Eating in the litterbox

Question
I have 2 female dumbo rats. They are sisters and about 7 months old. They are exceptionally friendly and well adjusted, but one of the two (Ella) has developed some interesting habits recently. I know that some rats horde food, and in the last couple months, Ella has started to clear out the food bowl and transfer the pieces elsewhere. When its to a cage corner, that seems normal, but now she's started to transfer the food right to the litter box... even if there are droppings in it! She doesn't do this all the time, but several times a week at least. She's also now taken to eating both regular food and treats while sitting in the litter box. There are lots of hidden corners and secure places to hide, so I guess I'm just curious as to what might be going on. It's not a problem, just a funny habit we'd like to understand better! Thanks for your time!

Answer
Hi Samantha

Basically, Ella doesnt care if there are droppings in the litter box. She is just as happy to sleep on them as she is to lay on them. Every rat is different. I have rats that will take their droppings out of the litter box and toss them through the cage bars so there is no poop in the cage at all.  

Its just part of her personality. Look for something new and unusual to happen again soon. I have a feeling she will have more interesting habits to confuse you with later on down the road.