>Stubby likes to dig in his litter box that's kept in his cage.  It really
>doesn't bother me but it drives my hubby crazy! Does anyone have any ideas?
 
<Argh!  Ack!  A button was pushed; I can't help myself!  Jumping up on
soapbox!>
Tell your hubby you can't teach a ferret not to dig!  They're going to dig
in the litterbox, in the potted plants, in the carpet, on their hammocks, on
the upholstery, etc.  They can't help themselves, it's in their NATURE.
They are BURROWING ANIMALS (That's why their nails need clipping every week!
They're "ordinarily" worn down by digging.).  Whenever people (in their
infinite wisdom) try to get animals to go against their inherent instincts
they are only doomed to make both themselves -- and their pets!  --
miserable or insane (try to teach a parrot not to chew things, or a flying
squirrel not to leap off of things!).  The way to keep your peace of mind is
to give your pets alternative ways to express their natural tendencies (like
giving a cat its own scratching post or a dog its own chew-toy).  Minimize
punishment -- maximize praise.
<Jumping down from soapbox>
 
Anyway, it seems to me that my ferrets like digging in the litterbox mostly
when (a) the litterbox has just been cleaned and the litter is fresh -- I
guess they then view it as a playpen because there isn't any poop or urine
in it yet and/or (b) when the litter is too shallow -- for some reason that
white patch of plastic that they "find" in the middle of the litterpan
fascinates them and they seem to think, "If I just dig a little harder I'll
get through to adventureland!" In both cases they get tired of it after a
few minutes and go back to business as usual.
 
I should add that I use the compressed, recycled paper litter (it looks like
green pelleted rabbit food) as the clay litter is too much like "dirt" and
too tempting to dig in (also, you can't flush it).  If you use clay litter
you might try switching.  Also, you might try keeping over some of the
soiled litter and putting it in a newly-cleaned box to remind your fuzzy
it's a toilet and not a sandbox.  Other than that, I say ...  give up!  :-)
 
Let me know what happens!
[Posted in FML issue 1460]