Meg,
 
Two of my cages had the bottom wire flooring which I've removed.  It's a
relatively easy job to do and my cages are just as stable without the floor
as they were with.  Not only is the wiring bad for the ferrets feet, but
it's hard to keep clean because the bottom is where food, water, and potty
are.
 
Ferrets really do not need the "small animal bedding." I've found the best,
and fastest, way for me to keep clean is to line the bottom pan with heavy
plastic.  I lightly spray the plastic with the same vanilla extract/water
mixture I use on their beding, and let it dry.  (This is to prevent
"accidents" on the floor.) Then I smooth it down really good and put the
cage together.  In the litter boxes, I use the pelleted recycled newspaper.
I'd tried so many other litters and this is the one that got them litter
trained.  It seems expensive, but it lasts a long time (I have 8 fuzzies, so
I do go through more than some owners do).  I use a small broom/dust pan to
sweep up food and dug out litter every day, clean the litter boxes 2 times a
day, and once a week, I do a complete cage cleaning, where I just remove the
plastic lining.  Simple, easy, and oh so fast!  :-)
 
On the upper levels, I use old t-shirts (held down in all corners by metal
shower curtain hooks) which mine really seem to prefer over towels and other
bedding.  I also have the essentials, of course: tubes, hammocks and the
such.
 
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Date:    Wed, 27 May 1998 23:39:03 -0700
From:    meg yosting <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: floors of cages
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I have a question.  I have read in many books that a cage for you fuzzie
should not have the grid exposed... So I have taken towels and bedded down
the upper floor for Frankie... Now we did use the shreded paper for frankie
but now I hear that is bad... the wood pellets i guess I could fill the tray
up and then pile it in thru the door so it is all over the floor or..... DO
YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS..  the paper did such a neat job of it and made the
cage light enough to bring into the front room and anywhere we wanted it..
I need help experienced people out there.
 
I also wanted to share that my daughter just loves her frankie..  she never
takes a bath alone any more ... he is 10 weeks old going on 11 and so sos
cute... I never thought of these kids as having so much personality..  wow
he has me won over if you blow on his nose he gives you kisses... he never
bites hard I hope he will continue that .... Any suggestions here are
apprecited.....
 
he has our 5 cats literally trained... they all run for the tops of the
couch and furniture when he is loose it is so funny occasionally Jazmine or
Sassy will get down and sneak up on him but the min he turns around they are
like out of here.... reminds me of the sylvester cat and his son when he
tells his son about the big mouse... ( actually a kangaroo) hehehehehe
 
well thanks for letting me ask... and share  our   Frankie tales.....
 
meg christina and frankie...
 
 -----------------------------
 
Mary Reeves
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www.dialaccess.com/shadra/home/main.htm
ICQ UIN:  2085600
[Posted in FML issue 2324]