The Ins and Outs of Litter Box Training part 2
by Mary Van Dahm
If it is a pan that he has used before but suddenly stopped using, stop to think if anything has changed near the litter pan. Are you using a new litter that maybe he doesn’t like? Is another animal using the same litter box? Once again, setting him I the box repeatedly should help him get the idea. If nothing has changed, then you may want to try a different litter.
There are many litters on the market that are acceptable for ferrets. Litter made from recycled newspaper or biodegradable grain products are fine. Stay away from cedar shavings (NOFA Note: or any type of wood shavings) or "clumping" cat litters. Cedar has a resin that is stirred up in the dust from the litter.
This can cause respiratory problems in ferrets. Clumping cat litters are often dusty, too. Some ferrets like to dig their faces in it and they can get it up their noses and in to their eyes; causing irritation and sometimes infections.
( Note: If ingested, clumping cat litters can also cause internal blockages which can be fatal.)
If your schedule doesn’t permit you the time to constantly keep tabs on your critter while you are trying to correct his habits, you can get pieces of plastic carpet runner and place a piece under each pan, that is large enough to extend out about 8 inches or so on each side of the pan. At least if the ferret misses he wont soil your carpeting!
( Note: It also may help to place slept in bedding around the litter boxes. Ferrets naturally won’t "mess" on the place where they sleep. If the bedding smells slept in to a ferret, the ferret’s nose tells him this is not the place to go.)
Another way of keeping your ferret away from places where he shouldn’t go is to spray the forbidden areas with rubbing alcohol or diluted lemon or grapefruit juice (5 parts water to one part juice). Most ferrets can’t stand the smell of these products and will avoid treated areas. Since rubbing alcohol evaporates fast, you have to apply it several times until your critter gives up.
DO NOT use Bitter Apple for this purpose. It will work just as well but the main purpose of Bitter Apple is to leave a bitter flavor when you spray it. Unless your ferret is chewing the carpet, you’re just wasting the Bitter Apple.
( Note: Some ferrets actually LIKE the taste of Bitter Apple. Its use will encourage chewing behavior. Test your ferret’s reaction to it before using it to deter biting.)
You may want to test the alcohol on your carpet on a small, unseen area first to make sure that it won’t react with your carpeting and leave a stain. Most carpets won’t have any problems, but it never hurts to be sure.
For litter problems inside the cage, limiting the ferret’s open areas can generally help. Ferrets don’t like to soil their bedding or food. Arrange the contents of the cage so all he has room for is food, bedding and a litter pan. This can be done by either putting a larger pan in his cage, adding extra bedding to cover all the bare areas, or by putting the ferret in a small cage, temporarily, until he changes his habits. Once again, patience and perseverance are mandatory.
( Note: Covering the bottom of the cage with slept in bedding helps prevent accidents around the litter pans)
Some ferrets that have been really good with their litter boxes can suddenly stop using them. Assuming that it’s not a medical problem where the ferret is losing control of his bowels, look to see if anything has changed in your house or in the ferret’s daily routine. Have you moved the furniture? Is there a new pet or person in the house? Are you letting him out at a different time?
All of these factors can change your ferret’s habits. Most of the time, gently reminding him where the litter box is can be enough. Sometimes, if there is a new animal in the house, especially one that is also using the litter box, you may have to get an additional litter pan until your ferret gets used to the "intruder". Some ferrets refused to share their pans and you may need to keep a separate pan for him on a permanent basis.
REPRINTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
