Here's ar article by Mary Van Dahm, Director of the GCFA shelter on the topic of litter training stubborn ferrets. We've handled nearly 1300 ferrets in the last 5 years and not all were equipped with a Norden bombsight :D --------------------- THE INS AND OUTS OF LITTER BOX TRAINING by Mary Van Dahm Director, CGFA Shelter I often get calls from people whose ferrets leave them presents. Not nicely wrapped ones like you find under the Christmas Tree, but plain brown parcels left in corners, behind sofas, and sometimes out in the center of the room for the whole world to see. Let's face it, there are very few ferrets who are perfect about using the litter box. With a little effort, tho, and a little insight as to why a ferret goes where it does, you can greatly increase his chances of hitting the right spot. First of all, you must understand that ferrets are "latrine" animals. This means that they pick a spot, usually in a private corner somewhere, and return to that spot when they have to eliminate. They also have short legs and a low profile. To them,a room looks AWFULLY BIG and the closest corner to them looks SO inviting.Therefore, they may choose more than one corner in a room or one corner in each room! Hopefully, as the more (ahem) intelligent species, we will realize their dilemma and provide them with extra liter pans as needed. In some areas where a litter pan won't fit, newspaper can be used. It may have to be taped down so the ferret realizes that it's not a toy to crawl under or rustle around in! Placing a little feces on the paper can sometimes help the ferret to understand what the paper is for, too. Another thing you can try is putting old bread pans or Tupperware-type dishes (that are smaller than the average litter pan, but still big enough for the ferret to have room to do his duty) in spaces where regular litter pans wont fit. Whichever item suits your purpose, it is important to have the ferret realize that you are doing this for him to use. Sprinkle some old litter or some feces in the pan and show it to your ferret. Set him in it a few times, especially if he hasn't gone for a while, and keep setting him in it until he finally does relieve himself. Praise your ferret when he does the right thing. Give him a treat. But don't let him trick you! Some ferret will learn the motion of backing into the pan and pretend that they go just so they can get the treat. Let them know the difference between the desired results and an empty pan. Don't punish your ferret. Ferrets do not relate having their noses rubbed in their feces with the fact that they missed the pan. All this action does is alienate your pet from you and may actually cause him to pick more unwanted spots since his desired spot has been ruled off limits. If he still doesn't cooperate, even though you've got wall-to-wall litter boxes, don't despair. There are still other things to try. Another important factor to realize is that ferrets have very short digestive systems. Approximately 3-5 hours after a ferret eats something, the unabsorbed leftovers are going to exit the other end. Also, ferrets will often eat and then settle down for a nap. These naps will often last until the ferret is hungry again or until you come to wake him up. Waking the ferret will often trigger his body's need to eliminate, but in his excitement over seeing you, he suppresses it temporarily. If you know that your ferret ate at a certain time, or if he just woke up, leave him in his cage until you see him use his litter box. If he seems reluctant to go and is more intent on you and getting out to play, walk away for a while and then come back and check his pan to see if he has gone in it. If he still hasn't done anything, use the "placing him in the pan repeatedly" method and he should eventually get the idea. It is a good idea to set him in the litter pan after he has been out for a while too. This will help prevent further accidents from happening. Some ferrets will seem to have the right idea and head to the corner with the litter box in it , only to go right next to the box! Once again, setting him in the box repeatedly should help him get the idea.You may want to try using a different litter. Some ferrets don't like the feel of clay litter between their toes. Corn cob litter, which is sold in many pet shops, or pine shavings may be tried. DO NOT USE CEDAR SHAVINGS! They can cause respiratory problems in ferrets. There is also a new litter on the market that is made from finely ground clay which can be tried, but I have found that it tends to cling to the fetter's paws and is then spread around the house. Some ferrets like to dig in it and they get it up their noses and into their eyes causing irritation and sometimes infections. If your schedule doesn't permit you the time to constantly keep tabs on your critter while you're trying to correct his habits, you can get pieces of plastic carpet runners and place a piece under each pan that is large enough to extend out for about a foot or more on each side of the pan. At least if the ferret misses, he won't ruin your carpeting. Another way of keeping your ferret away from places where he shouldn't go is to spray the forbidden areas with rubbing alcohol. Most ferrets can't stand the smell of alcohol and will avoid these areas. Since rubbing alcohol evaporates fast, you may have to apply it several times until your critter gives up. DO NOT use Bitter Apple for this purpose. It will work just as well, but the main purpose of bitter apple is to leave a bitter flavor when you spray it.Unless your ferret is chewing the carpet, you're just wasting Bitter Apple. You may want to test the alcohol on your carpet in a small, unseen area first to make sure that it won't react with your carpeting and leave a stain. Most carpets won't have any problems, but it never hurts to be sure. For litter problems inside the cage, limiting the ferret's open areas can generally help. Ferrets don't like to soil their bedding or food. arrange the contents of the cage so all he has room for is food bedding and litter pan. This van be done by either putting a larger pan in his cage, adding extra bedding to cover all the bare areas or by putting the ferret in a smaller cage temporarily until he changes his habits. Once again, patience and perserverence are mandatory. Some ferrets that have been really good with their litter boxes can suddenly stop using them. Assuming that it's not a medical problem where the ferret is losing control of his bowels, look to see if anything has changed in your house or in the ferret's daily routine. Have you moved the furniture? Is there a new pet or person in the house? Are you letting him out a time different than usual? All of these factors can change you ferret's habits Most of the time, gently reminding him where the litter box is can be enough. Sometimes, if there is a new animal in the house - especially one that is also using the litter box, you may have to get an additional litter pan until your ferret gets used to the "intruder". Some ferrets refuse to share their pans and you may need to keep a separate pan for him on a permanent basis. So, that's the scoop on the poop, more or less. I hope I've covered most of the frequently asked questions that I receive. If anyone has any problems or any other solutions to suggest, please call the shelter @ 1-(708) 964-4232 [IFNS] <Reprinted from "Off The Paw"> -- Roger Mcmillian - via FidoNet node 1:105/14 UUCP: ...!{reed, m2xenix}!glacier!busker!115!622!Roger.Mcmillian INTERNET: [log in to unmask] [Posted in FML issue 0349]