Hello again, and thank you to everyone who sent me messages regarding
Sisko's rebellious litter training.  :) I am happy to say that the
suggestions by people telling me that perhaps his litter box may be a tad
too small were the ones that completely solved the problem!  I recalled the
size of the litter box that was in the cage when I first got him and it was
a lot bigger.  I went out to the local pet store and picked up a litter pan
that fit nicely into the cage, took up about 1/3 of the first floor, and
engulfed Sisko in size twice over.  At first I thought I had made the wrong
choice because all he wanted to to was tunnel in the litter or else kick all
the litter out all over the cage and floor with his back legs.  ARGH was
that ever a disaster!  However after half an hour of this, I couldn't take
it anymore and took him out of the cage for some play time.  He wore himself
out after almost an hour, and when I put him in the cage he just curled up
in his hammock and went to sleep.  When I awoke the next morning, he had
gone 3 or 4 times in the box, and not a single drop outside the box!  I was
so ecstatic I woke him up to praise him, and tell him how happy I was. :)
He looked at me like "Do you mind?  I was sleeping?" But when I placed him
back in the cage, he walked over, sniffed the box, then climbed in and
performed once again.  :) Many treats were given at that point.  I only hope
I don't overdo it and "train" him to fake me out to get treats.  Heheh...
 
As for litter, so far I have been using the corn cob litter pellets, and
they have been great for all the right reasons.  They smell nice, absorb the
odours very well, and they are easy to sift thru when clearing the litter
box.  Plus, it comes in various size bags, including a whopping 50lb bag. :)
It's quite inexpensive as well, which is nice for my "student" budget.
 
Now perhaps I could get some suggestions for TOYS.  I have a bunch of things
I bring out for play time that seem to amuse the heck outta this guy.... for
about 20 minutes.  After which, he simply runs around in a circle, and lays
down on his stomach, looking up as if to say "This stuff is boring!  What
else can you show me?" Currently the "toys" I have for him to play with (or
I play with him) are: a large paper bag, a large crinkly plastic bag, a 3ft
length of PVC tubing (he loves this!), a tennis ball on a string, a small
cat ball with a bell inside, a small stuffed Smurf toy, and a little plastic
container that he likes to put his head into and run around with.  Like I
said, he seems to be amused with these things for a short time, after which
he wants more to do.  He is 14 weeks old, almost fully grown, and quite
curious.  I am on a "student" budget, so I don't have the funds to buy
extravagant ferret toys...but any and all ideas are welcome!  I need
something(s) that are going to keep him busy for a while, and often enough
that he isn't going to get bored with it in a week.
 
Thanks everyone for this great resource for ferret people.  I think this is
one of the most informative and enjoyable mailing lists I have ever been a
part of. :) KUDOS!
 
- Jeff  (and Sisko)