Mike,

I used to have ferrets that would hit the pans all the time. But the
higher the pan sides, the less frequently they will climb in to go.
So I put towels in front of them that I can clean/wash.

When I use plastic cat pans I make as wide an entrance and as low as
possible so they can walk right in, basically. It encourages some of
them to go all the way in instead of poop outside it.

I have to have a lot. For 9 ferrets, it means at least one litterbox
the size of a Ferret Nation floor. I don't mean the shelf, I mean the
entire floor. I have two two-story ferret nations stuck together with
the middle of the bottom removed, so they can move freely between them.
The litter box I'm using is a Super Pet plastic bottom, with a doorway
cut out of it to let them in and out of it without having to climb
into it.

As for the pooping/peeing in the middle of the floor - is it both? Or
mostly pee? Or mostly poop? There is a checklist to go over:

1. Any new things in your house that might be scaring or annoying the
ferrets? Sometimes it can make them go "on strike" from litterboxes.
Currently I have new ferrets and someone started doing this.
2. Is one of your ferrets possibly adrenal? This might be a case of
prostate issues. This can make ferrets want to go more, strain
sometimes, and just pee anywhere.
3. When this happens, is it right after you let them out? It could be
that someone just can't hold it anymore because they are excited. It
happens to the best of us. :D

When I did rescue, I took plastic signboard (called Coroplast) which is
like plastic cardboard. I cut it into a box with 4 sides, the back and
sides 5 inches high, and the front just slightly an inch. I then laid
newspaper inside it. This worked wonderfully. You can make them for
any size you need for any cage or part of your house. While I don't
recommend newspaper, when you have 30+ ferrets it can be good. It can
also hold puppy pee pads of course. I rarely had ferrets poop in front
of it. The bigger the pans are, the more likely you'll have ferrets
going in them. However, I can't let my guys stay out anymore at night
because they are now randomly pooping everywhere in their room. I have
carpet and it's not that I care about it getting ruined, but I just
threw out the old carpet because it was not hygenic to use anymore.

Good luck and I hope you solve your poop problems!!

Laryssa

[Posted in FML 6168]