We have had our two boys since the early part of May. They are housed in a single CN. Initially we started out with Care Fresh Ultra bedding and Care Fresh litter in the litter boxes. This worked out very well for the litter training, the boys picked it up almost immediately. Three boxes, two corner boxes on bottom, one small box on top. However I found the smell of the Care Fresh bedding was horrible and did nothing to help with the smell of the guys urine either. Last week I switched to fleece liners for the cage but kept the Care Fresh litter in the litter boxes. Almost immediately the guys started pooping outside their litter boxes. At first it was the odd poop, but now they are not using the boxes at all. They are pooping all over their cage, not in one particular spot, even in their wheel. Can anyone tell me why this behaviour has started? And possibly how I can fix it and get my guys going back in their litter boxes? I'm planning on trying Yesterdays News litter starting tomorrow when I clean their cage. Thanks for reading!
Litter trained/not litter trained
- Thread starter SherylM
- Start date
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Lucky4LeafClover
Well-Known Member
I found that as my boys got older they pooped wherever they wanted when initially I thought they had mastered the litter box.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
How old are your boys? Before having the fleece liners, the whole bottom of the cage had carefresh?
Some rats have a hard time with changes. I would continue to pick up all errant poops and place them all in the litter box, do this every time you see poops where they don't belong.
Also, depending on age, this could be a territorial behaviour which should pass soon enough, again, continue cleaning up the cage several times a day.
Some rats have a hard time with changes. I would continue to pick up all errant poops and place them all in the litter box, do this every time you see poops where they don't belong.
Also, depending on age, this could be a territorial behaviour which should pass soon enough, again, continue cleaning up the cage several times a day.
The boys are about 18 weeks (guessing). Yes, the whole bottom of the cage was Care Fresh prior to the change. I am picking up all stray poops and putting them in litter box still. I'm just about to clean the cage and will be trying the Yesterdays News litter in the boxes.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
So they are at the right age to start claiming their cages and certain spots. But this is good news, it means that eventually they should be getting back to their good habit. Yesterday's News is great in litter boxes. One thing I've noticed is my rats seemed to be better a being potty trained in an actual kitten litterpan as opposed to those corner ones. I also found that under ladders are the best spots for them.
Until they catch on again, keep picking up those poops!
Until they catch on again, keep picking up those poops!
Thank you for the tips! I just watched Butterscotch back up to the litter pan and poop, instead of getting in it. I did manage to pick him up so he could finish his business in the proper spot though! Yesterdays News is in the freezer and at the 24 hour mark I will be taking it out and crossing my fingers!
