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Old 02-25-2016, 04:21 PM   #1
Sm_banks
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Default Hamster eating litter

My hamsters have started eating their litter from the litter pan. Should I put bath sand in instead or will they get the message?
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Old 02-25-2016, 04:38 PM   #2
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

Use Chinchilla sand (not dust), it's much safer and better to use for litter substrate.
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Old 02-25-2016, 05:25 PM   #3
Sm_banks
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

Well I don't have chinchilla sand, but I have kaytee bath sand, would that work?
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Old 02-25-2016, 06:01 PM   #4
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

Cypher was saying that Amazon sells Chinchilla sand, this time not a bad price $15 for a decent amount...just a FYI if needed? I'm going to order as soon as my robo dust is gone...I've have her roll 4-5 x's once every week or two for the past 7 mo, never a problem! I'm not promoting the dust tho!
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Old 02-25-2016, 08:55 PM   #5
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

The litter could cause a blockage if they eat it so do remove it, if you can't get the sand straight away just put some substrate in the litter tray instead as a temporary thing.
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Old 02-26-2016, 12:52 AM   #6
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sm_banks View Post
Well I don't have chinchilla sand, but I have kaytee bath sand, would that work?
Sounds like it may be a chinchilla sand, possibly? Do you have a link for that one or a picture? One of our American members may be familiar with it. Or know that it's too dusty. One way or the other

But like cypher said, in the meantime, just put a little substrate in their toilet dish.
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Old 02-26-2016, 12:59 AM   #7
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

Amazon.com : Kaytee Critter Bath Powder for Pets, 14 ounces : Pet Supplies
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Old 02-26-2016, 01:06 AM   #8
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

One of the reviews said the persons hamster died from using that. It's a powder, which could be the same as dust.
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Old 02-26-2016, 02:21 AM   #9
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

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Originally Posted by CMB View Post
One of the reviews said the persons hamster died from using that. It's a powder, which could be the same as dust.
A review I noticed said that it was a dust rather than a sand so I personally wouldn't use it to be on the safe side and find an alternative that actually states that it's a chinchilla sand.
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Old 02-26-2016, 02:37 AM   #10
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Default Re: Hamster eating litter

You can put all kinds of things in a litter tray, but Chinchilla sand works well for soaking up the pee and stopping it smell too much. You could use a different kind of substrate in it or just some of your usual substrate as Cypher says, but I think the litter tray would need cleaning out more often in that case. I did used to use the potty litter. Our hamster tried eating it when I first put it out, but spat it out again - he didn't try again after that, so I carried on using it for a while, but in the end I switched to Chinchilla sand as he would kick some out of the litter tray and it would get mixed in with his hoard and I thought he might accidentally eat some (if he wants to eat sand with his hoard that is up to him! I think actually he rarely eats that hoard and just hoards it but I have more peace of mind now I'm using the Chinchilla sand. It's not cheap but one of Supreme cartons lasts me a month to six weeks using it in his potty (he won't use a sand bath - kicks the sand out and replaces it with bedding lol. He tolerates the sand in his litter tray though.

I just had a look on Amazon.com and the Supreme one looks quite expensive in the US. Seems to be about $15 including postage - unless you know somewhere you can buy it cheaper. There is a Kaytee one but reviewers say it is too dusty.

Amazon.com : Supreme Petfoods Science Chinchilla Bathing Sand : Petsuppliesmisc : Pet Supplies

Some people use children's play sand but it needs baking I think.

You could try something like this paper-based unscented cat litter (Yesterday's news) - it looks very similar to the paper pellet one made by Finacard in the Uk. It's just compressed paper - non clumping. Generally cat litters aren't safe but this one looks ok and as it's a big bag it should last for ages.

Amazon.com : Yesterday's News Cat Litter, Non-Clumping, Unscented, 30-Pound Bag, Pack of 1 : Pet Litter : Pet Supplies
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