Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / May 2005

All rats are different as with humans. Some are meticulous while others are
slobs. In my group of 7, 5 uses the litter boxes. The other two will go
where they want to and when they want to. I only have one that will poop
outside the cage, the others will go back in to poop. If you have males,
chances are they will always pee everywhere, some females do this too.
When they pee, they are communicating. In that pee, the other rats will know
who was there, the rat that peed will recognize that he was there before and
so it's a safe place to go back.

When I first got my rats, I got litterboxes and was convinced I'd train them
to go in there.  HAH.  Admittedly on my part I did not invest the time or
patience to really train them.  So, that said, many times they go where they
please in the cage, but I do notice it tends to usually be in one corner, so
they are somewhat controlled that way.  The way my house it configured (and
also with 5 cats) when the rats have their out-time, they do not have access
to their cage.  They run around in my bathroom.  Usually, they do not go
when out, even though I provide them a litter box.  Only when I'm doing the
"big clean" of the cage which takes over an hour do they sometimes go when
out.

Maggie, my only girl especially does not like to pee when out of the cage -
I can almost tell when she has to go, so I put her back in.

That said... they ALL mark (even Maggie who is the worst) which is leaving
little drops of pee absolutely everywhere and ESPECIALLY all over me when
they're out.  I take it as a sign of affection, but still... it does limit
where they can go!  Most of the time if I have them on my bed I have to use
a special covering over the bed and towels for them to hide in.  Sometimes
they just get marking-happy and go nuts.  For months I've been trying to
make a prototype for a rattie-diaper, but all attempts have failed
miserably.

Meghan

Even with all 9 of my girls out at the same time, I never find evidence of
them pooping or peeing while out of the cage for an hour at a time.  Of
course they leave little pee drops around to mark where they've been, bu I
don't count that.  With the boys it's pretty much the same... but with an
odd poop here or there.  This has always amazed me.  MInd you  I'm NOT
complaining!

Julia
and the Mischief Makers

It varies from rat to rat.  Out of all the rats I have had only one ran back
to the cage during out time for poops AND pees.  Most have not pooped during
free range time, but Max, who I still have, is a little pooping machine.
It's a very rare occurence for him not to do his business when out of his
cage, I swear he saves it up especially!  They all pee anywhere (apart from
the rat I already mentioned who was a little treasure and would dash back to
the cage to relieve himself).

In the cage they all took to using the litter tray nicely and I didn't have
to train them either, but this is only used for No.2's - they will piddle
anywhere.  Before I introduced a litter tray the rats seemed to chose one
corner of the cage to do their pooping in, even Max who I sure wish would
stick to one corner when out of the cage!

Tracey

(original post snipped)

Thanks for your replies. :-)

Litter boxes have been mentioned - is there special rattie litter stuff
that needs to go in one, just like cats have, or is it just a particular
tray / box that the rats know to use for pooping in, etc?

Cheers,
Dave