Litter boxes - Guinea Pig Cages, Care, Store, Photos of Guinea Pigs and More Forum!

**staphjermz** · #1 08-10-07, 04:34 am

Hi i've just started potty training my guinea pigs. So far i am having luck with my girls but not so much luck with the boys. I was just wondering what product i can use that is economical and requires less changing yet also minimises odours. At the moment, i am using newspaper but the newspaper gets soiled so quickly and i have to change it so frequently. I have tried a recycled pellet cat litter, but just curious what is the cheapest and effective option people have found out.

**PrincessAngel** · #2 08-10-07, 11:39 am

I would try layering aspen over newspaper and put hay in the box. The next time we get bedding I'm switching to aspen.But at the moment in my litter boxes it has some total comfort(not cheap) with a bunch of shreded newspaper. And all I do is change the litter boxes everyday. But I would say it would be cheaper to buy a 5 cubic foot bag of aspen for 13 dollars than any total comfort or carefresh to use just in the litter boxes and it should last a long time. Hope this helps a bit.

**envisionary333** · #3 08-10-07, 04:39 pm

Aspen is cheaper, but it has far less absorbency and odor control than Carefresh so you will have to change it more often. I've found Carefresh online selling for much less cheaper than it does in stores: Amazon.com: CareFresh Ultra Bedding (46 Quart/50 Liter Bag): Home & Garden. If you order a lot at once, you can save on shipping and always have some on hand. Personally I find Carefresh to be the most effective bedding. I can't stand newspaper because it has no absorbency, gets smelly and moldy, and has to be changed so frequently. Even if you use wood shavings, there's no need to use newspaper as well. Newspaper is not designed to hold urine, and Carefresh is made for exactly that reason. When you compare costs, factor in the amount you will spend per bedding change AND how frequently you will have to change it.

**staphjermz** · #4 08-10-07, 07:16 pm

Aspen is wood shavings? i thought shavings were bad for guinea pigs hence why i have avoided it but i have never tried it before

**PrincessAngel** · #5 08-10-07, 07:19 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by staphjermz

Aspen is wood shavings? i thought shavings were bad for guinea pigs hence why i have avoided it but i have never tried it before

Aspen is ok for piggies. It's cedar and pine thats bad for them.I've never used aspen before but like I said I'm going to try it.

**envisionary333** · #6 08-10-07, 08:13 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessAngel

I would try layering aspen over newspaper and put hay in the box.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that it's really bad to use hay in the litter box. Hay doesn't absorb and can get quite smelly/moldy when covered in urine. It would be very unsanitary for your piggies to pee in it then decide to have a snack. Not only that, but the hay can be quite sharp and hazardous if your piggies it constantly using it as a potty. I think newspaper and hay are among the least absorbent bedding materials available, so I don't recommend them unless you plan on changing it at least once a day, if not more.

**PrincessAngel** · #7 08-10-07, 09:03 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by envisionary333

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that it's really bad to use hay in the litter box. Hay doesn't absorb and can get quite smelly/moldy when covered in urine. It would be very unsanitary for your piggies to pee in it then decide to have a snack. Not only that, but the hay can be quite sharp and hazardous if your piggies it constantly using it as a potty. I think newspaper and hay are among the least absorbent bedding materials available, so I don't recommend them unless you plan on changing it at least once a day, if not more.

The hay is to draw them to the litter box so they have a reason to be there.I didn't mean put it right over it I ment just to put some in there. I use newspaper and some bedding in my boxes at the moment and change the boxes everyday. And the pigs wont eat the hay they pee on, or atleast mine don't.

**envisionary333** · #8 08-10-07, 10:31 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrincessAngel

The hay is to draw them to the litter box so they have a reason to be there.

OK, that makes sense. I have my hay in hay racks and that's where I keep the Carefresh too since they go there the most! They seem to enjoy eating and going to the bathroom in the same place, at the same time. Yuck! They could really learn a few lessons from my rats, they are so much cleaner!

**PrincessAngel** · #9 08-10-07, 10:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by envisionary333

OK, that makes sense. I have my hay in hay racks and that's where I keep the Carefresh too since they go there the most! They seem to enjoy eating and going to the bathroom in the same place, at the same time. Yuck! They could really learn a few lessons from my rats, they are so much cleaner!

.There's only one litter box in my cage that has a hay rack.It's the biggest in the cage. All my other litter boxes (4 others) have a pile of hay in the corner they don't go on.My pigs don't eat the same time the go to the bathroom but they do sleep in the litter boxes.