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Post by Deleted on Jan 13, 2016 14:34:16 GMT -5
You can buy it over here. It is marketed as bedding for horses and I buy it in 20kg bales which cost me £4 a bale. Makes it very affordable to do litter trays for 21 ferrets!
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 19:46:06 GMT -5
I'm having a similar problem. The previous owner told the SPCA that Floki was litter-trained, and the SPCA told us the same things based on their own observations, but he very rarely goes in his box and gets quick disgruntled if we try to catch him in the act and get him there in time!
I have a book from the library which recommended getting one of those corner boxes (which my brother-in-law has for his hedgehog, in fact) but I'm beginning to suspect this was the wrong idea. Should he have a bigger box? I've read somewhere that the problem may be that males like to get their whole body in the box when they 'go'. He's an adult male, approximately 1-2 years, neutered.
I'm also wondering what the best sort of litter to use for him would be? The pet store recommended a newspaper-based cat litter, which is what we picked up. Is this the right sort of thing for him?
And lastly, does anyone have any advice? We're wondering if he'll just go back to using his box once he's used to living with us, or if this is something we need to nip in the bud ASAP before he has more free roam than this single room.
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Post by javachip on Jan 15, 2016 19:48:07 GMT -5
I'm having a similar problem. The previous owner told the SPCA that Floki was litter-trained, and the SPCA told us the same things based on their own observations, but he very rarely goes in his box and gets quick disgruntled if we try to catch him in the act and get him there in time! I have a book from the library which recommended getting one of those corner boxes (which my brother-in-law has for his hedgehog, in fact) but I'm beginning to suspect this was the wrong idea. Should he have a bigger box? I've read somewhere that the problem may be that males like to get their whole body in the box when they 'go'. He's an adult male, approximately 1-2 years, neutered. I'm also wondering what the best sort of litter to use for him would be? The pet store recommended a newspaper-based cat litter, which is what we picked up. Is this the right sort of thing for him? And lastly, does anyone have any advice? We're wondering if he'll just go back to using his box once he's used to living with us, or if this is something we need to nip in the bud ASAP before he has more free roam than this single room. What I noticed with my ferrets (both makes about 3 pounds so there big boys) they do like there whole body to be in the litter box when they go to the bathroom. The only litter box that has worked for me is a gaint cat litter box. I used newspaper based litter one ferret was fine with it the other ferret wouldn't use it. I'm using swheat scoop which is wheat based 100% natural and there doing great with it. I would recommend getting small bags of litter and trying different brands out but one brand at a time. I seen people recommend blue buffalo and worlds best also. I also put a little piece of poop in the litter box after I clean it to remind them they poop there lol. Be patient one of my ferrets took to the litter box in days the other ferret took a month to learn to use the litter box. Annoying and frustrating but it takes time.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 21:55:07 GMT -5
Might be a good idea. I use select a size paper towels and my new girl thinks they r something to lay on. The lady i got her from told me she was trained, so I did not ask what litter she used as i thought she would understand by recognizing the litter box itself. So i am going to use a paper pellet(unperfumed) of some sort for a while. I have four potties in my living room. They love to potty at any door opening, so i keep 2 potties on either side of my front door generally . Some of mine will not go behind another----don't know if it is because of the paper towels or not. But i have so many potties thru out my house I don't think i could afford litter, and this is so much simpler for me. Although I do have to rinse out potties a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 22:02:57 GMT -5
Might be a good idea. I use select a size paper towels and my new girl thinks they r something to lay on. The lady i got her from told me she was trained, so I did not ask what litter she used as i thought she would understand by recognizing the litter box itself. So i am going to use a paper pellet(unperfumed) of some sort for a while. I have four potties in my living room. They love to potty at any door opening, so i keep 2 potties on either side of my front door generally . Yeah, my boy has taken a shine to three spots: 1. Just in front of the door to the room. 2. The far corner of the room from the door, right in the corner. 3. Under the little table that the x-box is sitting on top of. Again, I had the same problem as you; I assumed "litter trained" meant 100%. Boy, was I wrong! Still, made a commitment, we'll just have to make do until we figure things out...
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2016 22:06:04 GMT -5
yes, if they have a favorite spot put a potty there, but don't be surprised if they find another one:))
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Post by javachip on Jan 15, 2016 22:12:00 GMT -5
Again, I had the same problem as you; I assumed "litter trained" meant 100%. Boy, was I wrong! Still, made a commitment, we'll just have to make do until we figure things out...
My boys can't be free roaming with having dogs (there in a double ferret nation and happy in it) but happy to say in the cage they are both now 100% litter trained. Kind of scared saying that that I might wake up to a mess lol. Outside of the cage during play time Java goes right to the litter box tootsie is almost there. He's a slow learner but I think in another week or two he should be 100% litter trained outside the cage also. Make sure to clean the areas very very well and put the a litter box were he is pooping. What helped with the litter training in the cage tootsie pooped on a shelf of course we're Java hords his toys I put a handful of food/treats which helped. Maybe that can help also
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Post by Deleted on Jan 16, 2016 2:44:09 GMT -5
I also buy big plastic storage boxes, and use a hot knife to cut a dropped doorway and use these for litter boxes. Easily big enough for the biggest ferret to fit all four paws in, and will catch the poo even when they life they bum right up! I find they won't use a litter tray if they can't fit all four paws in And I also tend to put the tray where they choose to go, rather than put the tray where I want it to go. Sometimes it can take some modifying and some ferrets end up with more litter trays than anything else while being litter trained. Once they get the association between toileting and the tray/litter, I reduce down the numbers of trays gradually.
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Post by javachip on Jan 17, 2016 20:22:41 GMT -5
Tootsie was doing so good using the litter box but a few minutes ago he decided to poop on the shelf. Little brat lol
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Post by Heather on Jan 17, 2016 22:18:01 GMT -5
Ferrets are never 100% it's also how they show their displeasure about things too ciao
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Post by javachip on Jan 17, 2016 22:30:08 GMT -5
Ferrets are never 100% it's also how they show their displeasure about things too ciao So I'm guess he didn't like that I just cleaned the cage and changed the blankets to new blankets
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Post by Heather on Jan 18, 2016 0:22:10 GMT -5
It's possible or he thought that you'd changed the rules ciao
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Post by javachip on Jan 18, 2016 9:29:08 GMT -5
Any recommendations to prevent this
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Post by Deleted on Jan 18, 2016 9:59:18 GMT -5
Ferrets are never 100% it's also how they show their displeasure about things too ciao One of my ferrets, Jasper has never missed the litter box and he won't go to the toilet in a corner unless it has a litter box there even if another ferret has pooped there before. Because he's so clean, he's the only ferret that I can take to a friend's or family member's house as the first thing he does in a new area is look for the litter box, even if he doesn't need to go to the toilet, it's like he looks for it so he knows where it is for when he does need to go.
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Post by kraesmom on Jan 20, 2016 15:29:25 GMT -5
Babies. I love baby ferts, but the thought of having to potty train is what keeps me at three (which keeps my hubby happy). Baby ferts are messy. Especially marshall's babies, because they are separated from mom before she can teach them any sort of good potty behaviors. I had to start over all three times that I got babies. Each time was shorter, as good habits were more ingrained in the older ones, but even they started pooping outside the box when the baby was added. Luckily, you stick with it, and they eventually get the hang of things. Outside the box is a crap shoot. (ha. You see what I did there?) They will come around if you are persistent enough and find a reward that they prize. Bubby always makes sure to have poops with explosive gas so I hear him in the box and reward him with salmon oil if they are out roaming.
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