>Subject: Pooping >I have noticed that my ferrets are embarrassed when you see them in the >litterbox. They seem to want to do their stuff unobserved, [snip] I could only wish! Monster broke litter training last December. To get her back in, I gave her a treat >every< time she got in the box. What I succeeded in doing was teaching her to fake!<G> Now, she's 100% (unless she's mad at me), but she wants to make sure she gets a treat, so she stares at me to make certain I'm paying attention! We're down to opening the door as a treat, getting access to the stairs as a treat, and one big raison spread out over the course of the day (with left-overs at bed-time). She has to at least fake to get the door open. Since she's deaf, I wave my hand towards the box, and she's figured that out. I still do give the occasional treat for faking, but it worked! Took about 3 weeks. >I posted about the magots to see if anyone could give me advise to get rid >of them. Cleaning the cage constinly isn't the answer I needed. No matter >how much I clean the cages, they are there. [snip] >karri I didn't see and couldn't find the original post, so please don't jump all over me if I repeat info. You may have something as simple as a mix of chomped-up food and water in a crack somewhere that the flies have found. They could possibly have been laid over time and are coming out of the eggs over time. I don't know what you cage is made of, but were I in your position, I would find temporary housing for the fuzzies (bathroom?) and use a lot of bleach. Lysol etc. won't kill 'em, but bleach will! Highly inconvenient (I've bleached whelping boxes and Monster's cage - I know<G>), but also very effective. You need a big cheap paint brush and a hose (for rinsing) - this is pretty much an outside job only. Apply bleach liberally (=slopping it everywhere!). If the cage is metal, rinse it immediately and very well or the bleach will react with the metal. A wood framed cage is easier to bleach, but doesn't rinse easily and needs longer to dry and air (2 days+). One big caution with bleach - we have a dog that loves the taste of vinegar or bleach (she licks the floor thoroughly after it's been washed), so >VERY< thorough rinsing required. Also, try cleaning the box every time you notice they've used it (also a fun way to mess with a cat's mind!<G>). I had some fly problems and scooping constantly, with changing and bleaching the box twice a week (for one ferret) worked wonders. Again, rinse well. Megan and Monster [Posted in FML issue 1730]