For starters there are two types of potty training: in cage training and out of cage. We will be discussing, in cage, the easier of the two.
Litter Box, training ferrets The most important thing to remember is that you're not alone. We've all gone through this. Most kits will use the whole cage as a litter box (except for the litter box). baby ferrets are known for scratching kicking and throwing litter all over from Seattle to Singapore. (The ONLY instance that ferrets are similar to cats in when you use a little persuasion, patience and persistence when potty training ferrets so they will use a litter box in their cage) You should never completely clean the litter box when training ferrets to use their litter box. When I was in the military I had an instructor in my tech school that when she wanted to stress a point (wink, wink) she would stomp her foot and say always, always, always. So always, always, always place some wet used litter and some pooh (or for you sophisticated chaps--a little fecal matter) on top of the new litter. This will give them an idea where to go to the potty.
Training Ferrets--when it is a gigger: supplies & Tools
You will need: Two litter boxes large and small Two drywall screws Two 1 x 4s pieces of wood that are four inches narrower then the cage. A 1/8 drill bit A small tube of kitchen and bath caulk Drill A Phillips bit for the drill
Training Ferrets--when it is a gigger: staging the cage Now how does this fit together you ask? First put the smaller litter box into the bigger one with litter in the smaller one only (but do that later). Put the litter boxes in the cage arrange them the way you want place the 1x4 underneath the the litter pans drill a hole to the wood and stop. Now put a generous dab of silicone on the hole in the cage floor (This will seal the hole) if you have a metal bottom, if it is mesh skip the silicone and line everything up to screw it together. If you just have a pan with no wheel or base you will use the other 1x4 to balance the cage. You can just place it underneath the other side or silicone it to the bottom, you do not have to screw it. It is time to put some litter in the small litter pan. This decreases the litter waste and is called a cratch pan. If you have an older ferret that is potty trained, it will not tolerate a kit with bad potty habits and actually helps the kit.
For the people that aren't as handy, you can attach the litter box to the side of the cage with cage straps. This will establish the area as the place to potty and also keep the box from tipping.
Potty training ferrets that are older will be much easier. They will not play in the litter box; they are just confussed they don't know what to do with it. If you work with them daily they will be trained in no time.
If they are going in the wrong place, remember that ferrets live by the old saying, Don't poop where you eat. What I mean is clean the cage then place their food bowl where they were using the potty because they seldom potty where they sleep, eat or drink. You can also try leaving your ferret in their cage until they use the litter box; I have heard of people awakening their ferret and putting them in the litter box until they go, if they get out they put them back. When they finally go they praise them, give treats, and let them out to play. But as you know, they are smart critters; they will fake it for the treats.
Frequent litter box changes will help you in potty training ferrets. You will do this because sometimes you get a fickle ferret that is stuck up and will only use their litter box if they have a clean one. Now I don't mean dump the entire box, just scoop daily and completely change weekly, don't forget to place a little soiled litter and a little pooh back in the box as a reminder. Use a little common sense, when you have additional ferrets you will have to do it more frequently. With the male ferrets being larger, sometimes twice as large as females, they will be more apt to dislike corner liter pans and are more apt to ignore the corner pan.
Now you should be potty training ferrets like the pros, but this is just the first step. Next you will still have to teach them to use a litter box outside of the cage. Outside the cage potty-training ferrets is a whole separate article. I hope you are comfortable now. There are a lot of other techniques, and with a little research you will find them.
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