I sent a direct response to the person who posted frustration at their ferret going potty everywhere, but thought I would go ahead and share with everyone else too, in case anyone else encounters similar problems. I went through something very similar with an older female ferret that I had rescued, and I know just frustrating it can be. When I rescued the older female ferret, it soon became clear no one had taught her good litterbox habits. She went everywhere, even while in the cage. Over time, I worked with her and gradually was able to teach her better habits. I also made sure she got medical care that was needed, which may have also helped. Since she was an older ferret, I wasn't sure how much of the training would take, but eventually she was pretty much 100% litterbox trained. it took a good while, a year maybe, but success... for about a year. Then she started going back to her old ways. At first I thought she was just backsliding and got very irritated with her, for I knew she should know better. Once when I was feeling especially frustrated, I scolded her pretty loudly. It seemed to upset her, and she started trembling. I couldn't understand why she wasn't trying harder when it was obvious that the scolding upset her. Then one time I saw her running as fast as she could go toward a litterbox, but she just couldn't get there fast enough. Other times, she would go mid-stride as she was walking, as if she were not even aware of it. I realized she wasn't backsliding, she was becoming incontinent. Then I felt really bad about fussing at her for going in the wrong places. She was really trying to do what I wanted, but just physically couldn't do it anymore. Poor thing! I really felt like a heel, and it seemed like she never trusted me quite as much afterwards. I wished I could take it back, but of course, I couldn't. So I just tried to show her lots of love and hope that she could tell mommy was sorry for being such a mean old witch. She also had some rear-leg weakeness, which is common in older, or infirm ferrets. I think this tendency ferrets have toward rear-leg weakness also extends to having other problems in the rear part of their body, which tends to lead to incontinence. They just lose muscle control at the rear end of their bodies. Short of putting Depends (diapers) on the ferret, there's not much you can do once that happens. It seems like a lot of my older ferrets eventually become incontinent, but they usually don't live a lot longer once that happens, (6 months maybe). Even ferrets that have not completely lost control will sometimes have trouble stepping over the rim of a litterbox if they are having physical problems. So it's just easier to go in front of it or behind it. They are not necessarily just being lazy. I know this is not encouraging information, but it's the truth. So when you have a normally well behaved ferret that starts going everywhere, you just have to love them in spite of it. Just know that these are you last days with him, love him, know that he probably can't help it, and try to not let it get to you too much. When we, ourselves get old enough, we may have the same problem one day. I go so much now, I figure I'm headed for Depends one day for sure. LOL! Holly, Icarus & Cato [Posted in FML issue 5197]