Sooo many ppl have questions about litter training hamsters and litter in general. Here is my go at helping you all.
What is Litter training?
Litter training is teaching your hamster (or other pet) to use a container with some sort of substrate in it to do most of there "business".
Are there pros and cons of litter training a hamster?
PROS: Your hamster will pee and/or poop in its litter box, and that will eliminate a smelly cage, and also will help keep everything clean. If you have a dwarf with diabetes that urines a lot, or a big Syrian, you can change the litter twice a week and your cage will smell muuuch better =]
CONS: The litter can get pricy and some hamsters just wont use a box.
Can all hamsters be litter trained?
This is a tricky question. I only have experience with dwarfs, and all of them are happy to use the Box, I know that some hamsters will only use it sometimes, when they feel like it. If you have a very long haired Syrian, Litter training may not be a good idea cous the fur on your hamster may become all covered in sand and clumpy. Remember that hamsters aren’t the smartest tings ever, and with some litter training wont "click".
Can any hamsters NOT have a letterbox?
if you have a hamster with a respiratory infection I wouldn’t but a litter box in, because no matter how hard we try, we will always find some kind of dust and that might make the infection worst.
If your hamster has any open wounds (first of all you should go to a vet) but a litter box is not a good idea because the sand can get into the wound.
SOME long haired Syrians. if your hamster has VERY long fur and if you notice that the fur is all matted from the sand.. remove the box. im not sure how often this happens, as I only have dwarfs.
What do I use in the letterbox?
You can buy hamster litter from most pet stores, but if you can get a hand on "Chinchilla Sand" (Not dust as it causes respiratory illness) its much cheaper.
Some people choose to use dust free cat litter, im not a big fan of this, honestly, never really used it, but I don’t like the idea that it could get eaten and become a hazard for your hamster.
Some people use paper based cat litter (like Yesterdays news), My hamsters don’t like it and wont even go into the box wit it in there...
I have also hared that some people put in tissue, But after trying this, I learned all my hamsters will do is sleep in it.
some people use aspen, care fresh, ect. but my hamsters don’t care for it with anything other then sand.
Here is my sand method for litter.
Enjoy!!!
Supplies needed:
- Playground Sand*
- Bowl
- Cookie sheet with Aluminums foil on it.
- Spoon
- Sifter.
- Airtight container(s)
- Hamster poop. (first few times only)
- Litter box to put into your hamsters cage.
I don’t recommend to go to a public park, as no one knows what is in that sand!
If you have a sandbox in your backyard... that’s a much smarter choice. In our old house we had a backyard with an above ground pool, to even out the ground so the pool is even we had sand, and a tope (cover) on the sand, that way I know that we had no cats using our sand :P
You can buy "children’s play sand" almost everywhere for really cheap.
Step one:
Put the sifter in the bowl.
get your sand handy, and get your spoon.
Simple so far isn’t it?
Step Two:
We are going to get all the bad stuff out of the sand.. including pieces of leaves, dirt, big pieces of twigs, bugs and other not so present stuff. If you notice a lot of bugs in the sand, throw it out and look for a new source of sand.
To clean it, put two teaspoons of sand into the sifter, and shake it side to side and all the good sand will fall through. all the bad gunk will stay.
remember to have the bowl underneath :P
what comes out of the sand:
Grosse eh?
Now.. throw it out:
And this is what you are left with now.
nice and clean.
Your getting near to getting done.
~~ If you got your sand from a playground (not recommended) You will want to wash it first. to do this; I would get a few (by that I mean like 5-8+
) pieces of good quality paper towel like bounty, and put the sand on it’ll wrap it up so no sand can get out and run it under water. you do0nt want to use a lot of sand at once as it may fall and that’s not really present to clean up. you will want to also let it dry (you can put it on the cookie sheet overnight) Before you continue with step 2+, wash the cookie sheet.~~Step 3:
Baking it.
your that’s right. your going to bake the sand.
Warm the over up to 450oF.
place the sand flat in a thin layer on the cookie sheet.
Bake it for 30-45 mins.
when its done take it out of the oven and let it cool.
(30 mins)
when its don’t you can put in in whatever containers you like.
Step4:
Hamsters and sand.
Put a layer of sand to cover the bottom of your container.
I use the Habitrail hut things for my hamsters, But you can use almost anything.. I prefer something with a lid. For Syrians I really like the Habitrail outpost.
A jar on its side can be used.
So now that you have sand… and a litter box, all you need is a way to get your hamster to Use the Box.
This is how I do it.
After I put my hamster in a Run about ball, I pull the hamster out and put the poop into the litter pan… and, there you go. :P hard eh?
You hamster will pick up ion the scent and go to the bathroom there. If your hamster also has a specific corner where business is done, but the box there.
And after all that work, you are done =]
Twix enjoying the box:
Youll learn your hamsters will use it for other reasons too. dwarfs love sandbaths.
Thanks for looking and i hope that you leared somethign new!
