Using Ferret Litter Pans Wisely
Pets are adorable additions to the family, and we all get extremely fond of them as they grow. Nurturing them and training them can be one of the most fulfilling tasks to undertake, quite like bringing up a child. However, it’s important to have adequate knowledge of the nature and mannerisms of your pet. Each of them is distinctly different from the other. If you have a ferret at home, he can prove to be a cute and comfortable companion, provided you train him well to suit your lifestyle needs.
The biggest problem with the ferret is that it has a short intestine, and therefore the need to pee or poop is quite frequent. Though they are not exactly fastidious about hygiene, they are generally clean animals who normally back off to a corner, with their tails tucked inside when they want to pass stool or urine. Such mannerism are representative of their intelligence, and relatively clean habits. Though the ferrets come across as head strong creatures, it’s not all that impossible to train them. You just need time, patience and positive reinforcements to achieve success.
The best way to give litter training to ferrets is to use litter boxes and litter pans for the purpose. Ideally, you should have several literal pans at your disposal. While shopping for one, make sure that the size and the height are convenient for your ferret to use. For example, the litter pan should be low from the front side, so that the ferret can climb onto it. However, it needs to be high edged on the back side; because the ferret generally backs off when it urinates and defecates (he normally does both at the same time), and a lower edge could cause spilling over.
If you are planning to fit the litter pan into a cage, you would need a tight fit. Therefore get accurate measurements of your cage, before you buy the litter pan. They are available in a whole bouquet of shapes and sizes, custom made to suit your purpose. Also, shop for some non toxic pet litter to spread on these pans, which would absorb water and moisture from the faeces and urine.
The best way to start training is by confining the ferret within a smaller area. Like, you can keep the ferret in a cage and even block off a part of it. The litter pan should be tightly fitted so that there is no empty space left for it to perform its deeds. They would then be forced to use the litter pan. Also, you need to keep a little bit of excreta on the litter pan, to demarcate the area as the toilet area. The ferret would then, understand the purpose of the pan, better. Before taking him out to play, keep him in the cage for some time, and keep bringing him back at regular intervals.
You can keep multiple pans at various places (mostly frequented by the ferret, especially corners he is fond of), so that he can readily use them, when required. Most important, reward him each time he uses the pan for his toilet needs. This will tell him, that he has done the right thing.
