From the Triangle Ferret Lovers club Oct/Nov 96 newsletter REVISED:
 
              Controlling Ferret Odor in Your Home
 
To control odor, don't bathe the ferret.  Ferrets secrete more oil to
replenish what is lost from bathing.  Unless your ferret tried to dig its
way to China in your favorite potted plant, has fleas or walked through
your kitchen after stepping in water soluble purple paint mistakenly left
on the floor - ferrets can go for several months without bathing.  Bathing
once in the Spring and again in the Fall helps remove shedding fur.
 
Smell or odor comes from your fuzzies bedding, waste, and diet.  Provide
them with a high-quality ferret or kitten food (min. 32% Animal Protein,
min 18% Fat - Purina Cat Chow doesn't cut it folks).  Wash bedding (old
towels/t-shirts/sweatshirts with buttons removed) weekly.  Clean out litter
box daily.  Replenish with fresh litter at least once a month, depending on
how many ferts you own.  (Some ferts use newspaper.)  If you have vinyl tile
squares on the wire cage flooring (better for their paws), clean with soap
and water routinely.  Purchase solid-type air freshners (not Glade Plug-ins
due to fire hazard).  Vacuum regularly.
 
Shari Gunter
Newsletter Editor
Triangle Ferret Lovers club, North Carolina
http://www.trifl.org
[Posted in FML issue 2264]