Skip to main content

Now is the time to potty train your hamster — here’s how

Can you potty-train a hamster? As it turns out, you can, and it’s not a complicated process. Hamsters are generally clean animals, and many hamsters prefer to designate an area of their cage as a bathroom and stick to the same spot. In this case, all you need to do is teach them to use their new litter box in place of the floor of their cage. However, some hamsters are less finicky about where they do their business, and they’ll need a bit more training.

Potty training your hamster keeps his waste concentrated in one area, cuts down on the ammonia smell, and makes cleaning his cage much easier. If you’ve ever wondered how to potty-train a hamster, you’re in the right place. We’ll walk you through the equipment you’ll need and share some of our favorite tips for potty training your hamster. 

A brown hamster chewing a treat.
Ellie Burgin from Pexels

What you’ll need

Good news: You won’t need much in the way of equipment to potty-train your hamster, and nothing you need is that expensive:

  • A container that fits in your hamster’s cage: Pet supply shops and online stores sell a variety of suitable products. There are triangular containers that will work perfectly if your hamster prefers doing his business in the corner. If not, a square or rectangular container will do the job. 
  • Litter: Options include wood pellets, paper pellets, sand, or a mixture of two forms. We recommend sand because it clumps when wet, making it easier to scoop out and dispose of when cleaning your hamster’s litter box. However, wood and paper pellets provide more odor control, making them ideal if you prefer not to scoop the litter box daily. Note: Because hamsters have delicate respiratory tracts, you should use only dust-free, unscented products. If you have trouble finding suitable litter for hamsters, you can use fragrance-free, dust-free cat litter but avoid brands with silica.
Skitterphoto from Pexels

Potty training your hamster

If you’re working with a new furry friend in a brand-new cage, you might want to wait awhile to see where your hamster prefers relieving himself. Once you’ve discovered your hamster’s favorite spot, clean the cage thoroughly, setting aside some of the soiled lining from the cage, and put the new litter box in place

After filling the container with litter, add some of the soiled lining you set aside earlier. Ideally, once your hamster adjusts to the addition of a litter box in his cage, he’ll be much more inclined to use it because it still smells like his designated potty space. It may not happen overnight, but your hamster will begin to recognize his scent and equate the litter box with using the bathroom. 

What to do if your hamster is stubborn

OK, you’ve done everything right, and your hamster still potties everywhere except his litter box. What now? Relax — it’s not your fault. If you’re working with an older hamster, you’ll have a more difficult time persuading him to change his habits now than you would if you had a young hamster. One thing that might help is relocating the litter box to another corner of the cage. 

Keep an eye on your hamster’s behavior. If he uses his litter box to stash food, treats, or toys, he could be trying to tell you the cage is too small for his liking. Some hamsters will even sleep in their litter box at first. If your hamster’s cage is large enough, consider investing in a new bed for him. 

Lining your hamster’s cage with white bedding helps you spot oopsies that happen outside the litter box. Clean them as soon as possible to reduce their attractiveness to your furry friend. If you catch your hamster using the potty outside his litter box, quickly relocate him to show him where to go. With time and patience, your hamster will use his litter box as his designated potty. 

Training is a process, but with diligence, you can teach your hamster to use a litter box. As long as you scoop daily, you should change out the litter box and give it a quick wash every one to three weeks. Keep the cage fresh, make sure your hamster has room to play and sleep, and you’ll have a happy hamster and a cage that’s easy to clean. 

Editors' Recommendations

Mary Johnson
Contributor
Mary Johnson is a writer and photographer from New Orleans, Louisiana. Her work has been published in PawTracks and…
This is the ultimate week-by-week puppy training schedule every new pet parent needs
A puppy training schedule to follow
Woman feeds a puppy as the pup gives her his paw

When you first bring home a new puppy, you’ll have so many firsts to look forward to. Some milestones — the first accident, for example — aren’t quite as cute as the others, so that’s why you’ll want to start training with your pup as soon as possible. Understanding puppy training stages will help you break down all your goals into realistic steps, making you and your new best friend more likely to succeed.
Remember, training your pup is just one important aspect of their well-being. Ensure you’re taking care of their diet, health, and happiness, too. Good luck and keep reading to learn about a puppy training schedule.

Here's your ideal puppy training schedule for puppies 8 weeks of age and younger
It’s important to establish a routine as soon as you bring your puppy home. Not only will this ensure that you and your pup have every need met, but it also will let your new dog become more familiar with their environment. As dog trainer Ken McCann said in his YouTube video guide for puppy training, “You’ll be setting them up for success,” especially in potty training. Make sure to supervise while they're outside, too.
Here's another idea: Luring your new pup to you with a delicious treat is a great first step toward bonding and training. At this point, they're working purely on instinct, but they're learning the reward value of treats as well as a praise word — something like “yes” or “good” to let them know they're doing well. Make sure to use this word as you continue training!
This also gets your pup used to working for a treat, which builds motivation and confidence. Negative reinforcement won’t teach anything but a feeling of unease at this age, so it’s a good idea to focus on rewards instead (and always). Now that they know that following you gets that reward, they'll soon be ready to move on to the next stage.

Read more
Where to put a dog crate in your house depends on these important factors
Know exactly where to place a dog crate to keep your pet safe, secure, and happy at home
Dog looking through black dog crate

Dogs like to sleep in so many places: in your bed, in their own bed, on a sunny spot on the floor, and in their dog crate, to name a few. But that's not the only thing a crate is helpful for. It can keep your canine friend out of mischief and give you peace of mind when you're out of the house. A dog crate should ideally be a place of security and comfort for your pup (and it can be even better if you personalize it for their own unique needs). Of course, this raises the question of where to put a dog crate.

Have you been Googling something like, "Where to put dog crate?" We've got you covered! Always remember that a dog crate is supposed to create a safe space for your pet, while also assisting in their training, so the way you utilize that space in your home is essential for both of you.

Read more
Does your dog drink a lot of water? Here’s when you should be concerned
Is your dog thirstier than usual? This could be the reason why
A pug drinking water from a sink faucet

Ensuring your furry best friend gets plenty of water is one of the most important parts of being a pet parent. But how much water should your dog drink on a daily basis? Veterinarians claim the general rule of thumb is a simple equation: The majority of dogs require around 1/2 to 1 ounce (about 1/8 of a cup) of water per pound of body weight each day. Don't want to reach for your measuring cup? Make sure your pup has round-the-clock access to clean water, and everything should be fine.

That being said, if your dog empties their water bowl several times a day, or you notice their intake has increased drastically, you should probably keep a close eye on things. If your dog drinks a lot of water, you may be wondering, "Why is my dog always thirsty?" We'll share how to monitor your pup's water intake, the most common reasons your dog may be thirsty, and when you should speak with your vet.

Read more