Guinea pigs (also called domestic guinea pigs) are adorable and fun pets that enjoy spending time inside or outside their cage. To keep their "home" and play areas cleaner, you need to train them to use the litter box. Like many other animals, these small rodents can learn with patience and attention. If you follow a few simple steps, you can train your pet at any age.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Training the Guinea Pig Inside the Cage
Step 1. Observe your little friend
Before inserting the litter box in the cage, you must observe him to understand where he generally prefers to do his needs. Usually, the guinea pig tends to mark its territory, so you will most likely often see it exploring a corner of the cage where it prefers to urinate and defecate.
While there is certainly one corner he goes to most frequently, that doesn't mean he neglects others. So be sure to pick the one she goes to most often
Step 2. Buy a small box
Once you have identified the best place to place the litter box, you need to purchase one that fits well in the corner you have chosen. Get it the right size for the size of the cage and at the same time comfortable for the small rodent. It must not be too small, otherwise the animal would not have enough space to squat and fulfill its needs.
- You can purchase a suitable tub at pet stores that treat small rodents.
- You also need to get some new substrate material; otherwise, the guinea pig would smell the old pee and go back to the same place.
Step 3. Prepare the cassette
Fill it with the same material you use as the substrate for the cage. Although it is called "litter", it is not the same material that is usually used for other animals (such as absorbent sand); generally, hay or straw is used which is also placed on the bottom of the cage. First, you should pick up a handful or two of the material he has already urinated and defecated on and put them inside the box. Then, you can place the container in the area you previously identified.
- Using the old dirty straw, you stimulate the domestic guinea pig to use the litter box, as it will smell the same as it does.
- The most suitable materials for this purpose are poplar, wood pulp, hay and straw. There are also several varieties of pellets and other substrate that your vet may recommend. Don't buy never cedar wood or corn on the cob, because they are toxic to these animals.
- Do not put the food and water bowl near the litter box; the guinea pig does not like to eat near his "bathroom".
- You can try putting some eating straw inside the box so she will feel more comfortable and can nibble a little while she does her business.
Step 4. Check his behavior
Once the litter is placed inside the cage, check if it uses it. Because it contains material that smells like itself and is in a familiar spot, the rodent should start using it more and more often. If you notice that it doesn't use it, you should take it out of the cage and try again a second time. The tray may have some aspect that makes it uncomfortable and therefore discourages it.
- When you notice that he is using it correctly, give him a treat, thus reinforcing his behavior in a positive way and encouraging him to use it again to receive more rewards.
- If the edge of the litter box feels too high for the small rodent, use sharp scissors, a small saw or knife and cut off the excess. This way, the side will become low enough for the guinea pig to enter easily.
Step 5. Clean the litter box regularly
You need to take care of it every 3 days or so. You have to empty it of all the material and replace it with new substrate. Wash it completely every other week; by doing so, you are sure not to eliminate the smell of the animal, which will therefore keep the habit of returning to it.
Use the best substrate for your little friend. If you're not sure which one to use, ask your pet store clerk or vet for more information
Step 6. Be patient
Although most guinea pigs learn to use the litter box all the time (or nearly all), others may never learn. Continue to train your four-legged friend, but if he uses it even half the time, remember that it is still better than nothing and that it partially spares you the cleaning of the cage.
Never punish and never yell at the domestic guinea pig; he doesn't understand why he always has to go to the same place to relieve himself. Instead, try to encourage good behavior without any punishment, as this is a technique that doesn't work with guinea pigs
Part 2 of 2: Training the Guinea Pig at Home
Step 1. Start with a small seat
Once you have trained your little friend to use the litter box inside his cage, you can teach him to use it outside as well, when he plays. Start with something small; it must be an area that you can easily control and that allows you not to lose sight of the animal. You should make sure there are no small vents through which it can escape.
The bathroom or hallway is the perfect place to start. They are narrow, have few electrical cables near the floor and do not offer many hiding places for the small rodent. This way, you can be sure that he can't get into trouble and at the same time guarantee him some movement
Step 2. Arrange the litter box
You must choose a dark spot, away from the access areas of the room, so you encourage the animal to go to that corner and use it. Since the litter box is the only thing inside the room that emits the same smell as the animal, the guinea pig will be able to find it no matter where you put it.
- Try to leave some dirty substrate in the container, so that the animal can recognize it as its territory.
- If you wish, you can let the guinea pig wander around the room a bit to find the angle it prefers. Later, you can arrange the litter box right there.
Step 3. Cover the other corners
Guinea pigs love to use dark and secluded corners as a "toilet", just like they do inside the cage. To encourage your rodent friend to use the corner you put the litter box in, you can occupy others so they don't have access to it.
- If your furry friend has no other dark places to fulfill his needs, he will be more inclined to use the one where you stored the container.
- If you want, you can put some newspaper around the room to make cleaning easier in case of an "accident".
Step 4. Increase the area available to your little friend
Once he has become accustomed to using the litter box even outside the cage, you can leave him free in larger and larger rooms. Since he already knows where his "bathroom" is, he should also use it when playing in a larger room. Just make sure there are no loose electrical cords on the floor or hard-to-reach (for you) hiding places where the rodent can get lost or hurt.
