|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2011 0:09:21 GMT -5
My ferret always uses the litter-box, never fail - WHEN IN HIS CAGE. Outside his cage everything appears to be fair game. In seeking to grab him up in time we've been peed on more than a few times because he's just too fast to grab and put in his cage. He has a playpen set up, and since he uses a corner litter pan with bars on it in his cage, I put a corner litter pan (granted, without bars, as that's what I have) in the playpen. Fuzzy decided this was a marvelously wonderful dig box. We bought supplies to make him a PROPER dig box, then shook some poop from his cage litter box into the litter box, hoping it would give him the right idea. Fuzzy decided this was just as marvelously wonderful a dig box as before, perhaps even more so now since he could roll around in his poop!  Since I don't want to have a germy ferret with poop in its fur, what can I do to train him not to do this outside the cage and follow proper bathroom protocol? I was already planning on making a kind of rubbermaid container litter-box remote box thing, anticipating him being bad at going in the cage. But he's not. The issue is in the playpen and free-roaming. Should I construct something(s)? How can I get him to realize it's not a dig box, but a place for defecation and urination? Is he only going to accept corner boxes with wire inserts? I've noticed that when in his cage he never fails to claw insanely at the corner litter pan seeking to move it so he can go to the bathroom behind it, but because it's bolted on, he eventually gives up and goes where he's supposed to. But he always chooses the lower right half of the cage, that's where his box was in the cage he came with so that's where we put the box in his new cage. Craft ideas, bolting/fixative ideas, advice I'm all ears (eyes!).  |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Mar 16, 2011 0:55:24 GMT -5
First, I'd get rid of the corner pan. None of mine will use it willingly- even the large sized one! Get a rectangular high side pan. Or- use newspaper outside.
You will have to watch him very closely, and move his butt when he backs up to go. Even if he's already started to go, move his butt to the pan/paper. When he goes in the "right spot", either treat him, or praise him. And make sure to do that every single time for a very long time! Miss once, and it's sort of- well...I didn't get my treat THIS time, so maybe I won't get it next time either. So why bother?" ;D
But please do remember- it's seldom that ferrets will ever be 100% out of cage.
Kind of like a toddler- playplayplayplay...gottogoNOW!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2011 2:08:29 GMT -5
Funnily enough, mine absolutely refuse to use the rectangular high side pans. They ONLY use the big corner ones.  I have, however, been very watchful when they are out of their cage, and figured out the one place outside of their cage that they like to go, and have put down lots of newspapers. Unfortunately it is right in front of my door so I had to put a sign up on the door so people are careful when walking in.. lol To help with the dig box - I put some treats at the very bottom of their actual dig box to encourage them to dig there instead of the litter box, since there are no goodies at the bottom of a litter box.. With free roaming.. I usually end up letting them play for an hour or two, then collect them and cage them until they have used their litter box (unless, of course, they have used the outer cage box/newspapers). |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2011 12:45:00 GMT -5
I've never had any success with the corner pans. One thing I found helps is making them actually potty in said litter box. Putting poop in a box is one thing, but when they have actually used it several time, the digging (at least here) stopped. I would try taking him out when you know he needs to potty. Go in the playpen area and repeatedly place him in the box until he goes. Reward once he does  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2011 13:06:15 GMT -5
Candice - I have the same problem with my Brady. He uses his litter box wonderfully, but when its not in the cage, litterbox = dig box. I still haven't found the solution. I'm basically just constantly using my little green machine to clean "accidents" or i'm vacuuming up the little he's kicked everywhere. Why do we like ferrets again? |
|
|
|
Post by taratee on Mar 16, 2011 14:11:17 GMT -5
i watch my guys like a hawk, when they back up into a corner i put them in the box
if they get straight out i turn them around let them sniff the poop. i dont rub their noses in it or anything just let them get a whif like hmmm thats what this is for
and more then half the time they turn right around and BAM poop the biggest problem i have is when i distract them they forget they have to go so im usually with them for several minutes trying to remind them theyve gotta go. start with a small area and work out is what ive always been told you could always put stuff where they go
thats what i do
if they want to use a corner i dont want them to use i NM it and put a toy there
or a dig box or something
anything to distract them from using it
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 16, 2011 15:01:40 GMT -5
Candice - I have the same problem with my Brady. He uses his litter box wonderfully, but when its not in the cage, litterbox = dig box. I still haven't found the solution. I'm basically just constantly using my little green machine to clean "accidents" or i'm vacuuming up the little he's kicked everywhere. Why do we like ferrets again? Haha, exactly, jacksmomma. I think it's those cute little faces that bewitch us. Then we wake up to reality. ;D Sherry, he USES a corner litter pan, one of those ones fitted with a wire insert that catches feces. I worry that if I replace his in-cage corner pan with a high-back litter pan he'll just go in the corner that that one makes, as the corner one is all he's used to. Round playpens don't really have corners, and rather than focus on one spot pretty much anywhere goes to go to the bathroom, in his opinion. Should I anchor one, or build my own with a tub and a hole in it, to the playpen/other places in the room? I like the idea about putting treats at the bottom of the dig box so he won't think it's a bathroom, I'm going to utilize that (he hasn't used it as one yet, but I'm sure it could happen). Also, since he's 100% in his cage I'm positive there's a way to make him 100% outside of it, I'm just not sure how to go about doing that in a way he will understand. I've tried placing him in the box when he needs to go, he just stomps right out, and refuses. Even if I put him back in 60 million times. I could spend an hour doing it and he wouldn't go. <_< ;D |
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Mar 16, 2011 23:04:13 GMT -5
Sometimes you 've got to actually catch him in the act  Little beggars that they are! Okay, when he backs up, and you pop him in, and he runs right back out again, try waiting til he backs up again, pop him in again. Keep doing that instead of continuously putting him right back in. Hopefully, over time, he'll come to associate the two. You know- he could also be protesting about his new home. He's got no one else to blame for his situation. And I do believe these guys remember traumatic events like that. |
|
|
|
Post by darlene on Mar 17, 2011 0:39:21 GMT -5
Well it's pretty easy to be 100% in a cage or playpen,to bad it's not the same outside the cage  . For me I just place newspapers or litterboxes where they prefer to go. Downstairs they have four places and upstairs they have three. They hit those areas 98% of the time. Sometimes Koby will get lazy or too involved in what he's doing and will just back up a few feet and go. If I catch him I put him on the paper or litterbox. I would love to get one of those green machines. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2011 1:19:56 GMT -5
Sometimes you 've got to actually catch him in the act Little beggars that they are! Okay, when he backs up, and you pop him in, and he runs right back out again, try waiting til he backs up again, pop him in again. Keep doing that instead of continuously putting him right back in. Hopefully, over time, he'll come to associate the two. You know- he could also be protesting about his new home. He's got no one else to blame for his situation. And I do believe these guys remember traumatic events like that. No, no, no, guys. He's not backing up in his cage. Like I said, when he started backing up IN THE PLAYPEN (I caught him in the act, but he's fast and starts to go immediately) I grabbed him and put him in the cage, in the box in there. THEN he refuses to go, he'll even go to bed. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2011 1:22:00 GMT -5
Well it's pretty easy to be 100% in a cage or playpen,to bad it's not the same outside the cage . For me I just place newspapers or litterboxes where they prefer to go. Downstairs they have four places and upstairs they have three. They hit those areas 98% of the time. Sometimes Koby will get lazy or too involved in what he's doing and will just back up a few feet and go. If I catch him I put him on the paper or litterbox. I would love to get one of those green machines. Like I said, he's only 100% in his cage. In the playpen he is not. Outside the playpen if we take him out, he is not. He is just so bewilderingly fast by the time I see him start to back up and I grab him he has already started going.  Sorry, it just gets frustrating. I'm not sure how to get a connection here. I'm beginning to wonder if getting a box identical to the one in his cage might be what he's looking for. |
|
|
|
Post by darlene on Mar 17, 2011 1:53:41 GMT -5
I feel your pain,it does get frustrating . I'm not sure if getting another litter box that he's use to will make a difference. I found when I first had my guys I spent alot of time putting them on the paper or in the litterbox. And I also was cleaning up alot of "misses" I don't remember how long it took before everyone was pooping and peeing where they were suppose too. I sure wish they were as easy to train as cats are  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2011 8:25:32 GMT -5
>In the playpen he is not.
Here is what works in our household.
For playpen - Make this the messy playpen....cover the floor of the playpen with toys, blankets. Make him walk over those toys. Cover that playpen floor.
Place a high back litter box in that playpen with some poop in the litter box.
Don't forget to remind him to return back to the litter box. Place your little one back into the litter box. Remind him/her.
My litter training takes place in one room.
* Wake them up and wait awhile. Make sure they use the box before they come out.
* Return your little one back to the litter box, after eating. Usually about 15 - 20 minutes after they ate.
* If I see them backup in a corner, returned back to the litter box. You might have to put extra litter boxes down in the room.
Once I see that they are using the litter box then I will give them more room to run around in....another room. We start the litter training all over again in a new room.
You need to be patience and consistent in your training. Some ferrets catch on fast and then there others that don't get it!
Good luck and I hope this helps
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Mar 17, 2011 9:27:25 GMT -5
When he's in the playpen, why not try taking the litter box from the cage, and put it in the pen? Might be worth a shot!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 17, 2011 9:30:46 GMT -5
That is a GREAT idea. That way, it is a box he is already familiar with.
|
|
Little beggars that they are! Okay, when he backs up, and you pop him in, and he runs right back out again, try waiting til he backs up again, pop him in again. Keep doing that instead of continuously putting him right back in. Hopefully, over time, he'll come to associate the two.
