How do I potty train little Maisie?

[sarah]

Little Maisie is just about settling in to her new home and proving to be a very friendly and curious hamster. I got her from Morag at Babyboos who tells me she should potty train quite well as both her parents used one. However so far she doesn't seem interested in using the potty I've provided - I would appreciate some pointers or tips.



So far I left her to wee in a corner then I introduced the potty with the hamster litter and some of the old soiled wood shavings to encourage her that she could continue using this spot. However she will then just move on to a different corner and use her potty to have her dinner in cute but also gross - sitting in her wee

[SnuggleHam]

As far as I know the best thing to do is to place the potty in the corner of her cage that shes already using as her wet spot. They say its good to put some of the hamsters dropping in there to encourage her to use it. What kind of litter are you using? I wounder if it could be that and trying something different would work. I think it just takes some time before they realize its supposed to be a potty.

[babyboos]

Welcome to the contrary world of hamsters Sarah Are you using the potty litter balls or chinchilla sand? try putting a bit of the litter in each corner and you will find she will use one more than the others and then slowly you can only put the litter in the one corner - moving it into a potty holder too eventually. Alternatively put a potty jar in each corner! Some hamsters love to eat, sleep, and, pee and poop in their potties, gross but they enjoy it

You don't need a fancy potty in each corner a jam jar will do or an empty food dish etc something heavy she can't move out the way is best.

[sarah]

Thanks for your advice. I'm using the hamster litter balls. I suppose as you say it may just take her time to realise that the structure blocking her wee corner is a potty!

Maybe the potty itself (with it's rounded edges) just aren't suitable for the corners. She is now weeing in the same corner as the potty but in the space left between the potty and the corner of the cage

I think what I'll do is get a couple of square containers and use them in a couple of corners like you suggest Babyboos - I'll leave the purple potty thing in somewhere else as she seems to like digging in it

[babyboos]

Oh I know the situation you desribe well - I have some boys (it seems to be the boys with me who are less inclined to use their potties for its proper intention) who wee beind the potty and then go in the potty to clean their paws