>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]