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Post by knackers on Apr 1, 2011 21:04:48 GMT -5
...Although it technically isn't. The newer ferret of my two, Tyr, knows exactly where the litterbox is in the cage, and I've seen him use it frequently. It's when he doesn't use it that's been driving me batty.
I'm thinking that he might be trying to mark territory, but I'm not entirely sure. Because he will go in his box, but right after, he'll come out, sniff around a little bit and back into a corner for more poops. Sometimes he pees too, but the poop always seems really small, like he's only doing it to say, "Yeahhh, this is my corner now." It's also being a bad influence on Sharkie, and he's been going outside of the box every once in a while as if fighting back with it. He's not nearly as bad though, and he almost always (I'd say 98% of the time now) goes right to the litterbox when he needs to potty.
This has been going on for a while now, and I've been trying a lot of stuff - rewarding him when he does go in the litterbox, scolding him and showing him where the litterbox is when he goes anywhere outside. Does anyone have any pointers on what I could do to stop the poo wars? D:
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Post by Sherry on Apr 2, 2011 11:51:07 GMT -5
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Post by knackers on Apr 2, 2011 13:02:46 GMT -5
I wasn't sure if that would be the right thing to do for him or not, but it does seem logical, doesn't it? We did it for Sharkie when we brought him home and it worked like a charm. I'll give it a try with Tyr, then.
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Post by Sherry on Apr 2, 2011 14:50:26 GMT -5
Just remember- it can take some longer to learn the lesson than others ;D And...some will actually protest poop on the blankets for a few days before giving in
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Post by knackers on Apr 2, 2011 15:16:07 GMT -5
The thing is that when he is in the cage, he uses it with no fuss, 100% of the time. When I let him out of the cage though, more often than not if I'm not watching him, he'll back into a corner and go again, even if he'd just gone in his litterbox. I think I was a little vague in my first post with that.
Maybe I should try to limit where they can romp around? Our living room is fairly small in the apartment, but they also have access to the kitchen, and that's where he's usually going.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2011 16:00:06 GMT -5
For out of the cage training, I start with a small restricted space with a litter box. Once they use that consistently, make the space wider. You may have to add another box if the other is far away. Continue I also put newspaper down in tricky corners or accident prone spots
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Post by Sherry on Apr 2, 2011 18:57:22 GMT -5
I've also simply found it easier to move the box to the spot they prefer to use ;D I have had a problem with them simply backing up beside the box, so I put some newspaper down under the boxes for any of these.
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Post by knackers on Apr 3, 2011 11:51:56 GMT -5
Well, we've restricted where they can romp around, so now they're limited to our living room. Put a litterbox in one of the corners they seem to like so much, and Sharkie's gone right to it already. He's such a good boy. Now we just have to see about Tyr following his example..!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 12:20:47 GMT -5
Fingers crossed they both use it!
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Post by Sherry on Apr 3, 2011 13:59:19 GMT -5
Just keep a very close eye out, and plop his butt in the box when he starts backing up elsewhere. And KEEP putting it in there til he goes, the little rascal ;D
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Post by knackers on Apr 3, 2011 17:13:49 GMT -5
SWEEEEET.
He's used it -twice- in a row now, so they both know where it is. I'm gonna keep an eye on him for a little longer, but he seems to be getting the hang of it. *Victory dance!*
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 17:34:37 GMT -5
Yayy! I also treat when they do it right. I have a small bottle cap with olive oil or small freeze dried bit. Positive encouragement. ;D
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Post by Sherry on Apr 3, 2011 17:34:56 GMT -5
That's fantastic! Just keep doing what you are doing, and only introduce new space slowly. And don't be afraid to take a step back if he becomes too consist ant about not using his box again. Please do understand, though- ferrets ARE going to have accidents. It's just how much we are prepared to live with that makes the difference ;D
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Post by Deleted on Apr 3, 2011 17:36:44 GMT -5
Oh yes, they will have accidents
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Post by knackers on Apr 3, 2011 17:59:56 GMT -5
Yeah, I've been rewarding him with little nibbles of Ferretvite. For some reason my boys just don't like their treats. And absolutely on the accidents advice. That's a given with any pet, really. But we can forgive 'em those for being so durn adorable.
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