Many exotic animals can be litter box trained like an indoor cat. Most of these animals will use the litter box 100% of the time with no accidents once fully trained. Other types of exotic pets will have a few accidents and may need to have multiple boxes or newspapers to help keep accidents to a minimum. To get your pet use to the box it is very important to make sure it is large enough and filled with a safe substrate. You will also want to be sure that the litter box is secured; many animals love nothing more than to dump over their new toy onto the carpet. You will want to confine your pet to a cage, crate or small section of a room with the litter box first and foremost. This will allow your pet to be in site of the box at all times.
You should start litter training early in your pet’s life and use a box without a lid. This will encourage your pet to get right in from any angle it wants. Do not be surprised if your animal plays in the box, this is common for animals who have never seen a litter box before. Many times it is helpful to use already used litter or add feces and urine soaked newspapers to the box. This way the animal can smell the waist and will naturally be draw to it for relieving itself. Animals instinctually go to the bathroom in the same place if they can smell the waist.
Once you pet has become familiar with the box and is done exploring it, it is time to encourage use. There is no way to force your animal to use the box, but you can help your pet out. Every hour place your pet in its litter box and see if it uses it. If you pet goes to the bathroom in the box reward him or her with a treat. The reward system for using the box will definitely work well. The more that you give treats for litter box use and nothing if your pet goes elsewhere, the quicker he or she will get it. They will realize that if they use the box to go in they will be rewarded, but if they go anywhere else they get nothing. Most exotic pets are very smart and catch on very quickly. It is very possible to have your pet trained in less than a week if you spend enough time with him or her.
It is best to not use punishment methods with your exotic pets if at all possible. Nose flicking or swatting will not help train your animal to use his or her box faster. This could backfire and intimidate your pet to use other areas more frequently. If your pet is not responding quick enough, enclose them with the box in a very small space or near their food and bedding. Many animals will not use the toilet near their food or bed. This will force your pet to use the box. Once he or she has successfully used the box reward him or her so they will continue. After your pet has shown he or she will use the box most of the time you can expand the space you pet has and see if the usage continues. Remember to reward your pet when you see box use.
Many animals will find a spot the like to go to the bathroom in for a variety of reasons. It may be hidden, more protective, or a whole host of other reasons. If you find that no mater what you do your pet goes in a specific spot, place the litter box on top of that spot no matter where it is. You will find that your pet will now use the box as his or her spot. Once the animal has fully adapted to litter box use you can move the “spot” to a more suitable location. At this point the “spot” has become the box and your pet will go in it no mater where you move it. Litter box training does take time and patience, but the rewards are enormous. You will find that the time you spend helping your pet learn will make your experience with them much more enjoyable in the long run.
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