Keeping and raising squirrels can be interesting and fun, that is, until they start to poop everywhere. Thankfully there are ways around this, you can teach your squirrel to use a litter box. This article explores how to do this
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How to train a squirrel to use a litter box:
Squirrels in the wild poop anywhere and everywhere, this is helpful for the environment, however, squirrels pooping in your home isn’t very helpful. So, can squirrels be potty trained? Let’s explore
Can pet squirrels be potty trained?
Squirrels usually live in the wild, but, some squirrels are kept in captivity by humans if there is something wrong with the animal, or, if the owners have the appropriate permits to keep squirrels long term.
Interestingly enough, not only can squirrels be trained to perform a variety of tricks, they can be potty trained as well.
Potty training a squirrel can be easy, all you need are a few tools, some time on your part, and some effort on the squirrel’s part.
Baby squirrels 0-5 weeks old:
Baby squirrels between 0 and 5 weeks old cannot go to the bathroom on their own. Baby squirrels living in the wild need their mothers to help them go to the bathroom, the mothers do this by stimulating the baby’s genitals.
If you’re raising baby squirrels, then you’d need to stimulate their genitals to get them to go to the bathroom. Stimulate their genital area with a warm, damp, clean q tip or a warm, damp, clean cotton ball.
You can’t potty train a squirrel of this age.
Older than 5 weeks old:
Squirrels that are older than 5 weeks old can be potty trained.
When potty training your squirrel, fill a little pan (from pre-packed vegetables, not meat) using pellet litter and let them urinate and defecate in this.
You can also use unscented clumping litter in the pan and let squirrels go in it
Leave the pan in the squirrel’s cage and let them go in it, hold the pan down with a rock.
Using pellet litter is recommended because the pellets won’t harm the squirrel if it eats some during the beginning stages of learning how to potty train.
If the squirrel poops outside the pan, place the animal’s poop in the pan as often as you can.
The squirrel will notice you doing this, smell that this is where their feces is, and it will associate the litter box with going to the bathroom.
The animal may only start to develop the habit of pooping in the litter box after a little while, but with enough persistence, it should get the hang of it.
Tips:
Make sure that you clean up any stray poop that your squirrel leaves around your house, only let poop sit in the litter box.
If you leave poop everywhere, the squirrel will think that they can poop anywhere, and will happily poop everywhere.
Make sure that you acknowledge the squirrel’s good behavior when it poops in the litter box, this will help it understand that what it’s doing is correct.
Praise the squirrel when it poops in the litter box, you can also feed the animal treats as positive reinforcement but don’t overfeed the animal.
Avoid negative reinforcement, squirrels don’t understand negative reinforcement and don’t understand that doing something can be bad.
Where do squirrels go to the bathroom?
Squirrels poop often and if you don’t give them direction, they will act like they have no direction.
If you don’t potty train your squirrel, then these animals will poop anywhere and everywhere. Anywhere and everywhere can mean around your house, in your hair, on your clothes, pretty much anywhere they have access to.
If you don’t potty train your squirrel, it’s recommended that you wear a towel while you’re holding the squirrel, also, don’t wear your favorite clothes while holding them.
If you let these animals out, they will poop as they move around your house. These animals may even hang on the sides of their cages, aim at the floor, and then pee or poop right on your floor.
If you enjoyed this article then you may also be interested in other squirrel related articles. Here are some articles that you may be interested in: How To Train A Squirrel To Not Bite, Do Squirrel Grieve