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How To Get Your Ferret To Use The Litter Box
Ferrets are very loyal and loving little critters, but you will have to litter train them, as when need to go, they have go - if you get my drift! Ferret litter training is actually very easy, once you know their natural habits.
Ferrets are very loyal and loving little critters, but you will have to litter train them, as when need to go, they have go - if you get my drift! Ferret litter training is actually very easy, once you know their natural habits.
When you are deciding on what litter trays to get your ferret, opt for open ones, as closed ones just will not do.
The two best types of litter that you can get for your ferret is clumping litter or wood chip litter, both available from places where you buy cat supplies. You only need to cover the bottom of the litter tray with litter, don’t fill it up as you would for a cat.
If you are teaching a young ferret to be litter trained, they may play in the litter tray, but don’t worry too much about this, as when they realize what is for they will soon stop playing in it.
You may have noticed I mentioned litter trays in the plural earlier, this is because you are likely to need more than one! One will need to put in your ferret’s cage, and others will need to be strategically placed in corners of rooms, where your ferret roams free. Ferrets naturally go into to corners when they need to ‘go’.
You will know what your ferret is planning to do when he goes to a corner, because they will not walk straight up to it, but back into the corner. Ferrets do not dig a hole, or bury their messes, like cats do, so you will need to replace the litter on at least a daily basis, to keep smells at bay.
Now you know to look out for your ferret reversing into the corner, when it does it, pick the ferret up and pop them into the litter tray. Your ferret is an intelligent little critter, and will soon associate the litter tray with where it needs to ‘go’, and it will actively seek it out.
If your ferret does do its business in the wrong place, don’t tell it off or discipline it. Ferrets are very sensitive little critters, and will take your telling it off as your displeasure at them relieving itself. This will result in it fretting that every time it needs to do its business, it will displease you.
Another great hint in teaching your ferret use the litter tray is learning when your ferret is likely to need to ‘go’. When a ferret first wakes up, they will need to relieve themselves, so while you are training them, you need to put them in the litter tray, as soon as they wake up. The next trick is to keep them there until they have relieved themselves.
Ferrets have little digestive systems so what goes in (food or water) will come out relatively fast. So after it has ingested anything make sure there is a littler tray on hand nearby. A lot of excitement can also make a ferret want to go, but do not worry too much after just general playing.
Litter training your ferret should not take more than a few days, as you ferret is very intelligent and will soon get the concept of using a litter tray, when it needs to do its business.