A Training Guide to Giving Your Ferrets Litter Boxes
Ferrets are known to have relatively small digestive systems as compared to other animals. This means whatever they eat or drink is relieved much faster. Even excessive excitement, as unbelievable as that may sound, may give your little ferret the urge to ‘go’, so don’t over-excite him.
When ferrets get an urge to either pee or poop, they find it difficult to hold it. To avoid unwanted “accidents” around your house, it is recommended to keep small litter boxes within and outside your ferret’s cage.
Litter training a ferret is very easy; you simply need to know the natural habits of your pet.
There are two kinds of litter boxes available in the market today—the clumping litter and wood chip litter. Avoid using the wood chip litter because wood chips can hurt your ferret’s little feet. Other than litter boxes, you may also provide litter trays, which are available in any local pet supply stores.
When training your little pet, it is good to put a layer of litter to coat the bottom of his litter tray. Do not fill it up, as you would do for a cat, because you don’t want the little guy digging it out or playing with it.
It’s always good to start training your little ferret early. Kits (baby ferrets) pick up litter training quickly, so don’t wait until your ferret is old before he begins learning proper bathroom manners.
In the beginning of litter training your new pet, do not be surprised when you see the little guy play and bounce in his litter tray! There’s no need to panic—he will soon understand the utility of his litter tray or box, and use it accordingly.
Even if you only have one ferret, you may want to provide more than one litter tray or litter box for the little guy. One litter box has to be kept inside the tray, while the other litter trays have to be positioned in various strategic positions all around the house to prevent “accidents”. Keep in mind that when your ferret feels the urge to use his toilet, they don’t look around for any special place. You need to remember this when strategically placing litter trays and boxes around your living room, for example.
As you develop a special bond with your ferret, you will begin to identify when he needs to use the bathroom, or if it’s a number 1 or a number 2. You will notice that ferrets generally tend to go to a corner or in an enclosed area like your coat closet when he needs to use the toilet. If you see him back into a corner, pick him up and put him in his litter box. Take your ferret to his litter tray once he wakes up in the morning. This can help transform the trick, turning it into a habit.
Remember to change the litter tray everyday to keep smells at bay. In the beginning, leave bits of his feces in it (after washing it), so he can identify and associate the smell.
Ferrets are very intelligent, and are easy to litter train. You’ll be surprised at how fast they learn things. A few weeks after the first day of litter training, you might find the little guy seeking out his litter box when he feels the urge to ‘go’.
But the most important thing to remember in litter training your ferret is to reward him with his favorite treat when he remembers to keep his bathroom manners. You want to reinforce good ferret behavior, making it a habit everyone benefits from.
