Sunday, April 14, 2013

Potty Training Hamsters?

Yes, it is true. You can potty train hamsters. It takes a while, but it's not hard!

 Hamsters LOVE being clean. That's why you will see you hamster brushing it fur and licking itself. Their natural habit is to pee urinate in the same spot, usually in the corner of the cage.


What is the point of toilet training?
The point is that you know what part of the cage to clean the most. When cleaning the cage, you usually take 75% of the bedding out, because you aren't exactly sure where in the world your hamster urinated. But if you know, you don't exactly need to clean the whole thing out, just mostly the parts that you know the hamster urinated at.

How do you potty train the hamster?
There are potty training products you can use. They are basically just little hut- like things that your hamster goes in. You can buy some at basically any pet store, like Petsmart, or Petco, or Petland. 

What you do, is clean out the cage. Save the urinated parts of the bedding. I know, I know, it sounds gross, but it's totally worth it. After cleaning out the cage, put all new bedding in. Don't use the urinated bedding yet!!! Next, set your hamster cage back the way it was, and put the potty in the corner. Now, put the urinated bedding inside the potty. Why? Hamster like going to the same place they urinated last time, because they like to mark their territory. Now your done! Put the hamster back in, and just wait. Don't just sit there and watch... It's going to take awhile. Also, don't put your hamster in the potty. By doing that, your forcing the hamster to go there, making the hamster afraid of that spot. Just be patient, and let the magic happen :). 

P.S. 
You may also want to put some of their droppings (eek!) into the potty. 

Another P.S. 
Just because your hamster goes potty in the same spot, doesn't mean that you don't have to clean out the bedding. You will still have to clean it for burrowed food. 

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