Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a question. I am looking for a bedding material that I can use. My ferret is currently in my bedroom and well the current bedding is ok, but the smell is just...well "not clean smelling,lol". I do change her litter box twice if not more a day but it isn't working on the oder. I was wondering can I use pine bedding (I love the smell of pine) and put that at the bottom of her cage. She has a wire bottom so she can't get into the material so I think this should work for me. But am just hessatent to use it b/c I'm not sure if it will bother her sinuses.

Any help or advise if welcomed.

Thanks,
Erin

Do not use pine in your ferrets cage. It can actually cause respiratory problems in your ferret and other illnesses. If you have a wire bottom cage make sure that you put something over the wires like a piece of plexiglass or lino so that your fuzzies feet will not fall through causing injury. In my cage my fuzzy has a little box with yesterdays new in it and old shirts and baby blakets for bedding. If you scoop the litter everyday and wash the bedding once a week that should help with the smell. Also, make sure that you are not over bathing your ferret. If you over bathe you are stripping the skin of important oils and then the skin works over time to get it all back making the fuzzy smell more. 1-3 times a year for a bath is plenty. Make sure you also have hammocks in the cage for the ferret to sleep in. In ferrets for Dummies it says 2 hammocks per ferret!

thank you. Actually I have never given her a bath nor did I ever really give my other ferrets a bath. Twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. She just doesn't smell right.
In her cage I have an old bath towel the full length of her cage and extra terry clothes in there for her "bed". She has toys and hammocks. THen she has me holding her til we fall asleep at night. She is as my friends say one spolied ferret.

Well it sounds like she is one well looked after ferret. What do you mean by she does not smell right? I hardly even smell my boy that I have and I actually like the smell so I hardly notice the smells on other ferrets. Is she descented? Some people are now choosing not to descent as they feel it is not a necessary procedure so the ferret that is not descented tends to smell somewhat stronger and may poof at times as well.

she is supposed to be descented...However, I don't think so. I have had 9 ferrets at once who were not altered and not descented and she smells more than all of them ever did. I can't even describe it. I have tried to "cover up" the odor with candles, sprays, plug ins all over the room etc. But nothing can get rid of it or should I say tame it down. I have an appt at the vet with her to see what they think.

And oh is she spoiled. She loves to sleep with me at night. She has all the toys a ferret could ever want. Her favorite toy is this mouse that squeks when its moved. I have no idea when I got it and should really think about replacing it soon,lol.

Erin

Well it definately sounds like you have tried everything to tame the smell. What are you feeding her for food? She may not be descented and she could be a poofer and that is why she is smelling more. Best thing to do is see the vet and see what they say. Good Luck!

she is eating Total Ferret Diet. I'm thinking she is in heat and not decented thus why she is acting sick. THius why I'm rushing her to the vet in the morning.

keep me updated!!!

what are the chances..... I have a MF that was not spayed or descented,lol. Well thats my luck. After the vet appt I called the petstore today where she was purchased from. She is MF has the tattoo and everything now I'm going to contact MF to correct this problem.
Well atleast we found out where all the problems were coming from. LOL.

Wow that is so bizarre that a Marshalls ferret would have been sent to a pet store without being altered and descented. Start calling and raising hell, and let me know how that goes.