Potty Training Rats

[ClarkT]

I read a thread quite a while ago about keeping a rat setup less expensive. Part of it was that only 1/3 or 1/2 of the bedding was vacuumed out every week. they then pointed out that the rats would only poop and pee on the dirty bedding side... Any information on this? I can't seem to find the thread.

Thanks in advance.

[wolfy-hound]

I don't know, but my rats are pretty indiscriminate about where they poo and pee. The 1.3 asf I have in a 10g tank use a small plastic cup as a bathroom, and I can clean it every few days and the tank stays clean. Haven't had any of the regular rats do that.

[ClarkT]

I was kind of wondering if it was about ASFs that I read... wish I could find the thread...

[satomi325]

Yes. Regular Norway rats can definitely be potty trained.
If you keep moving their poo to a designated side or litter pan, they will catch on and start using the bathroom in that one spot. And when you change bedding/litter, make sure to leave some of the soiled bedding behind in your chosen potty spot. You can stop the last step once you're sure they understand.

I've successfully trained rats to use a litter pan. Litter training is fairly common among fancy rat breeders and owners.

[luvmyballs]

I learned the hard way by putting a food bowl in with my asf they would poop and pee in it. Now I use a hopper and let them go in the bowl.

[Scubaf250]

That's intense! I was always told that rats couldn't control their bladder so their just kind of went wherever there were



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[RichsBallPythons]

Norway rats are almost impossible to train for pee/poop. As males will consistently drag their junk and pee almost non stop marking their territory.

And they poop non stop as well. If this is needed as for pet purposes and not breeding it MIGHT be feesable with just a few, But when you have hundreds in production its pointless. Time is money and wasting the time to save $ on $4 bag of pine bedding isnt really worth my time.

[Michelle.C]

Norway rats are quite easy to litter train. I use super pet litter balls and place a pan in a low traffic corner. Place all poos in the litter pan and keep the rest of the cage spotless, let the litter pan get a little rank though.

First though, you will need to change their main bedding to fleece or something else. They need to understand their main bedding is not the texture to go to the bathroom on, but that the litter in the pan is what they are supposed to use.

Example: Main "sleeping" bedding is fleece, litter box contains super pet litter balls with a sprinkle of aspen/pine. They are used to defecating on the aspen/pine, so it will make things easier.

Males will mark with their urine, but most of their business (besides marking and the occasional accidents) will go into the litter pan. I have litter trained probably a hundred rats doing this. Usually they take two or so weeks. I have only had a few that refused to completely litter train.