Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I purchased my first set of ferrets when I was in high school. They were wonderful and I took good care of them. The only problem was that they had to move around A LOT once I moved out and went to college. I figured that that was why they never were litter trained when they were running around my apartment. They have been gone for almost 2 years, and now that I have a house and more stable life, my boyfriend and I decided to purchase 2 ferrets.

So, prior to getting the ferrets I did lots of research on how to effectively litter train them. Our goal is to eventually have them be able to run around most of the house when we are home and not pee and poop in all the corners. So, right now (we have had them since 12/28 and they are about 3 months old), their cage is in 1 room that is about 10ft X 10 ft. They are only allowed in this room when we let them out. We don't let them out of the cage until they use the potty, and sometimes we give them a treat when they do. Once they are out, we supervise at first. There is another litter pan in the room, in a corner that they chose. They have time in the room to play (there are lots of toys etc)and I'll come and check on them every 10-15 minutes or so. I am overwhealmed with the number of times they go on the carpet. I use nature's miracle, thinking that that will get rid of the smell but they still do it. They rarely go to wrong corner when I am in room, but when I'm not there, they do...usually they only pee there though.

I am frustrated because I started out having them supervised 100% of the time and have gradually cut back so they can be more independent. Right now, I feel they will never be able to leave this one room because they will pee everywhere if we are not looking. Is this some kind of marking thing? What advice can anyone give me, so our ferrets can be well-trained and gain more freedom? thanks in advance!

Amie

p.s. I do realize that there will be some accidents

I had a friend who gave her ferrets their own room and were seldom caged...not the full house, but anyhow...on with what she did that seemed to work...
Most ferrets use corners, she set up litterboxes in each corner initially, so that if they chose to use a corner, they ended up using a box. Eventually she was able to minimize the boxes, and accidents were VERY seldom. She used a similar technique when they were allowed into "common" areas...only with temporary "litterboxes"...she used corners of cardboard boxes (cut so they resemble the triangular ferret litter boxes), and placed a bit of litter in them, cost efficient AND disposable! These she also placed in corners of the rooms, and again after time minimized, though when they were in the common areas, they were always supervised. Also keep in mind, they are young...as ferrets they are "attention span challenged" anyhow, but as young ones, even moreso. Don't get too frustrated, in time they should catch on, though some never do, most are capable of proper litter box etiquette

Terri

As peope so with puppies, I think you are expecting alot from ferrets so young. How long does it take to toilet train a human child? Yes, you have to break it down to try and compare the ages, but your guys are babies. And yes - ferrets WILL wait until you leave the room to do something they know you don't want them to do. I watch one of mine do it when he thinks I've left the rm.! They are oooh sooo clever! So, now every time I have to leave the rm. when they are out, he comes with me. As for letting them alone to become more independent - there's no need. Ferrets are born indepedent and with a mind of their own. I suggest that as they get older and more sly they will also become more & more devious and require almost 100% supervised play. You will feel very badly if 1 or both of them succumbs to some terrible accident or lack of ferret proofing. I realize that this is not the subject you posted about,but I see alot of holes in your watching them and keeping them safe. But to address your original question..... no, there are no guarantees for litter training & ferrets. That's the bottom line. I have 1 ferret that is 5 yrs. and still doesn't get it when he's out of his cage. I have another that is just past 1 yr. that gets it already and wthout much help from me.
I have had ferrets for about 10 yrs. and that's jst imo. Nancy, Hocus Pocus & Hobbes

Both my first ferret and my present one would go back into their cage to go to the bathroom. I would let them run around in the same room as their cage and they would go into the cage on their own. Whether or not my present ferret will actually use the litter box is a different story but he will go in his cage instead of on the carpet or floor. The other day he surprised me. I let him run around in my room instead of the living room(where his cage is) and he scratched at the door to let me know he had to go to the bathroom. I can actually say I have been very lucky with him not having any accidents outside of his cage.