>Subject: Pooping
>I have noticed that my ferrets are embarrassed when you see them in the
>litterbox. They seem to want to do their stuff unobserved, [snip]
I could only wish! Monster broke litter training last December. To get her
back in, I gave her a treat >every< time she got in the box. What I
succeeded in doing was teaching her to fake!<G> Now, she's 100% (unless
she's mad at me), but she wants to make sure she gets a treat, so she stares
at me to make certain I'm paying attention! We're down to opening the door
as a treat, getting access to the stairs as a treat, and one big raison
spread out over the course of the day (with left-overs at bed-time). She
has to at least fake to get the door open. Since she's deaf, I wave my hand
towards the box, and she's figured that out. I still do give the occasional
treat for faking, but it worked! Took about 3 weeks.
>I posted about the magots to see if anyone could give me advise to get rid
>of them. Cleaning the cage constinly isn't the answer I needed. No matter
>how much I clean the cages, they are there. [snip]
>karri
I didn't see and couldn't find the original post, so please don't jump all
over me if I repeat info. You may have something as simple as a mix of
chomped-up food and water in a crack somewhere that the flies have found.
They could possibly have been laid over time and are coming out of the eggs
over time.
I don't know what you cage is made of, but were I in your position, I would
find temporary housing for the fuzzies (bathroom?) and use a lot of bleach.
Lysol etc. won't kill 'em, but bleach will! Highly inconvenient (I've
bleached whelping boxes and Monster's cage - I know<G>), but also very
effective. You need a big cheap paint brush and a hose (for rinsing) - this
is pretty much an outside job only. Apply bleach liberally (=slopping it
everywhere!). If the cage is metal, rinse it immediately and very well or
the bleach will react with the metal. A wood framed cage is easier to
bleach, but doesn't rinse easily and needs longer to dry and air (2 days+).
One big caution with bleach - we have a dog that loves the taste of vinegar
or bleach (she licks the floor thoroughly after it's been washed), so >VERY<
thorough rinsing required.
Also, try cleaning the box every time you notice they've used it (also a fun
way to mess with a cat's mind!<G>). I had some fly problems and scooping
constantly, with changing and bleaching the box twice a week (for one
ferret) worked wonders. Again, rinse well.
Megan and Monster
[Posted in FML issue 1730]
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