potty training

Question
One more thing, how long does it take to potty train rats?  I have a potty set out for them with different litter but they never use it. I keep some of their old droppings in it while I clean the rest of the cage.  They poop just about anywhere in the cage regardless.  It doesn't seem like you can potty train them.

Answer
The easiest way to potty train rats is to go back to square one.

For now, remove the litterbox from the cage and observe what corner of the cage they mostly use as a toilet corner.

Next, put the rats somewhere safe because you won't be able to supervise them during the cage cleaning procedure. Keep some of bedding that has their poop and pee in it. You will put that in the litterbox to encourage them to use it. Thoroughly clean the cage with hot soapy water and rinse completely. Let dry. Put Hydrogen Peroxide (first-aid type) in a spray unit and spray down the cage. This will disinfect it. Let this dry naturally. Put white vinegar in a spray unit and spray down the cage. This will deodorize the cage. Let this dry naturally. Now put the cage back together for your rats.  

If you have wood chips in the cage, put a paper litter, like Yesterday's News cat litter in the litterbox. If you have a paper product in the cage, put wood chips in the litterbox. It has to be that different for the rats to recognize it as a litterbox. Now put that old used bedding back in the litterbox.

Put the litter box in the corner of the cage that you saw them using the most as a toilet corner.

You need to be consistent and patient. Your rats are young and energetic and not yet able to stay in one spot for too long.

More on litter training rats:
http://search.sympatico.msn.ca/results.aspx?q=litter+training+rats&FORM=MSN6B&la...

spazrats
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