Potty training is a significant responsibility of pet owners, whether your pet is a dog, cat, or hamster. Successful potty training makes life much more convenient for you and your fur friend. So how do you potty train a Syrian hamster?
To potty train a Syrian hamster, ensure you have the right equipment. You can choose between a DIY potty or toilet and a store-bought one. You also need a potty substrate, such as sand or DIY paper pellet litter, and place it with the toilet inside your hamster’s cage. Lastly, establish the habit.
Many would find potty training a tedious process. It can take time and effort and require patience and a good attitude. In this article, I’ll guide you through the potty training process to make it smoother and quicker than it should be.
1. Choose a Potty or Toilet for Your Hamster
The first step to potty training a hamster is to choose the potty or toilet, a container that will hold the potty substrate and waste.
Picking the correct potty is essential for potty training because if the one you chose isn’t convenient or suited for your hamster, your pet won’t do its business in it and will make a mess everywhere. Also, while getting a container, ensure you get a scoop for grabbing pee clumps and droppings.
When choosing a potty for your hamster, you need to decide first whether you will DIY it or buy one from the pet store. Thus, here’s an overview of each type to help you decide better.
DIY Hamster Potty/Toilet
You can repurpose certain household items into a potty or toilet for your hammy. Depending on the material, you may have to do a bit of art and crafts, but it’s worth the extra effort for many because you don’t have to spend anymore.
Here are some materials you can use as a hamster potty:
| Material | Need Modification? | Notes |
| Glass/Ceramic (e.g., bowls, dishes, jars) | No | > It must be cleaned and dried before use. > It must not be too fragile or easy to break. > Glass may be harder to repurpose because it’s difficult to put holes on the sides for entrances. |
| Plastic Containers/Tupperware | It depends on the height. If it’s too high, you must cut a hole on the side that will serve as an entrance for the hamster (make sure the hole has no sharp edges). | > It’s best to use plastic containers that are taller than your hamster and have a lid. In this way, you can keep the lid closed, put a hole or entrance on the side, and it will be like a mini-bathroom for your furry friend. > If the container is too shallow, shutting it with a lid may not be feasible. > Your hamster may chew on the plastic. If they do, replace it immediately with another one. |
| Cardboard box | It depends on the height. Usually, cardboard boxes, like those for tissues, are shallow enough for the hamster to climb in. But if yours isn’t, you must make an entrance for them. | > Tissue boxes are a great hack for those who need temporary toilets for their hamsters because there’s a ready-made hole in the center for them to do their business on. > These potty containers are only good temporarily as, over time, they absorb liquids such as pee, and deteriorate rapidly as they do so. Thus, you’re forced to replace them often, which isn’t practical. |
Store-Bought Hamster Potty or Toilet
Many pet stores sell potties or toilets for various animals. For hamsters, there are usually two types being sold: rectangular and triangular.
While the rectangle looks standard, triangular potties are great for corners, so you should consider that.
Some containers also come with a lid. These are great for keeping the foul odor from spreading and making the hammy feel secure. That’s also why I recommended plastic containers with covers for the DIY toilet options.
DIY vs. Store-Bought Toilet
It’s clear that you have many options for your hamster potty or toilet. Which one you’ll choose is really up to your preference, but here’s a summary of the pros and cons of DIY and store-bought potties to help you decide:
| DIY | Store-Bought | |
| Pros | > Cheaper > Repurposes unused containers | > Durable > Hamster-safe material. > May come with a scoop |
| Cons | > Less durable (especially cardboards). > Not sure if materials are hamster-safe (especially if yours tries to chew on them). > May need a bit of effort to repurpose as a potty | > Expensive |
2. Acquire Potty Substrate
If you’re familiar with the concept of cat litter, then a hamster potty substrate is similar to that.
However, you must note that you cannot use kitty litter for hamsters because those mixtures contain materials, such as silica dust, that are toxic to these animals and will cause breathing problems. The same reasoning goes for why you can’t use scented and dusty substrates for your hammies.
Thus, stick to these choices when looking for a hammy potty substrate:
- Sand: This is a common choice, as it’s cheaper, easier to find, and clumps better. However, they don’t dissipate odor too well. Moreover, your Syrian hamster might try to roll in it because some hamsters like to bathe in the sand.
- Pellets: Pellets may be made from wood, paper, or grass. They’re not as affordable as sand or clumps as good, but they’re an excellent choice if you don’t want pee to stink up your hamster’s cage.
- DIY paper pellet litter: You can strip and tear clean, uninked paper and use them as a potty substrate for your hammy. They’re great for absorbing liquids but not ideal for non-daily cleaning schedules.
- Hamster-safe potty training litter: Hamster-safe litter materials are sold at pet stores. They might be the superior option as they’re good at clumping and dissipating odor.
- Litter pearls: These highly absorbent, pearl-shaped substrates are made especially for small critters like hamsters.
3. Place the Potty With Substrate Inside the Cage
A key to successful potty training is picking the right location to set down your hamster’s potty.
Usually, there’s a trick to that: observe where your hammy usually pees or where you find their urine and droppings often. They tend to designate an area for waste, so putting the potty in that area will align with their natural habits or inclinations.
Once you’ve identified that spot, set down your potty with the substrate. With a scoop, grab some of their pee-clumped bedding or droppings and place them in the container with fresh substrate. Hopefully, the scent will guide them toward the potty and encourage them to pee or defecate in that space.
If your hammy is an anxious baby, move the potty nearer to its comfort zone, like the sleeping or eating areas. It may not be keen to use potties that are too far from its safe space, so putting the container nearer to them may encourage them to use it.
4. Establish the Habit
Once the potty and substrate are stationed and ready, the work begins. Observe if your Syrian hamster uses the potty or not.
If they don’t approach or notice it, you could try putting them in the potty to initiate curiosity, but you shouldn’t force them to stay there. Moreover, observe if they have another peeing spot you missed. If there is, try placing a potty there to see if that solves the issue.
If you notice your hamster urinating using the potty, that’s a good sign. Getting them to urinate in one spot is much easier than pooping because the latter happens randomly. Thus, if they’re not defecating in the potty, don’t get overly stressed about it.
You can also clean the potty more often. The neater and fresher the substrate looks, the more likely your hamster will use it. Thus, every after they do their business, spot clean as soon as possible.
Moreover, keep an eye out if they’re trying to eat either the potty or the substrate. When they do, make sure to stop them and replace the material with something that’s less tempting for them to eat. That may take time, trial, and error, but it’s better than catching your fur friend sick from eating what they shouldn’t.
Final Thoughts
Potty training your Syrian hamster effectively involves choosing the equipment, potty location, and timeline according to the creature’s preference. There should be no forcing it, as it will only make the process harder and longer for both of you. Thus, be patient and have the right attitude for the journey.