How to Litter Train a Ferret? Beginners Guide

If you are a pet loving person, you definitely know what mess your pet can cause if it is not potty trained. Litter training to your ferret is possible but can be daunting. All you need to have is consistency and patience.

Ferret is a naturally better learner than other animals. Old age can affect a ferret to be habituated with a new habit, so start training when your ferret is very young. Positive reinforcement makes it easier for your ferret to be litter trained.

How to Potty Train a Ferret

To start with this, you need to have a litter box or pan. There are three different types of litters; fine clumping litter, clay made litter and some recycled paper, cedar, softwood shavings litter. So, the question is which one to pick?

Choose the one which is safe for your ferret. Ferrets’ respiratory system is sensitive,and they keep sniffing things so the litter box should be dust free.

Clay litters are usually dusty,and some of them are scented to prevent odor. It will be better to avoid this as ferrets and cats are sometimes against perfume. Cedar and shaving litters have chemicals which may irritate your pets. Thus, paper compressed litter or shredded newspaper will be the best choice.

You can get a ferret friendly litter box. This means a box with low sides which will be helpful for the ferret to step in and out.  High back and triangular shape box are convenient for the purpose. It should be large enough so that a ferret can comfortably fit in with its all four paws.

Where to Set the Litter Box?

Tough the cage is the best option to set the litter box; it’s challenging to train your ferret using the box outside the cage. But you should start with the easier option. Yes, place the litter box inside the cage.

The metabolism level of a ferret is very fast,so when they need to relieve themselves, they do it right away. They will not go and find the litter box beforehand. Thereby, keep the box in or near the cage.

If you keep it inside the cage, do not forget to confine it with the cage. Otherwise, your pet may turn it upside down. Try also a different corner of the cage. Do observe which corner of the cage your ferret likes most and place the box there.

With time, you can keep the box other places of your house, preferably, the corners of the walls. The reason to place the litter box in a corner is that ferrets usually go back to the corner when they need to defecate or urinate.

Steps to Potty Train Your Ferret

As you are all set with the suitable litter box or pan, follow the steps to start training your ferret.

• Until it is potty trained, confine the ferret in the cage when not attendant along with the litter box.  If possible, leave a piece of feces in the litter box just to make the ferret aware of the purpose of this box and encourage it to use this box.
• If your ferret is using another part of the cage as its toilet, move the box in that place then.
• If you found messes outside the box, move it into the litter box. The odor will help it to use the box as ferrets have seen to defecate in the areas of such odor.
• You do not need to lock up the ferret all the time during this training. Let it out from the cage whenever you have the time to accompany it.  In such cases, if you notice the behavior of raising its tail and going back to a corner, know that your ferret is about to urinate or defecate. Immediately bring the litter box to it.
• If you see your ferret is not using the litter box at all and keeps eliminating outside, every other place, start keeping toys and food in those places. Ferrets usually avoid such place to relive when they found food or where they play.
• Once you see the ferret waking up from slumber, put it in the litter box instantly. It may resist sitting there but bring him back,and the repetition will aid to teach him using this. 
• Do not forget to praise your ferret when they use the litter box. They are likely to respond to positive reinforcement. Along with verbal praise, you can treat him well with its favorite food. It really works and encourages him to carry on the training.
• Widen the range of ferret’s litter permitting area by putting several litter boxes in different places of your house. It will assist a ferret in finding one easily when he needs to litter.
• As ferrets like to be clean naturally, they will not like to use too dirty and strongly smelly litter. Therefore, try to keep it clean regularly. Litter scooper will be handy to remove feces. Replacing the old litter with a new one every week is a better way to be tidy and fresh.
• If there is an accident outside the litter box, try to stay calm. Take back him to the litter box as a reminder. Do not be angry with your ferret for doing this accident. It can make the whole training upside down. This is the point where your patience is being tested the most. 
• If your ferret does not pay attention to this or keep ignoring the litter box, you have to continue repeating these steps.

Things to Remember

• Keep away the litter box from the bedding or sleeping area of your ferret as much as possible.
• Try to provide constant accompany in the early stage of training when your pet is outside of the cage.
• Do spend a good amount of time to get a better result from your pet.
• Repetition and appreciation are much needed.
• There can be an accident even after training. Don’t consider it as a failure. Just clean it. Treat the stain in a quickest possible way.
• Deodorize the accidental areas, use bleach, lemon flavored air freshener to prevent the re-occurrence of this mishap.

Conclusion

The days of worrying over your ferret’s litter training will be over if you follow the instructions properly.

The sooner you start, the better your ferret will do. So. stop wondering and start training your ferret. Once they learn it, they will maintain it.  We hope this article was a helpful read.

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