Free Range Toilet Training

[Deleted]

I have two ferrets one and both are around 3 years old. They are almost 99% with their litter box in their cage.. but when they free range its more like 60%. Their favourite place to make a mess is right by the front door; an inconvient place for a litter box. I've put litter boxes in all their other favourite corners but I sometimes find messes right BESIDE the litterbox.

When I catch them in the act they get scruffed and put into timeout. Occasionally (if I'm feeling active ) I will run over and treat them when they use the litter box.

Is there any other way I can improve their toilet habits? As far as I can see my options are to treat them every time and add more litter boxes. Any other ideas?

It's making a mess right next to the litter box that's really confusing me.

Thanks

[Sherry]

Time outs for potty training are essentially useless. Best bet for a higher success rate is to restrict their play area to a fairly small one til they are more accurate, then slowly increase how much play area they are allowed.
Again, if you get an 80%-90% success rate, that's good.

[Deleted]

I use puppy pads and newspaper under the boxes.

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2012 0:14:24 GMT -5 boozle said:

I use puppy pads and newspaper under the boxes.

Thanks for a great idea Do most ferrets have a habit of going right next to their litter?

[Deleted]

Mine will go next to the tray if the cleanliness isn't to their standards

[Deleted]

Same here, if I don't keep it clean enough, he goes right next to it. I also keep either puppy pads, newspaper or old towels underneath so, one; if he misses, it's not on the floor and, two; he can wipe effectively.

[miamiferret2]

21 years with free roaming ferrets. Zero cage. There will always be a corner that they prefer. I wish I could tell you that it is easy to fix this little problem. But, my boy likes to go in the hallway, in front of doors that lead outdoors, next to the dogs food and water bowls, in a corner of the dining room and behind the bar. I just go to those places with paper towels and clean up. There is no sense in me trying. In the bedroom, he poops in his designated area (newspapers that we put in his preferred corner. But, he sometimes goes in the bathroom too! I keep a roll of bounty paper towels and a spray bottle with water & vinegar in the room.
Anyway, if you find something that works, let me know. LOL

[aletha]

The best is when you try for 15minutes at keeping them in the litter box cuz you just caught them backing up beside it. And you try and try once you give up and walk away they get out and try and go beside again!! LOL why we love them I guess!!

[Deleted]

Jan 21, 2012 21:36:00 GMT -5 @aletha said:

The best is when you try for 15minutes at keeping them in the litter box cuz you just caught them backing up beside it. And you try and try once you give up and walk away they get out and try and go beside again!! LOL why we love them I guess!!

I like to call them Thing 1 and Thing 2 from Doctor Zeus's 'Cat in the Hat'. I think it's fitting

[lumene]

I make Penne use her litterbox before playtime, or I put her in the bathtub and she'll go right next the drain.

[Sherry]

When I had one ferret, he was fantastic at using his box inside and outside the cage. Second one came in. Territorial pooping started at doorways, etc. Got them trained out of that.
Third came in- more territorial pooping/peeing(the girl was the worst for it ). Got them over that. Fourth came in. Repeat.
5th and 6th came in, then very quickly 7th and 8th. At that point- I gave up ;D
Ditto for 9th, then 10th.
Now, as long as they are in the general vicinity of paper or box, I'm a happy camper ;D ;D ;D