter products. They are great at controlling odor, are non-toxic, and are very absorbent. This is the brand that I use. I find Carefresh products easier than the pelleted litters only because it it easier to clean up.
    What Not to Use (Bedding): Bedding generally follows the same rules as litter does. Stay clear of wood shavings, wood pellets, pine/cedar based litters, and newspaper. Some places may tell you that it is a good idea to line your cage with newspaper, but I do not recommend it. First of all, it is not absorbent. Second of all, even if you place other bedding on top of the newspaper, it may tempt your rabbit to eat it, which can be harmful if ingested in large amounts.
     What to Look for (Bedding): Again, bedding follows the same rules as litter. I recommend Carefresh for bedding. In addition to your bedding, you will also want to keep a fresh supply of hay on the ground of your cage in certain places (if not everywhere). This just encourages healthy eating behavior.
      Cleaning (Litter Box): You should be cleaning your rabbit's litter box every couple of days. To clean, dump out the used litter. Depending on the material, you can wash it out with unscented non-toxic soap, or refill it with new bedding. I mix in a few pieces of used bedding so that my bunny will recognize the scent of her litter box (she is still litter training). If you have a litter box that cannot be washed, I would switch it out every few months to keep it from becoming too dirty.
     Cleaning (Cage): I completely clean my rabbit's cage every two weeks. This includes a thorough wash down (with scent free non-toxic soap) and a complete change in bedding. At the end of every first week, I clean out and replace used bedding, but I do not thoroughly wash the cage.

Helpful Links:

Care fresh Natural Bedding

Recycled Paper Litter

Pet Safe Soap