Litter help!

[pixiestix]

Pixie is not getting the litter box idea very easily. I think she'll be a messy hedge forever. I was just wondering if anyone had other suggestions?

I started out using paper towels (and put the poops in so she'll get the idea) but eventually she just started draging it all around her cage. So I switched to yesterday's news (with some poops). But now I think she just uses that to dig, because there is pellets all over her cage! I dont know what else to use...

She does poo/pee in one spot, but thats where her food and water is, so I don't know if its because she likes that spot or if she's just lazy and goes while she's eating.

anyway, any idea on other litter and litter training methods?

[Vincent]

My hedgehog, Vincent, used to poop near his food bowl, too. He stopped abruptly when I switched foods, though. I'm not sure whether it was a coincidence or not, but I think it was his own subtle way of telling me that the food I was giving him was crap. :laugh:

How long have you been using Yesterday's News in the litter box? I'd give it time... maybe she'll get tired of the 'new toy' and use it properly. :)

Good luck!

[HedgeMom]

Contrary to what appears to be popular opinion on this board, hedgehogs are not truly litter-trainable. They will chose a spot to go and normally they will continue to go in that spot when you put a litter pan in, but the whole training thing is mostly a myth.

Some may respond to seeding a litter pan and go there instead but it's merely their natural urge to maintain a habit of going in one spot. In the wild, they go on the run and some animals maintain that wild habit all through their life.

If you can't put the litter box where the food/water are, then you're doomed to cleaning up the mess there.

And anyone who said it's easy to litter train a hedgehog did you a great disservice. They aren't cats or dogs.

[Nancy]

Hedgemom is right. I always tell people that you can provide the opportunity and if they catch on it is a bonus but don't count on it. A few will but the majority won't.
What I have found with my gang is they are more likely to pee in the litterbox, poop will be anywhere. Heck, I look at is as a bonus when they don't poop in their food dish. :laugh:

[LunaMidnight]

My girls sort of use their boxes. I didn't try to teach them to use it though I just put it where they went to the bathroom the most (under the wheel).

Isis is really good and she always goes in her pan but Luna just goes wherever. It usually ends up in the pan from her using the wheel anyways.

[freznow]

Rico wheels so much that most of the poop is on the wheel with only a little in the pan. I've never had a problem with it outside of the litter box except for the first week or so I had him.

[herbiesmom]

My two boys will put a few poops in the litter box and most of their pee. I consider myself lucky that they no longer poop on me when I take them out. They will get restless and let me know they need to go home and then will go potty when put back in their cage. I tried putting all their poop in the litter box for a while but it didn't work. They don't seem to pick a particular place to poop either. Oh well, as long as it is not on mommy, I am not complaining. :)

[pixiestix]

I feel the same way! She doesn't go on me as much as before so I'm happy about that.

Nancy: what naughty little hedges you have :rofl:

I put her litter pan under her wheel, but she doesn't like it there and moves it every night. Then kicks all of the litter around her cage. sigh :dunno: