Potty Training Help Needed! DESPERATE!

[macgirl]

Picked up my newly adopted 3 4-5 yrs olds Sunday. The transition to raw was a breeze! Next hurdle? Bathroom breaks! Was told they were unable to litter train them, but they went great on puppy pee pads. Well, so far, they’ve shredded, bunched up and whatever other chaos you can think of to their pads. IF they go in the vicinity of the pee pad, it’s with their little butts pushed up against the side of the cage so as much of it gets on my wall and floor as much as inside the cage! 😡. Do I get one of the additional pans so there’s a wall to catch the mess? Continue trying with the pads with a pee pad holder (anybody else do pee pads with success)? Try litter box training? OH PLEASE HELP 😭😩

[raven]

I used both pee pads and pans. So pee pads in the cage are usually a failure for me, like you said they get torn up or pushed away. But as time went on they seem not to mess with them as much ( they still do just not as much.) I mainly only use them in cage when I need to monitor their poos.

So with that said in the cage I use a pan, the best luck I've had is putting the pan where they seem to like to go the most making sure it fits in a corner that they like to back up into because that's what they do it makes them feel safe from predators, who knows when a lion is going to break into the house lol, but it's not one of those corner pans it's best when their whole body can fit inside, it's a rectangle large enough to cover that whole wall so that both corner areas are covered and if it's not long enough I fill the free space at risk with a blanket or something like that. Also keeping corners blocked with soft things deter them from wanting to go there.High back, low front lip. To get this I usually buy a cheap plastic bin of some kind and cut it to fit my needs. Also if your cage has bars I punch holes in it and I zip tie it to the cage so they can't push it around because that happens sometimes too.

Outside the cage I use both pee pads and pans they don't seem to mess with them nearly as much outside the cage but it does happen on rare occasion, Lately they love their new cage so they've been going to the litter box in there and when they are too lazy there's either a box or a pad and they just go there not too much issue.

Praise and reward them with a treat mine really like freeze dried rabbit bites and salmon oil when they use the desired place you want them to go. Your ferret will more than likely start to pretend to potty to get treats so keep an eye lol.

Here's a link you might find helpful as well if you havn't already seen it.

holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/108/litter-box-boot-camp

[macgirl]

So I assume you use litter in the pan? How high are the ‘outer’ sides? What height did you cut the ‘inner’ side down to? I tried the reward thing with the pads, and yep, they did the fake ‘go’ to get it, and 2 minutes later continued to move, burrow, shred it. I did read that link and am going to rearrange the cage somewhat so the ‘wolves’ (my 2 friendly with them, really don’t care dogs) don’t break in and eat them while they’re doing their business! What litter type is best? Thanx in advance, and sorry for all the questions!

[raven]

The outer sides are about 4 inches high maybe just slightly higher, the front lip that they enter from is about 1 inch maybe a little lower, it makes it easier for them to walk into so they don't have to climb in, just having a little lip helps the litter from getting everywhere as easily. Ferret logic: "Get treats and fun trash paper, win win". There's a few litter options i'm not so sure of a best, I use paper litter pretty much the stuff they use for bedding in small animal cages, but there's also recycled paper pellets, and wheat based litter, might be some others too, things you want to avoid are clay, dusty litter, pine/wood lose shavings, and fragrance litter these will cause respiratory issues, you also want to avoid clumping litters because ferrets like to wipe their butts after and then it gets in their butt and just nothing good. Don't worry about the questions that's what the community is for.

[macgirl]

👍

[abbeytheferret6]

Hi Macgirl welcome to the forum and congratulations on new ferrets
So here is what some ferret potties look like. The little triangular ferret potties are no good --too small. A ferret generally turns around in potty and backs up against the wall of it.
www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/marshall-pet-products-small-animal-high-back-litter-pan


You can make your own too by cutting down the front of some plastic tubs. Some people here make their own potties.

You can also drill a hole in top of potty and clip them to the cage to keep ferrets from knocking them around. You can use these type of clips to fasten them. Lowes has them and they are at Walmarts. I use them to hang hammocks. They are in the hardware section at Walmarts.

www.walmart.com/ip/Aluminum-Colored-Carabiner-Key-Chain-Spring-Clip-Small-Size-Assorted-Colors-Single-Carabiner/171134596?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSelle

I use a combination of potties and pads outside of cage. I tape the pad a little up the wall or just fold it so it will go up the wall some. I had to put a long piece fabric along some of my baseboard because they were backing up against it, and I did not know they were make a latrine there because my carpet is dark green. But I got a potty nearby just in case they like that area. I use paper towels in my potties--- and I do go thru them. I heard u can use unmedicated chick feed for litter--I don't know if it is bad to track.

[Heather]

I would suggest a bit of a read through this as well holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/common-behavior-problems/litterbox-boot-camp/
A lot of people have found this to work amazingly. I don't use puppy pads, my guys thing they're wonderful play time items I use full sized litter boxes. You can trim down the sides to make easier access but whatever you use make it large enough to fit the whole ferret in the box
ciao

[macgirl]

And we have success! We are now a full week without a single accident outside of the litter Box! Thank you all so much for your help! Litter box boot camp is AWESOME! The only outside the habitat accidents are in front of the back door, I think they watch the dogs go outside and are trying to tell me they can do the same. NOT HAPPENING, but will put a pee pad there when I have them free roaming!

[Heather]

The "accidents" by the front door aren't accidents....they're marking the edge of their territory.
Congrats on the successes
ciao

[macgirl]

👍

[Charlie]

Yay! Glad you are having success with litter training! I just use a shallow cat litter tray I got from the dollar store.

[macgirl]

Well the furkids are doing awesome with their litter Box! Next question! How easy is it to switch from one litter to another? They’re almost through the Worlds Best Clumping Multiple Cat, and I work at a dog groomer / supply store where I can get Swheat for a lot cheaper, but none of our suppliers carry Worlds best. Should I just stick with what works, or is it easy for them to switch litters?

[Heather]

Try mixing the litter with one that you want to switch to.....similar to how you would change kibbles (just for the other end)
ciao