|
|
Post by kristin on Apr 28, 2011 17:47:13 GMT -5
First, let me get this out of my system:  Okay. So I have this little Cricket monster. She has a cage but I almost never lock her in it. Her hammock is in there and her food and water. She uses the litter box in there meticulously and has never pooped anywhere except the litter box - when she's in her cage. (I followed the Litter Box boot camp procedure and it worked in the cage.) But she has free run of the room she's in. I got four litter boxes, prepared to put them wherever she was pooping. She started pooping under the sofa, where I couldn't fit a box. So I removed the legs of the sofa. Then she started pooping underneath the book case. I tried a slim litter box in the exact spot, and she pooped next to it. So I removed the legs from THAT piece of furniture as well. I put a litter box next to the bookcase and one in front of the bookcase. I put blankets everywhere else. Like, EVERYWHERE. Covering the whole floor. She moves the litter boxes, moves the blankets, and poops. I've tried covered litter boxes, low litter boxes, high litter boxes, different litter. No deal. What's left to do? I try to catch her in the act but since she's got free run and I'm at work all day, she spends most of her time unsupervised. I'd hate to coop her up just to potty train her, but is that the next step? Any recommendations? |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 17:50:11 GMT -5
I would try restricting her to a small area with a single litter box as the next step. Only let her out of the cage once she potties, reward with something she enjoys eating (oil, tone, etc).
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Apr 28, 2011 20:30:24 GMT -5
I hate to say it, but you will have to confine her when you are not there. She's going to hate it, and will likely have protest poops for a few days, but the only way you are going to get her box trained out of cage is if you are right there.
Please understand, ferrets will NEVER be 100% litter box trained out of cage. They are going to have "oopsies", no matter how close you watch. It's a matter of reducing how many, and how often.
She's just a baby yet, if I recall correctly? She will likely get better as she gets older, but not likely fully trained.
I've found my females actually prefer to go on a potty paper as compared to a litter box out of cage as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2011 23:54:58 GMT -5
Dixie likes... Rugs for pottying. And the middle of the floor #facepalm#
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Apr 30, 2011 0:12:54 GMT -5
Hey- that way she doesn't splatter her little footsies ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by whipple on Apr 30, 2011 11:40:28 GMT -5
mine actually prefer going on linoleum or something hard like that. They rarely go on carpet except at home, where it's mostly carpet. But at my boyfriends, well they like to go in the bathroom  Smart little buggers. I have accepted that they will never be litter trained outside of the cage, so I don't bother with boxes. I just clean it up. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 1, 2011 9:59:07 GMT -5
yeah...poop happens...that's why paper towels and simple solution is made...I've given up litter box traingin my crew when they're out of the cage...
|
|
|
|
Post by kristin on May 2, 2011 17:39:48 GMT -5
Please understand, ferrets will NEVER be 100% litter box trained out of cage. They are going to have "oopsies", no matter how close you watch. It's a matter of reducing how many, and how often. I'd be happy with 25% at this point!  It's frustrating because she consistently goes in the same spots. Seems like she should use the spot but IN the litter box. I can try paper, too -- that would be fine with me. I ordered the Ferret Nation 142 today - should get it Thursday or Friday. That way I can leave them in the cage during the day and not feel like a terrible mom. Of course now I'm trying to train the new girl, too, who appears to have minimal use of her hind legs and can't get into the litter boxes very easily! I think paper is sounding like a good plan... |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 3, 2011 13:12:07 GMT -5
Good luck on the training. Keep us posted on how they are doing. Maybe we can come up with some other ideas depending on how they are getting along(or not  ) |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 13:55:51 GMT -5
I've yet to convince Jack to use a litter box outside of his cage and I've had him for almost 2 years  I invested in Bissel's Little Green Machine wet vacuum and spot treat daily. I'm sure being super diligent about forcing the issue may help, but I've kind of just accepted that he will make accidents and I have a great tool to clean them up. Brady however, DOES use his litter boxes when he is out of the cage UNLESS they are too clean - then they are just super awesome dig boxes I have one corner in my house that is a favorite potty spot so I nailed down (with little linoleum nails) a piece of clear vinyl rug mat. (ya know the kind with the teeth on one side?) It's aesthetically pretty ugly, but it saves the carpet in that "high traffic" spot |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on May 3, 2011 14:43:46 GMT -5
I have accepted that they will never be litter trained outside of the cage, so I don't bother with boxes. I just clean it up. i don't bother either. i tried it once for awhile, but both my girls didn't seem to get the hang of it. which was annoying. i think i might try again though. |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 3, 2011 14:57:40 GMT -5
Frankly, I haven't had the time to be that persistent, ;D One group always free roams in the bedroom while I'm at work, so not thereto keep an eye out.
|
|
|
|
Post by kristin on May 4, 2011 16:37:11 GMT -5
Yeah - it's the free roaming that's getting to me. I'm not talking about a poo or two when they're out of the cage during playtime -- I'm talking mass carnage over the entire room all day. Yesterday I took everything out of the room and cleaned the carpets (saw that Green Machine and it's on my wish list!). I've been keeping them in the cage at night when I'm sleeping and when I'm at work during the day. Marlee has been using the litter box about half the time -- I'm frantically signing "yes" to her while she's pooping. Got to come up with an efficient signal for "good" since she can't hear me praising her. Cricket's a problem child. But she's super smart so I think she'll learn that I open the door after she uses the box. I praise her whenever she gets in any litter box, so yesterday she kept doing that trying to get me to open the door. No poop, just fake squatting. Too smart for her own good, that one. And manipulative!! And so, so cute. That cuteness is a survival mechanism. |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on May 4, 2011 17:54:24 GMT -5
I'm frantically signing "yes" to her while she's pooping.  Got to come up with an efficient signal for "good" since she can't hear me praising her. I clap and smile ;D Seems to work, and they know I'm pleased with them. Though that doesn't necessarily mean they actually CARE about that ;D |
|
) 
I invested in Bissel's Little Green Machine wet vacuum and spot treat daily. I'm sure being super diligent about forcing the issue may help, but I've kind of just accepted that he will make accidents and I have a great tool to clean them up. Brady however, DOES use his litter boxes when he is out of the cage UNLESS they are too clean - then they are just super awesome dig boxes