Are hedgehogs messy? So the answer is yes, they sure can be. Because of this tendency to poop all over, the hedgehog is often compared to a rabbit.
All it takes is for a little poop or urine to go unnoticed by you and your pet might then accidentally step in it, and gunk gets everywhere!
They need your help to stay clean (that includes helping them with regular cage cleaning and foot baths). Read more below!
Do Hedgehogs Poop Everywhere?
Sadly, hedgehogs do tend to poop here, there, and everywhere!
Fortunately, they are not always doing their business. If you pay close attention, you may discover your hedgehogs’ schedule (and take care not to hold them when they lift their little bottoms).
Why do hedgehogs poop so freely?
Because they are actually wild animals, accustomed to their doings being expeditiously washed away by wind and weather!
Hedgehogs do have rather quick metabolisms, and so they do digest and pass poop quickly.
And of course hedgehogs are quite active little beasties, which stimulates the bowels.
They are in fact more likely to leave droppings while on the go, particularly on their exercise wheel!
Can You Toilet Train a Hedgehog?
Some hedgehogs can learn to be litter trained while other are either too ignorant or way too stubborn.
For the best chance to succeed, start them out the younger you can!
So how do you litter train a little prickly? With patience, and positive reinforcement.
Negative reinforcement is just going to make a scared prickly scared of you.
Here is the process:
- First, make a small, hedgehog-sized litter box. Since most hedgehogs poop while exercising on their wheeel, that’s probably the best place for your litter box.
- Then, when your hedgehog raises their tail, gently but quickly pop them in the box. Also pop any droppings they leave wherever else in the box. If your hedgehog’s cooperative, this will work!
Do Hedgehogs Pee Everywhere?
While hedgehogs are known for their high frequency of bowel movements, they also urinate often.
So if you plan on playing with your hedgehog, it’s a good idea to keep some wipes handy in case of accidents!
Are Hedgehogs Clean?
Hedgehogs are not naturally dirty animals, but they’re also not the cleanest!
Hedgehogs have a tendency to “drop poops randomly” including in their own exercise wheel or food bowl, which the poo will end up getting spread all around! (Do you let your hedgehog sleep in a messy bedding without replacing it? Why not take away the bedding now!!)
BE CAREFUL: Hedgehogs can end up getting dirty feet! Fortunately, it can be cleaned with an easy little foot bath, which you can read about below!
Are Hedgehogs Messy?
Hedgehogs don’t mind being messy (and sometimes being in messy situations), but they’re not purposefully messy creatures. It’s just that as pets, in an enclosed space indoors, they need your help to stay clean!
It’s an involved process that includes food cleanup, case tidying, a foot bath, and frequently changed water!
Should You Bathe Your Hedgehog?
You can and should bathe your hedgehog.
The reason is simple: these short-legged little guys tend to get messy feet. Water can’t only get to their feet, so don’t go dousing the whole hedgehog.
Along with this: steer clear of soap unless it’s hedgehog safe – their sensitive skin can rapidly dry out and crack under ordinary soap!
Beware of the Spitball
You might be surprised the first time you see a hedgehog make a spitball.
This is a really bizarre behavior that hedgehogs have.
Basically, if they smell something too strange or dangerous, they may try to inhale the scent, mix that with spit, and then spit it back onto their back.
To basically become “coloured” by the threat thus camouflaging themselves against it when danger threatens!
How to Keep Your Hedgehog Cage Tidy
- Food cleanup: After you’ve gotten food in your hedgehog’s tummy, it’s really important to clean up afterward as all that yummy veggies or wet food is bound to go rotten. Not to mention it’d stink as well and easily make your little guy ill!
- Do dropping cleanup daily: It’s just a fact of life living with a hedgehog that you’re probably going to want to do some dropping clean up nearly every day! After all, leave those poos and they’re just going to get tromped around (and on your hedgehog), meaning more work for you tomorrow!
- Deep-clean the cage twice a week: In addition to daily doo doo cleanup, your new prickle buddy’s home should get a deep-cleaning once too twice a week. What does deep-clean mean? It basically just means some gentle sanitizer encouraging (vigorously rubbed) cleaners after the droppings have gone bye-bye! Want to know how much walls, on the floor and exercise wheel (no bleach scrubbers please). Oh and don’t forget to wash out the bowls for food and water!
- Keep the litter box far away from their food and water: Help keep your little one nice and clean by placing their litter box far enough way from their food and water. Otherwise expect some droppings to end up in the bowls!
Final Thoughts
So, if you were asking, ‘are hedgehogs messy?’, there’s your answer.
Whether they mean to or not, they certainly can be.
It’s your responsibility to clean up their poopy mess, change their bedding regularly, and generally keep messiness at bay!