Bedding in cage

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ryderjb

Member
Joined
Sep 29, 2008
Messages
10
Location
Guelph
Hey everyone,

I've been reading a bunch of mixed things on the forum over what to use as bedding for my ratties. What does everyone think is best? I've been looking at some of jorats videos on you tube and it appears that there isn't even any bedding on the bottom of the cage. It looks like carpet or fabric of some kind. Do you 'potty train' the rats?

If there is already a long extensive thread about this issue, I'm sorry to start another one. If someone could direct me to the resource, that would be fantastic. Thanks a lot for any and all help.

At the moment, I've bought some "Boxo" which is recycled boxes that is made into rodent bedding. It looks like the best option for a spreadable bedding, but I would also be interested in learning more about not having a bedding at all (if it is possible and healthy for my ratties).

Thanks!!
Ryder
 
Aspen chips hands down baby.

I've never heard of Boxo, all I can say is that some types of recycled bedding can be very dusty which isn't good for their lungs, so test it out and see.

I think Jo's said that hers are almost completely litter trained? When I had boys, I litter trained them. They learn to poop in their litter box but they'll still mark, even females (in my experience anyway). I personally prefer shavings rather than fabric and so do my girls- they like to dig.
 
we use fleece (from the dollerstore) it cuts down on waste. also because our girls are very messy. the fleece is washable.. and thru lots of experiments and help from the peeps here, adding about a cup of vinegar to the wash with soap cuts the smell. we put in several "triangle" plastic litter boxes and use yesterdays news for that. we have a double fn so we use one litter pan per floor. we just got one more extention..so we will add 2 more .
it is very easy to litter train them. put the litter pans in ... and whenever you notice a poopie, just put the poopie in the pan. after a few days they will have prolly caught on. ours did.. we still find poopies elsewhere occasionally (usually when i let the pans go for more than a day). and they do scent drop the fleece .. but its still less mess.
also after the fleece gets too rattie to lay down (too many holes).. we cut it up and give it to them as blankes. they just love it.
 
The only things to stay far far away from are pine and cedar. The rest, it's really a matter of personal taste. Although some stuff can be dusty so you just have to look out for that. I've tried aspen and carefresh and I found it dusty but lots of people use it and their rats are perfectly fine with it. The boxo looks ok too. I saw it the other day in Pet Valu. Having the amount of rats I have, it would be too expensive. The fleece, it's really for ease of use and low cost.
 
a lot of great information, thanks a lot everyone.

i'm really happy i found this website.. everyone is so nice and helpful!

now i'm torn on whether i should use the 'boxo' i have or just start with fleece. it sounds like fleece will eventually be the most environmentally friendly, so perhaps it would be best to start with this so my ratties don't get confused once my boxo runs out :)

also, you mentioned a "triangle" plastic litter box? is this rat specific? is it the type of thing that you can pick up at your local pet store or does it have to be ordered online?
 
It's good to see someone who really cares and is doing as much research as possible before getting their rats. :)

Don't get rid of the boxo- you'll need something other than fleece still to put in the litter boxes. They make "small animal" litter boxes but most are too small. Triangle save space but it really doesn't matter which you get. :p I think they have larger triangle ones in the small pet section. From what I've seen at pet stores, you can get the same thing in the cat section for a third of the price you can in the small pet section... so check both just in case. :)
 
I don't use the triangle litter box, I use the small kitten litter box. You can put your boxo in the litter pan. You really need something that absorbs odour somewhere in the cage. I use Yesterday's News in my litter pans.
If you are adopting babies, be aware babies are poop machines, so you might want to start with lots of litter at the bottom of the cage. It can get stinky with babies.
 
There're other brands than that and different sizes, it doesn't matter which you get. :giggle: They're all just plastic boxes in the end.. :wink:
 
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