Potty pad alternatives?

[eclipso]

Hello, I still don't have any ferrets, but I'm almost done choosing all the items they would need. I came across potty pads, but I think they'd be pretty expensive to use long term, since they'd need many around my room. Also I'm afraid that if one day they're stressed, they might bite and rip or eat the potty pad edges. Does anyone here have a solution? I've seen the reusable ones and the grass mats, but I think they'd get quite smelly. I do have access to  A LOT of dirt though, so I was thinking I could fill a plastic pan with dirt and use that as a potty pad buttttt they might kick it around. Any suggestions? Thanks!

[unclejoe]

Ferrets LOVE to dig in dirt. It could be quite a mess indoors. And the might not potty in it anyway. depending on how your room is set up, you'll need a potty pad in accessible corners. Ferrets like corners. I haven't had any ferts rip up pads. But they will ony use it 2-3 times. if your bed is on a frame, put it on the floor, because they will go under it. Carpet is another problem. if the ferts are in a carpeted room alone, they will try to dig under the door and trash the carpet. Lock them up when they are alone They sleep a lot anyway. We had one dig up the carpet by the door in a motel room, lol.

[abbeytheferret6]

I luv those potty pads!
Do not have to buy potty litter like Yesterdays News---which i quit doing years ago and switched to paper towels. Almost quit the potties except in cages and a few other places. Bigger area for ferret to pooh on. I think they are great for free roaming ferrets.

[eclipso]

So far, the options I have are
- towels
- paper towels
- potty pads
- dirt with some sort of protection on top
- bunny type of litter

Which one do you think is best?

Edit: 

I did the math... if I use this paper towel and use 4 sheets per potty place, it would last me half a year. It costs 30$

www.amazon.com/Bounty-Quick-Size-Paper-Towels-Family/dp/B079VP6DH6/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=absorbent+paper+towels&qid=1632151746&sr=8-7

So I think I'll use some hand towel instead and wash them really good.

[Corvidophile]

I wouldn’t use hand towels just for the reason of training them not to relieve themselves on fabric surfaces, that sounds like it’ll come back to bite you. Paper towels are fine, the texture is different.

[unclejoe]

Sept 20, 2021 14:18:52 GMT -5 Corvidophile said:

I wouldn’t use hand towels just for the reason of training them not to relieve themselves on fabric surfaces, that sounds like it’ll come back to bite you. Paper towels are fine, the texture is different.

I totally agree.  You will have cloth bedding, like beds, sleep sacks, hammocks, etc and there needs to be a designated potty area. We don't use terry cloth, like towels, with the ferrets because they can get their claws caught in the loose nap. And they're more likely to move around a towel and even sleep in it.   If you can tolerate the mess, our ferrets will use a puppy pad 3-4 times.  You could try newspapers, but you need multiple layers, and the pee may run off before it is absorbed.  

[Charlie]

You could try cardboard but make sure you put plastic under it. That could get messy too.  Maybe you can go to a store and get free boxes.  Most places get rid of them.  But then it would be hard for you to get rid of them in the trash as it takes up a lot of space.

[abbeytheferret6]

I use two full paper towels to a potty--- it is the kind that can be halved. They are larger than buying the ones that can not be halved. I do use Bounty----a little bit more expensive. I never did cost effectiveness.

Soiling potty pads 3 -4 times is what I would recommend too before changing unless upset stomach which the smell might turn ferrets off.

[Charlie]

I use potty pads too. I get mine from the dollar store. It's cheaper there.

[caitmonster]

I buy a big bag of horse stall bedding (pelleted sawdust--any harmful oils are baked out) and use that in my litter boxes, which are just plastic storage bins that I cut entry holes into. Portable, easy to clean, and you can put a lid on so no creatures or objects fall in. I pick one up and bring it in the car with us for car trips. The stall bedding costs about $5 for 40 lb at farm supply places, and the bins can be cheapo ones from Walmart, so... pretty inexpensive. I think I buy a bag of pellets maybe once every few months for one ferret with two litter boxes. He has free run of the downstairs during the day and does great with just those two, but he is unusually impeccable with his potty habits.

*Also, pelleted sawdust is flushable, but please make sure your sewer situation is amenable to it--I live in a 100+ year old house and have never had a problem in the years I've used it, but YPMV (your pipes may vary).

[eclipso]

I love all your ideas! The horse one is really creative, I like it. I might do either that one or a rag-like towel, with a different texture than the normal ones. Thanks for all your ideas, I've really learned a lot from all of you.

Thank you!!

Edit: what do you guys think about reusable potty pads?

[lyles]

I use washable pads for the simple fact that my boys will tear up the disposables and dig out litter.
You'll need to buy several as you'll need to change them 1-2 times a day depending on the number of ferrets.