One of the most frequently asked questions is, “How do I litter train my ferret?”. The first thing that people need to understand is that very few ferrets will be completely reliable (like a cat). Ferrets have very fast metabolisms and need to use the litter box often. They are also unlikely to travel very far to use it. So there will need to be several conveniently located around the play area and cage. Here are a couple of tips to help you and your furry friends to letterbox happiness.
- Stay flexible; unlike cats where you place the litter box in a location that you choose, let your ferret pick the placement. Most ferrets will establish several favorite spots. Try placing boxes in these locations. It is best if you can secure them, as ferrets are very playful.
- With a new kit you may want to block off the upper levels of the cage until they have litter training down. You may also need cut down the front lip of the litter boxes to allow for easier access. Ferrets do not like to go on their bedding so you can fill the bottom of the cage with sleep sacks and blankets to help encourage them to use the box. They also do not like to go where they eat, so sprinkling food around may also deter them from using a certain spot.
- If you really want your ferret to use a litter box in a certain spot that you have picked out and they won’t, do not give up hope. Try placing a small amount of material from a dirty litter box in it. This way it will smell right and they will understand what the box is for. Next you will need to watch your ferret like a hawk. Ferrets generally need to go soon after waking, so wait until you see them start to back up with their tail lifted. Grab them and place them into the box. You will need to do this several times at least. Praise them for using it but never scold them if they have an accident. They will have no idea what you are yelling about.
- If your ferret tends to dig in their litter boxes making a huge mess try switching litters. Just be careful not to use a ceder product; it could cause burns. Stay away from anything that produces a lot of dust because it could cause respiratory distresses. You can try taping newspaper onto the inside of the litter box. This method works, but requires a frequent of changing.