[hrmomof3]

My family just got a 1 year old little girl hedgie for Christmas. Prickles seems to be doing well and adjusting to all our sounds but, I have noticed that she goes potty EVERY time I wake her up and take her out for play time. I have a litter box with some of her droppings in it to help encourage her to use it but I am sure she only goes when it is play time out side of her cage. Does this get better as she gets older and use to her new home or is this normal?

Thanks!

 

[LizardGirl]

Most hedgehogs will not learn to use a litter box. If she does, you are lucky! As for going on people, some just do that. When they get older they can control themselves a bit better.

 

[hrmomof3]

REally? I know I read either in one of the books or on another thread somewhere that if you put a litter box in there cage they will use it. I know it takes longer than a week for her to get it figured out but, I guess my issue is more that she seems to ONLY go when taken out.

 

[Gnarly]

Some hedgehogs will use a litter box, but they are the minority. Most will go on their wheels, many will go where ever they please and the remainder may go in a litter box.
If there is a corner, or area of the cage your hedgehog prefers to eliminate, place the litter box in that place, to encourage it's use.

Are you finding any feces at all in her cage? If so she is going in her cage.

Many hedgehogs will continue to eliminate on their human counter parts, it's a normal part of hedgehog life. While some grow out of this with age, or cut back, others will just go when and where they please. Keep extra paper towels on hand, and expect to get pooped on

 

[Jen]

Funny, I just received a hedgehog yesterday and put in her litter box last night. She's since, been using it - just as the hedgehog before her.

 

[Zalea]

Try waking her up then putting her back in the cage for a few minutes so she has the opportunity to go potty before playtime. Hedgies often have to go to the bathroom when they wake up, like people do.
They also tend to potty when they're active, because they can't hold it when they're moving quickly--which is why they potty in the wheel while they're running.
My hedgie won't use the "litter pan" I put in for him, but he will use a certain area...where I can't fit the litter pan, of course (directly behind the wheel). So I put a paper towel back there for easier clean up, and he will use that.
It really sounds like yours just does her business when she wakes up and starts running around, though. I would try waking her up then letting her stay in the cage for a few minutes and see if that helps.

 

[Gnarly]

Funny, I just received a hedgehog yesterday and put in her litter box last night. She's since, been using it - just as the hedgehog before her.

Lucky you.
Out of my eight hedgehogs, there is only one I would consider "litter trained". The rest will use the box, but also other parts of their cages, and their wheels.

 

[Nancy]

Of our 30ish, there are 3 that use their litter box most of the time. I've had numerous that as babies became fully trained but by the time they were a year old the concept of a litter box totally left them. :lol:

 

[Jen]

Funny, I just received a hedgehog yesterday and put in her litter box last night. She's since, been using it - just as the hedgehog before her.

Lucky you.
Out of my eight hedgehogs, there is only one I would consider "litter trained". The rest will use the box, but also other parts of their cages, and their wheels.

Jesus! And here, I thought, that it was relatively common.