How to Potty Train Pet Rats

If you have a pet rat, you know that these intelligent animals are easy to train. Pet rats can be litter box trained fairly easily. While younger rats tend to catch on more quickly, you can usually potty train a rat of any age which will make their living spaces much healthier and easier to keep clean.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Litter box
• Pelleted litter
• Clean bedding material such as paper, cloth or pellet bedding
• Rat treats

1. Remove all old bedding and thoroughly clean the rat's living space. Notice that rats living in enclosed environments typically defecate in a corner even if you do not potty train them. However, they do tend to urinate indiscriminately in their bedding.

2. Find the spots in the cage where your rat is eliminating. Set aside some of the droppings and wet litter.

3. Replace all the old bedding with fresh.

4. Fill the litter box with fresh litter and place it in the part of the cage where you noticed the most droppings. Add the saved droppings and wet litter. The location of the litter box and the familiar scent of his urine and droppings help cue your rat to "go" in the litter box.

5. Move your rat into the litter box whenever you see her starting to "go" outside the box. Get her to finish the job there.

6. Tell your rat "No" if you see her "go" outside the litter box but you can't move her into the litter box in time.

7. Move any droppings and wet litter you find in the cage into the litter box.

8. Praise and pet your rat whenever he uses the littler box Reward him with his favorite treats every time he uses the litter box.

Tips & Warnings

• Using different materials for bedding and for the litter box will help your rat learn the difference between his "living room" and the "potty."
• Some rats, especially males, will use the litter box for droppings but continue to urinate in their bedding. However, even a partially potty-trained rat means a cleaner cage.
• Some litters and bedding are more effective than others. See the "Resources" section of this article to learn more.

Resources

• Pet rat care website

[prettyevil]

on 5/7/2009 Cat litter is bad for rats. It contains clays and dust particles that can get into the rat's lungs and cause infections. Rats are VERY sensitive. I use shredded newspaper in the litter box. My normal bedding is just torn up fabrics.

[jz1993]

on 3/3/2009 The best rat litter is called Care Fresh. It is made from recycled paper and almost dust free. There is the original brown kind and the Ultra (white) and also colors. The best of the Carefresh is the Pink, Yellow or white as they have the least dust. Yesterdays News is good for the litter box and has little dust but it does hurt the rat's feet. NEVER USE ANY TYPE OF WOOD FOR RATS; ESPECIALLY PINE OR CEDAR, ASPEN IS OK BUT STILL BAD.

[myhellmonkey]

on 9/26/2008 I have been using a litter made from recycled paper called "Yesterdays News". It is in pellet form that is harder and not as comfortable for the rats to use as a lounge.

[Gentlefawn]

on 3/28/2008 I'll try that. I have everything already. She doesn't understand what her litter box is though. She kind of used it for a chair. Kitty litter? That's OK for rats?
Er, OK. I guess that makes sense. Actually, I have rat litter.Any particular cat litter that you would recommend, for a rat? Are you familiar with Snuffy's cat litter?