One way that pet owners love to keep their household clean and tidy is to train their pets to use a litter box. Those who own a sugar glider may wonder if it’s possible to train them to use a litter box, too.
The short answer is not entirely. Unlike cats, sugar gliders will relieve themselves anywhere they want. Though there are a few key areas where they typically refuse to go to the bathroom. Sugar gliders will avoid urinating and defecating in areas where they sleep, play, and eat.
Knowing this, it’s possible to make an area in their cage where they typically use the bathroom. That area can become a sort of litter box.
Can You Use Cat Litter For Sugar Gliders?
One way that some glider owners may want to line their cages for their gliders is cat litter. However, cat litter is not safe for a sugar glider. Cat litter may seem soft but because it’s made up of small pebbles, the sugar glider will likely try and eat it.
Even if you place cat litter on the bottom of your cage that’s lined, the fumes and dust of the cat litter can have a negative impact on your sugar glider. For one, the dust may make them feel ill. It may even give them respiratory problems.
To ensure your glider stays healthy, you should either use fleece, newspaper, or puppy pads to line to your cage.
Can You Potty Train Sugar Gliders?
You may be able to train a dog to tell you that it needs to go outside. Your cat will instinctively use a litter box once introduced. Your sugar glider, on the other hand, isn’t capable of traditional potty training.
This is partly because sugar gliders are relatively new to being domesticated. They haven’t developed the centuries’ worth of knowledge and obedience that other pets have. Yet it is possible to help encourage them to use the potty in certain areas and during certain periods.
A sugar glider will typically use the bathroom upon first waking up and after eating food. Taking the time to learn their patterns can help you train them to use certain areas of the cage and at certain times.
One method is to use unscented wet wipes. By having them defecate or pee in a certain part of their cage, they’re less likely to sleep in that area. Instead, that area will be used to use the bathroom only.
How To Potty Train A Sugar Glider
There’s a pretty easy process you can utilize to properly train your sugar glider to use the bathroom where you want them to. Here’s a step-by-step process to follow. You can also learn more by watching this video.
1. Retrieve Sugar Glider
Carefully take your glider out of its cage. You’ll want to start training your glider as soon as it’s in your home. You should never reach for your glider from above. Rather, reach for them below.
2. Place Your Glider Where You Want Them to Use the Bathroom
One method is to use a newspaper just outside of the cage where they can do their business. You’ll want to place them down on it but keep a light touch on them to ensure they don’t run off.
3. Use Wet Wipes
Using unscented wet wipes, slowly rub it along their rear end. You’ll notice very quickly that they immediately use the bathroom. Feeling something wet running along their bottom stimulates their body.
4. Handle Them
Your glider isn’t done using the bathroom just yet. The next step is to encourage the rest of the food that’s in their digestive tract to come out. You can do this by carefully moving the glider from hand to hand. This rocking and climbing exercise will work up their body.
They’ll likely expel anything else in their body at this point. You should let them climb from hand to hand for at least three to five minutes.
5. One Last Wet Wipe
Finally, you should gently rub their rear end again with another wet wipe. This will get the last bit of waste out of their system.
In total, this process takes anywhere from three to seven minutes. The more that you do it, the more that your glider will become used to using the bathroom at that time and in that area.
This training needs to be done every day. Otherwise, they’re likely to mark where they want and just go to the bathroom all of their cages. Save for where they sleep and eat, of course.
How To Train Your Sugar Glider Not To Pee Or Poop When You Carry It Around In Your Pocket All Day
Another concern you might have is carrying your sugar glider around in your pocket. The last thing you want is to have the glider peeing and pooping in your pocket. Following this video on how to properly handle your glider and these steps below can encourage your glider not to use your pocket as their bathroom.
1. Properly Potty Train Them
By watching the first video, you can learn how to properly potty train your sugar glider. This is an important first step in teaching not to poop or pee in your pocket because it will ensure that they have already used the bathroom.
2. Understand Their Sleeping Habits
Because sugar gliders feel safest when inside of a pouch, they’re likely to fall asleep. When you have them in your pocket, the same thing will happen. They’ll feel safe in the pocket and go to sleep.
Because sugar gliders don’t use the bathroom where they sleep, you can be sure that your pocket is safe as long as they’re asleep. However, just like humans, sugar gliders will want to use the bathroom when they wake up.
3. Recognize Movements
Feeling your sugar glider moving in your pocket may indicate that it needs to use the bathroom. Follow your potty training routine to relieve its bladder fully.