How to Litter Train a Stubborn Ferret

Litter training your stubborn ferret takes consistency and persistence.

Often one of a potential ferret owner's apprehensions is that he will have clean up the ferret's messes from the floor. While ferrets rarely become 100 percent accident-free, they can be trained to use a litter box most of the time. Even the most stubborn ferret can be trained with diligence and patience.

Difficulty:

Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• High-backed litter pan
• Ferret litter
• Towels, blankets or old t-shirts
• Ferretone

In the Cage

1. Designate an area at the bottom of your ferret's cage for potty purposes. Use a corner litter tray or a rectangular tray that covers half of the bottom of the cage. The tray should be big enough to fit all four of your ferret's feet comfortably.

2. Fill the litter pan with a thin layer of ferret litter. Unlike cats, ferrets do not cover their waste. A lot of litter is unnecessary and many ferrets will dig it out of the tray.

3. Secure the litter tray to the cage. Many trays come with clips. You can also use Velcro to attach the tray to the cage. The stubborn ferret will try to move the litter tray so it can go potty behind it.

4. Cover the rest of the bottom of the ferret's cage with blankets, towels or old t-shirts. Ferrets are naturally clean and will not go to the bathroom on their bedding.

5. Place your ferret in the litter box as soon as it wakes up. Do not let your ferret out of the cage until you are sure that it has gone. This will allow you at least a half an hour to an hour before it has to go again.

6. Keep the litter tray clean. Scoop out waste and wet litter once or twice a day and completely replace the litter once a week.

Out of the Cage

1. Place blankets, towels or old t-shirts in any exposed corner of the room in which your ferret will be set free. Ferrets generally prefer to use corners for their potty needs.

2. Supervise your ferret closely. If you notice it starting to back up with its tail raised, quickly put it back in its cage.

3. Notice if your ferret continually tries to go to the bathroom in the same area. Ferrets generally go in the same place and if this is the case for your ferret, you can simply place a litter tray in that area.

Tips & Warnings

• Give your ferret Ferretone every time you see it use the litter tray. Ferretone is a skin and coat supplement that almost all ferrets love. Ferretone is to ferrets what catnip is to cats.

• Do not use scoopable litter for your ferret because it can cause blockages.

References

• Doctors Foster and Smith: Litter Train Your Ferret