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Post by corrij on Aug 21, 2011 8:59:33 GMT -5
I hope this is the right place to put this, if not can one of the mods move it? Last night I started the boys on litter box boot camp. I think the sudden shock of having a huge cage made them forget all their manners. I'd just like to have a thread where I can put details and get some help if we get stuck at any point. So far, literally overnight, I've seen an improvement. There was one out of box poop so far. And it was just in front of the box. I feel sad/annoyed that we bought them this huge cage and we can't even use it all. Plus I was planning on another order of ferret bedding hopefully by the time it gets here they'll be better. I'll put up some pictures later today of the cage. And our set up, I'd love some feed back if we did it right.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 21, 2011 9:58:42 GMT -5
Not a problem with keeping an ongoing thread about it We'll help wherever we can Just make sure the entire floor of the cage is covered in stuff(bedding, toys, etc., and that the litter box is anchored down so they can't shift it out of the way.
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Post by corrij on Aug 21, 2011 10:17:25 GMT -5
Ok here is what I have so far. When out shopping today I'm going to look for some inexpensive baby blankets. For now it's just a layer of old tshirts and a towel. It's hard to see but in the back corner is a water dish and a food dish. They are ones that lock to the side of the cage but I put them as low as possible. I was at a loss for something to hang in the other corner so for now I just used a bunch of metal shower hooks linked together with one of the jingle balls at the end. One of the two is still pooping just in front of the litter box though. not sure which. It may be because I need to give the box a quick scoop.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 21, 2011 15:13:26 GMT -5
How low is the lip? Is it the same box you used in the smaller cage? I usually try to bunch a blanket or towel in the area in front of the box so it's less accessible ;D my Dixie is the only one with a problem going inside the box and will try to backup next to it or beside it And don't feel bad - doing this now will greatly help in the long run. Mine were restricted to a single level for almost 2 months ;D building the habit now as they're babies will make things easier as they age
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Post by Sherry on Aug 21, 2011 17:17:04 GMT -5
Just keep with it. Change the bedding out if they soil it, and try to "stay" the course. It WILL pay off. Some just take longer than others.
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Post by corrij on Aug 21, 2011 18:02:25 GMT -5
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Post by Heather on Aug 21, 2011 18:21:40 GMT -5
It often gets worse before it gets better. Hopefully, they won't continue in this manner. The cage doesn't smell like them so they're working at it ciao
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Post by corrij on Aug 21, 2011 21:23:37 GMT -5
Swapped out the soiled stuff for clean blankets. Went and checked in on them and someone had pooped in the box so yay! Hopefully they will realize that I'm more stubborn then they are.
One thing I've noticed cleaning their litter box is that it doesn't smell as bad. I mean we switched them to raw like the second day but that first day was smelly. Their poops now smell strong, especially when I'm bending over the litter box cleaning it out, but it doesn't smell as bad as before. If that makes sense.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 21, 2011 21:40:46 GMT -5
Completely ;D Smaller stools that don't stink nearly as badly You will find, however, that their urine output will go WAY up. After all, their little bodies are actually getting some proper hydration now
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2011 2:30:42 GMT -5
And as their body adjusts to the raw, the smell will likely decrease a bit more.
Fingers crossed they get the point soon!
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Post by bitbyter on Aug 22, 2011 15:12:02 GMT -5
My Socks, who's a little "slow" compared to Wilma seems to have issues with getting in the litterbox anytime I move the placement of stuff in their room. She usually ends up going right in front of or beside the box instead of in it. After a few days (as long as I do a good job descenting where she went) she seems to relearn where the boxes are. I'm starting to wonder if she has really poor vision and relies more on smell to locate the right spot. Strong enough smell when she gets close to the box, finds the edge and that's good enough for her. Sigh...teaches Dad not to move the furniture.
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Post by corrij on Aug 22, 2011 18:54:28 GMT -5
Seems to be getting better. One small spot of poop on the blanket and looks more like it got tracked then anything. I'm wondering if I should buy a second litter box, since I'm not able to clean this one around the middle of the day now.
It's not so much the poop. They build that up in one corner. But like Sherry said they are peeing tons. Which soils bigger patches of the litter.
I think I'm already seeing a change in them. But that might just be because they are settling in and feeling more at home.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 22, 2011 19:29:54 GMT -5
Some do need to do two boxes. I've been lucky that way so far(in the cage), and have only ever needed one. Mind you- only one group has the full run of a 142.
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Post by corrij on Aug 23, 2011 19:11:15 GMT -5
Woo, poop only in the litter box today! If the boys can keep it up til next Wednesday I'll give them a shelf back.
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Post by Sherry on Aug 23, 2011 20:03:12 GMT -5
Give them a hammock first, instead of a shelf One addition at a time, so they stay reliable! Hammock for a week, then add a shelf in
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