If I want to train my rats to use a litter box, can I put CAT litter in it?

Question

or is that bad for them somehow. thank you.

Answer 1

No self respecting rodent would want to excrete in a container of feline scented litter. Your best bet is to have them decide the location of the rat crapper and their own odor will make it a permanent locale. All you do is provide the "Charmin".

Answer 2

NO! Most cat litters are not digestable, and rats WILL nibble on it. Most are also HIGHLY dusty and will irritate their respiratory systems.

In order to litter train rats, you do NOT need any special litter. You don't even need a litter box, necessarily.

Most small animals, including rats, have a natural instinct to keep all their waste to one spot so that it is harder for predators to find them. In captivity, rats should still have some of these instincts, and will prefer one part of the cage to go in.

Identify their most regularily use spot, and put a litter box there. Use the same litter that is in their cage, it doesn't matter. Two or more times every day, go through their cage, and collect all the p**p outside of the litter box, and move in inside. Pee is a bit harder since you can't see it, so you can just put some pee-soaked bedding into the litter box. Even if you didn't have a litter box, or different litter, doing this will help them use that corner regardless.

The point is that they will catch on that their waste goes in that box, and will use it more. You should empty the litter box when it gets discusting, and change into fresh bedding, but keep a little bit of their old waste in there at all times.

And by the way, they will never use it 100% of the time. And you really have to stick to moving their waste into the litter box -every single day-. There is no point in which they suddenly will only use the box, you keep having to encourage them :)

Answer 3

Absolutely not, unless it's Yesterday's News. Most cat litters are far too dusty, and many have chemicals in them. Rats have a tendency to 'taste' many things, and cat litter could cause many health problems.

Answer 4

I have rabbits and have a litter tray for them and i use cat litter so there cant be any difference for a rat surely

Answer 5

The only cat litter that I would say is safe to use would be a 100% recycled paper one.

Lots of cat litters are "paper based" but contain clay and other harmful ingrediants.

Stay away from wood (pine for example can be toxic to rats) or anything dusty that could cause breathing problems.

Remember that when you first put it into the cage the rats will more than likely have a chew at it and even eat some of it (I know my rats do!)

A good pet store should be able to show you a rat friendly litter that is dust free and digestable.

Answer 6

Think you should use a product that is made specifically for small animals.  I also read to use a different type for the bedding and the litter, so they will know there is a difference.