Bringing Your Ferret Home 2
The Bathroom - • Litterbox / Litter •
The type of pan to get depends entirely on the ferret you are getting.. and maybe more than one if the cage size & number of ferrets warrant it..
If you are getting a kit (baby).. you don't want anything that has too high of sides.. as their legs are quite short.. (and it would be difficult to train them this way).. same goes with older.. sick.. and injured ferrets.. (too high of sides can prevent them from using the litter pan).. If you are getting an adult that is perfectly fit.. you would want to get one with higher sides.. And of course one that fits well inside the cage..
The shelter here actually uses 2 pans... the bottom one is bolted to the cage.. while the top one isn't.. it fits right inside the bottom one so you can remove it.. to clean.
You will also want to get additional pans to place in different areas of your home as they do go outside the cage when it is their time out for play.. the best way to determine where to put them is to watch where your ferret decides to go.. and of course that is where you would put one.
Ferrets also like to use corners.. they do have corner litter boxes available.. you might want to get one or two of those as well.
Litter do's and don'ts..
I'll go through the DON'TS first.. As you know by now ferrets are diggers and burrow'ers.. So with that... please DO NOT get any clay.. clumping.. or flushable litter.. these are quite dusty.. even those that claim they are not..are.. and can actually cause respitory problems in your little one.. As stated before.. also DO NOT use wood chips or cedar shavings as these do the same.
The litter I highly recommend is a Pelleted litter.. natural of course.. without any added scents.. these can be made of plant fibers or recycled newspaper.. there are a few on the market that are available.. these are also great as they have a high absorbancy rate..
I purchase them from our Ferret Shelter.. the one I am using is .. Lakewood Industries Premium Wood Pellets.. they manufacture out of Ontario.. so they are readily available in Canada..
The Grooming Station - • Beauty Needs •
Shampoo - Ferrets can be bathed every 3 - 4 months.. Bathing helps reduce the musk smell (although an important part of reducing the smell is keeping the ferret’s bedding clean and it’s ears clean). There are now several ferret-specific shampoos available.. kitten shampoos .. and dry shampoos work as well..
Nail Clippers - They need their nails clipped every week to week and a half.. Cut them below the quick.. if you are not sure.. have a vet show you.. or where you purchase your little fuzz butt..
Ear Cleaning Solution - Earwax buildup is smelly and can lead to health problems if not cleaned.. Any ear cleaning solution for cats or dogs will work.. Saline solution for contacts also works well.. Never stick a q-tip inside the ear canal.. just the outer edges..
The Play Zone - •Cage Accessories / Toys •
Ferrets will entertain themselves with anything they can find. Ferret-safe toys don't have parts they could accidentally chew off and swallow.. Always monitor all toys for damage.. as accidentally swallowed pieces of things can lead to intestinal blockages.. You are the best toy of all.. spend time playing with your ferret.. Please refer to the section Fuzzy Funhouse for some great ideas.
Outdoors - • Harness & Leash / Carrying Cage •
Ferrets can slip out of a collar easily.. so you'll want a harness that goes both around the neck and front legs.. and have it snug.. but not to a choking point.. Never keep a collar or harness on your ferret for prolonged periods of time.. and don’t forget to adjust them as your ferret grows..
I have found some of the actual ferret harness's too large.. you may want to get one for a kitten.. best bet is take them to the pet store and try them on and find one that suits your needs.
A portable carrier should be used for bringing your ferret to the veterinarian or other outings.. It can also serve as a training aid by being used as a time-out cage for a misbehaving ferret.. (although I simply use a firm No.. followed by alot of love).. Never use a carrying cage as a home for your ferret always use a cage.
Rewards - • Treats •
Please remember that treats are just that.. small rewards.. They should not be a large part of your ferret’s diet..(although your furry will try and tell you otherwise).. they are good for bonding with your ferret and rewarding good behavior.. and learning tricks.. Please refer to the section Crumb Stash Corner for some great recipes.
