Litter Pan

[Emersyn]

Yes, I saw there are other posts for this but things are always changing so I figured I would ask again.....

As I mentioned, I adopted two piggies and they are wonderful (besides adjusting to the mess of them ::nervous face: So I have hay in one corner and as suggested in multiple forums/blogs/articles, I put a litter pan in front of the hay to catch most of their waste. I started with using pellets because that is what came with them but 1. it gets heavy fast and produces a lot of waste. 2. They don't seem to like stepping on it, they are always trying to pull something over the top of it to step on so I am wasting a lot of high quality food hay. 3. while the wood pellets are cheap, softer bedding sold in stores is quite pricey.

So I started experimenting.....

I bought a 9x13 stainless steel pan to keep bacteria down and cleaning easy. First I tried just regular fleece but it was getting daunting flipping, turning, hay all over it still, ect. Then I tried little pet beds but they did not hold urine at all at there were just holding the moisture and smell. Then I had a great idea! Pulled out the sewing machine and bought some dish drying mats, folded/sewn to size/added fleece case over it but they hate that too. They like to lay on it but now they are pottying everywhere else in the cage instead of the pan.

I am understanding this problem a pretty piggy specific question for each of their preferences but I am looking for other ideas. I don't get any newspapers so that is a no. I see they like stepping on the hay a lot but I am buying some very high quality hay for them to eat and I just can't afford to let them crap on it all day lol. Should I get a 2nd cheapo hay for litter pan? I see a few of you use the bath mats with the anemone looking things, I considered this but I worry their feet will get stuck in the cracks and poop will get stuck in there.

To clarify, I am not attempting to "litter train" them, just trying to have a cleaner cage because my house is very small and I can smell them all the time. I am also a solo human parent so having an efficient cleaning method for the piggies is very helpful for me. Thanks for your time!

Picture of the little foodie Sophia just for attention <3

 

[fluffysal]

We are all careful that the "bobbles" on the bath mats are not looped, also that they don't have rubber bases . I used litter trays myself until recently but am now just piling the hay on the bath mats. It actually brushes off really easily with a silicone bristled hand brush (VITAL item for brushing hay).
I have separated boars with very different habits. One will potty everywhere including in his hay, the other uses a couple of regular spots so I put pee pads there that get changed daily.
The methods I use for saving a bit of money are;
I have a supply of basic meadow hay that makes the bulk of the pile.
Every day I remove the top layer of clean hay, chuck only the bottom stuff, then the removed hay becomes the new bottom layer.
I then top it up with a mix of cheap and "good" hay.
The bath mat for swampy pants gets changed every other day due to wetness but the other one lasts a week. I'm finding much less urine smell and the boys are delighted at being able to play in the hay more easily.
I did have to spend to have a lot on pee pads and bath mats but I have enough now. You will find what works best for you.
Spot the piggy!

 

[Emersyn]

We are all careful that the "bobbles" on the bath mats are not looped, also that they don't have rubber bases . I used litter trays myself until recently but am now just piling the hay on the bath mats. It actually brushes off really easily with a silicone bristled hand brush (VITAL item for brushing hay).
I have separated boars with very different habits. One will potty everywhere including in his hay, the other uses a couple of regular spots so I put pee pads there that get changed daily.
The methods I use for saving a bit of money are;
I have a supply of basic meadow hay that makes the bulk of the pile.
Every day I remove the top layer of clean hay, chuck only the bottom stuff, then the removed hay becomes the new bottom layer.
I then top it up with a mix of cheap and "good" hay.
The bath mat for swampy pants gets changed every other day due to wetness but the other one lasts a week. I'm finding much less urine smell and the boys are delighted at being able to play in the hay more easily.
I did have to spend to have a lot on pee pads and bath mats but I have enough now. You will find what works best for you.
Spot the piggy!View attachment 264117

Hahaha, Sophia would also love to live in a pile of hay like this. Mia is definitely my more neat, not much of a hider piggy. What pee pads do you use? My friend that I got them from said she had to stop using the regular disposable ones, for like puppies, because the pigs were eating them (they have the plastic lining on them so that's not good). I also haven't read/heard anything about a silicone brush. I beat them together outside (the bedding, not the piggies! lol). Would you mind showing me what you use? Thank you for responding.

 

[Emersyn]

Hahaha, Sophia would also love to live in a pile of hay like this. Mia is definitely my more neat, not much of a hider piggy. What pee pads do you use? My friend that I got them from said she had to stop using the regular disposable ones, for like puppies, because the pigs were eating them (they have the plastic lining on them so that's not good). I also haven't read/heard anything about a silicone brush. I beat them together outside (the bedding not the piggies! lol). Would you mind showing me what you use? Thank you for responding.

I don't know how to delete this comment. Shrug

 

[fluffysal]

The pee pads are fleece squares with padding and waterproof backing. I bought a pack of 10 from etsy, I think they came from the same seller as the cuddle cups. I'll have a look later. I have a new(ish) phone and am not sure how to attach links or screen shot yet. The dustpan and brush came from amazon.
You can't delete your posts but you can edit by clicking next to the report button.

 

[Emersyn]

The pee pads are fleece squares with padding and waterproof backing. I bought a pack of 10 from etsy, I think they came from the same seller as the cuddle cups. I'll have a look later. I have a new(ish) phone and am not sure how to attach links or screen shot yet. The dustpan and brush came from amazon.
You can't delete your posts but you can edit by clicking next to the report button. View attachment 264126

Ohhh Etsy! Of course, why didn't I think of that? I was hoping to make some of my own stuff but my sewing machine is super basic and with layered fleece it kept breaking thread or coming unthreaded. I will look into the silicone brush! Thanks for sharing.

 

[fluffysal]

Just do a search for guinea pig pee pads. I got a pack of 10 for about £40.