Teaching a pet rat to use the litter box offers many benefits. If your little friend gets used to always going to the same area of the cage, it can become easier to remove the dirt. to litter training, place a litter box in the area of the cage that he tends to use more often as a "toilet" and reward him when you see him using it. Once trained properly, you need to keep the tub clean so it doesn't lose the habit.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Install the Litter Box
Step 1. Choose a suitable container for this purpose
You need to make sure that the house mouse can get in and out comfortably; take one with rather low edges and wide enough for the animal to feel comfortable.
- The best model is the one that can be fixed to the walls of the cage, so that the small rodent cannot move it; you can buy one online or at pet stores.
- If you don't want to buy a specific cassette, get a small Tupperware-like container instead.
Step 2. Put it in the right place
Observe which area the rat prefers to use as a "toilet". House mice typically urinate and defecate in a specific corner of the cage; place the container near that area to encourage your pet to use it.
If you have more than one specimen, you may find urine and feces in different areas of the cage; in this case, insert more than one cassette, placing each near the places that are usually the dirtiest
Step 3. Choose the material to use in the litter box
You have to take a different substrate than the one that the rat regularly uses for the "bed", so he understands that the tray must be used for activities other than those he normally does during the day. You can browse the pet shop and find numerous products; choose a different one from the one in the rest of the cage and use it to fill the box.
Step 4. Soil the substrate
At first, your little friend may feel confused and disoriented about the tape; to make sure he understands its purpose, collect some of his feces from the cage and put it in the tray. The mouse smells it and is probably attracted to it when it needs to fulfill its needs.
Be sure to wear gloves when handling fecal debris and wash your hands when finished
Part 2 of 3: Encourage Litter Box Use
Step 1. Reward the rat when he uses it
Even if you can't watch it all the time, watch it when you can; if you see him using the litter box, offer him a treat, such as a treat, as a reward.
- Try to be as consistent as possible and reward him every time you notice he's using the litter box.
- Over time, you should notice fewer and fewer stools on the outside of the tub.
Step 2. Discourage him from defecating in other areas of the cage
However, you must not scold or punish him if he gets dirty out of the box, since he does not understand the reason for your reproaches and you would do nothing but create tension; however, gently correct it when you see that it uses the "wrong bathroom".
- Do something to distract him; just try clapping your hands and saying "No" in a firm tone.
- Don't raise your voice though.
Step 3. Make sure you keep the rest of the cage clean
The mouse must understand that there is a clear difference between the space in which it lives and the "toilet"; in this way, there is less chance that it will dirty the outside of the litter box. Make sure to clean up and remove any residual urine and feces as soon as you see it.
During the first training phase, clean the dirty areas of the cage several times a day; as your mouse begins to use the litter box more frequently, you can establish a regular cleaning schedule
Step 4. Put some droppings in the container
If your little rodent really has a hard time learning how to use it, you need to remind him why he is present. When you remove the feces from the cage, put some in the box; in this way, he should understand that he has to defecate inside the box.
Part 3 of 3: Avoid Mistakes
Step 1. Keep the litter box clean
When the pet rat learns to use it regularly, you need to make sure it stays clean; just like cats, these animals also stop using it if it is dirty. Remove fecal residue and add new substrate every day.
Step 2. If you have a multi-story cage, place a litter box on each level
Some cages are very large and arranged on several floors; if this is also your case, it is difficult for the little rodent to go up and down the different levels to use the box, so you should put one on each floor.
Step 3. Change the cassette size as needed
If you start training the mouse when it is still a puppy, it may grow to the point that it will no longer be able to stay in the litter box; you have to make sure that this is big enough to allow it to stay comfortably there. As the pet grows, replace it based on its physical needs.
