toileting

[yashmakca]

:whip: Can anyone tell me if rats can use a litter box or be trained to use in one spot?

 

[victoria]

Yep! It's pretty easy to train most rats, especially females. Most people will put a box with a bedding different than in the rest of the cage (i.e. I use fleece in my cage and YN in the litter box) and collect any strays poos and deposit them in the box each day. Rats have poor bladder control though, so they will still pee all over, but at least the poos are contained.

 

[DadRat]

Some can. Ours have been at least 50% in the litter box, little clean up here and there.

It apparently is just too much effort to walk to the box sometimes. Lazy little fuzzbutts.

 

[SQ]

Rats are like dogs, they urine mark so they can be litter box trained but not so good re urine.
They tend to urine mark less once neutered or spayed.
Just put litter boxes in the areas they like to use, they tend to decide where they want the litter boxes to go ... popular spots are corners and at the bottom of ladders

 

[Joanne]

Yes, I agree. I wait to see where they want to pee and poop, and then put a litter box in that spot. I use Yesterday's News as well. Sometimes they like to nibble on it a bit. Mine have several litter boxes. It does make a difference!

 

[yashmakca]

thanks all - my biggest complaint is their urine - it is strong and smells which is really too bad considering what great little pets they are. They are stinking up my sons room and we are changing the cage at least once a week, sometimes twice, but thanks for the answers and the input.

 

[lilspaz68]

thanks all - my biggest complaint is their urine - it is strong and smells which is really too bad considering what great little pets they are. They are stinking up my sons room and we are changing the cage at least once a week, sometimes twice, but thanks for the answers and the input.

What are you using as bedding? Is your cage powdercoated or galvanized? What do you feed? (diet can play a very important part in smell).