[Lovethathog14]

My hedgie Julian is worrying me. He was neglected by his earlier owners and was bought at a pet store (I've heard this is bad?). Whenever i get him out - he gets very cautious and scared. He pees and poops on -EVERYTHING-. I got him about 3 months back in August, and have been told that hedgehogs would be calm by now. I hold him every day for at least 30 minutes- and feed him everyday. I keep his cage fairly clean and love him. Is it the way I hold him? Do we need more bonding time? (also - bonding ideas) How do I "Potty Train' my baby Julian? He has a litter box in his cage. I'm sorry.I've never had a hedgehog before and I'm not sure how other hedgies behave. Please help. I am on the verge of giving him a better home

Thank you everyone

 

[krbshappy71]

There are lots of articles on here regarding your concerns. I can give some tips but the care sheets and searching the forum will probably be the most helpful for you.

Regarding litter box training, not all hedgies take to it. Just like dogs and housebreaking, some are faster than others to learn it and some just don't do it as consistently as we would like. One of mine only uses his wheel which is great for cleanup and one of them leaves pellets all around. I just clean up the pellets, its part of owning an animal and takes very little time. (I use a tissue and do a quick pick-up of pellets in the morning when grabbing their wheels to be washed)

Regarding bonding, keep it up! You can do it! I believe being consistent and gentle is the key. Just holding them on your lap with a blanket while watching tv helps them get used to your smell and the fact that you aren't there to harm them. They may always startle when first woken up, don't worry about that, just scoop him up gently and cuddle. Or, if he's squirmy, lay on the floor with him in a hedgie-safe room and watch him explore. (I like small-critter playpen panels for this) It doesn't sound like he's a biter, so that is a positive thing. Some hedgehogs take longer than others and just like a dog that was neglected this one may take longer to trust if he wasn't cared for properly previously. Also, like dogs, some never entirely trust again but we have to love them and show them we are trustworthy anyhow. I would give it some more time.

 

[Lovethathog14]

Thank you so much He is not a biter, but has bit me once (it was my fault). I have a room that is quite specially made for him (spoiled ).

 

[anna m]

Sounds good advice here
My hedgehog I got from a shop. He was in a hissy ball for 2 months
He is so sweet now though
Just hold him and he will get used to you
I think they do it in stages
As already said, they don't really get litter trained, although mine doesn't poo on me too often now

 

[Lovethathog14]

Thanks -
I was realy worried about him, I'm glad he's not too weird Man, hedgehog poops are disgusting...

 

[LarryT]

Thanks -
I was realy worried about him, I'm glad he's not too weird Man, hedgehog poops are disgusting...

:lol: the pooping never stops so you better get use to it :lol:

 

[strawberryfields]

Don't worry, he's a perfectly normal little hedgie. Some hedgehogs will be that cautious even if they come from an excellent breeder who handled them every day. By nature, they're pretty shy animals and it can take some time for them to warm up to you. It all depends on the individual hedgehog, and probably has little to do with how you're treating him. I've even seen people say that they had their hedgehog for up to a year before the hedgehog learned to trust them, which is not typical, but still nothing to really worry about. So don't fret, he's okay!

Bonding is also dependent on the hedgie, but if he's very scared whenever you try to hold him, just take things slow. Before even picking him up out of the cage, try stroking him and talking gently to him. My own little baby is normally very sweet, but is quilling right now and is the grumpiest little thing ever. :lol: Nevertheless he will come around if I talk to him for a minute. Then it's a good idea to just hold him on your lap while you work on the computer or watch TV, or just lay on the floor and let him explore on you. Both of these will let you spend time with him while he also gets to know your scent.

Have you tried putting a worn article of your clothing in his cage for him to snuggle with? If you sleep with a shirt on, or even just put a piece of fleece inside your shirt and sleep with it for a night, you can put it in the hedgie's cage and it will help them get to know and trust your scent much faster.

As for the pooping... They are poop machines, and that's about all there is to it. :lol: Usually if you wake your hedgie up, they're going to go to the bathroom (a LOT) within the next ten minutes or so. Just keep something nearby to clean up, or keep him near the cage while you're first playing with him and then put him in his litter box when he starts to "go." That might help him take to the litter box as well, although some hedgehogs never will.

 

[smhufflepuff]

One of mine only uses his wheel which is great for cleanup and one of them leaves pellets all around. I just clean up the pellets, its part of owning an animal and takes very little time. (I use a tissue and do a quick pick-up of pellets in the morning when grabbing their wheels to be washed)

Yours makes pellets? Mine makes LOGS :lol:

Just keep something nearby to clean up, or keep him near the cage while you're first playing with him and then put him in his litter box when he starts to "go."

You'll want to try to catch it before he's mid-poop. Look for him to assume "the stance..." standing there all tall, legs spread apart, and pointy bottom. Seeing his little tail pop up is an excellent sign of impending poo.

About him peeing and pooping on everything... do you mean inside his cage or on you/outside his cage?

If it's outside, I'll tell you what I've done with my hedgie that pretty much solved that. After I get her up for evening playtime, I bring out her litterbox and hedgiewipes (babywipes). Then she runs from one of my hands to the next... like a treadmill/improvised wheel... until she's ready to do her business. In the beginning, I used to set her in the litter box to go, but then she'd un-point her tail and stop the process, so now we just hold her over the litter box and she makes pee and a few poops. Once she's "empty," we can safely play for about an hour. I'll readily admit that holding your hedgie while s/he poops and pees is... oh... a little weird. But it's come in handy. She now can use the human toilet... which she does each morning before footbath time. And whenever I've needed to take in a sample of either substance to the vet, all I have to do is do the treadmill thing and hold her over a clean jar.