The Ferret Litter Box Training Guide
Helena Michaels
Ferrets are lovely little animals, who want to make their owners happy. However, you will need to litter train them, as if they need to go, they will go! Ferrets are very trainable and litter training is no exception, especially once you understand their natural habits.
First step is to buy the litter tray(s), so make sure that you buy open litter trays, as it would be too late by the time you got a closed one open!
There are only two litter types, that I would recommend putting in your ferret litter trays, and they are clumping litter and wood chip litter. You should be able to purchase both of these from your local pet shop. You only have to put a layer of litter to cover the bottom of the litter box for a ferret, not fill it up, as you would for a cat.
If you are teaching a young ferret to be litter trained, they may play in the litter tray, but don't worry too much about this, as when they realize what is for they will soon stop playing in it.
It is highly likely you will need more than one litter tray! One will need to inside the cage, but you will need to put trays in strategic places, wherever your ferret roams in the house, as they really can't hold on, if they need to go! You will need to put them in corners, as ferrets will instinctively go to corners to to their business.
Ferrets don't just walk into a corner when they want to 'go'. They actually give us some warning, by reversing into it! Unlike cats, ferrets will not dig holes, or bury their produce, they will just do their business and go. So the litter trays must be kept fresh, being replaced at least once a day.
Once you see this backing into the corner maneuver, you can pick your ferret up and pop him the litter tray. As your ferret is very intelligent and easy to train, it will very quickly ascertain what a litter tray is for, and seek them out when it needs to do its business.
You must not discipline your ferret when they mess in the wrong place, because they will see it as their general relieving themselves displeases you, not that it was bad to relieve itself in that particular spot. Discipline in this case would lead to your ferret fretting and worrying, every time it needs pee or poop.
Another great hint in teaching your ferret use the litter tray is learning when your ferret is likely to need to 'go'. When a ferret first wakes up, they will need to relieve themselves, so while you are training them, you need to put them in the litter tray, as soon as they wake up. The next trick is to keep them there until they have relieved themselves.
Ferrets have little digestive systems so what goes in (food or water) will come out relatively fast. So after it has ingested anything make sure there is a littler tray on hand nearby. A lot of excitement can also make a ferret want to go, but do not worry too much after just general playing.
Litter training your ferret should not take more than a few days, as you ferret is very intelligent and will soon get the concept of using a litter tray, when it needs to do its business.
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