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Marshall Tips on Litter Training Your Ferret
Litter box training is one of the first items on most new owner's agendas. If the kit was kept in a confined area where a litter box was always available, chances are that he at least knows what a litter box is used for. The idea of a confined area with a litter box is a good beginning regardless of the age of the ferret.
Choosing appropriate ferret litter is a must; we recommend recycled paper pellets as the best option. Any litter that is dusty or creates dust could cause upper respiratory problems.
The first day home, the ferret should be confined to a small area - preferably to his cage - while he gets used to the sights, sounds and smells of his new surrounding. The domestic ferret is a "clean" animal. He will relieve himself well away from his source of food and his sleeping area. Keep a close eye on your new pet. If you see him using the litter box for its intended purpose, lavishly praise him and give him a drop of Furo-tone/Furo-Vite as a reward. If he begins to relieve himself elsewhere pick him up and place him in the litter box, make sure he finishes there, praise him and give him the Furo-vite or Bandit treat. Corner deterrent springs are also a great training tool and can be purchased as a training aid. These springs should be placed in any corner of the cage that the ferret doesn’t have something else occupying that area.
After the first day or so, give him the freedom of a small room. You may have noticed that the ferret always uses a corner of the litter box. In the room he will also tend to use corners. Place litter boxes in strategic corners of the room. It's also a good idea to place strips of plastic carpet runner, newspapers or vinyl flooring samples under each of the litter boxes to protect carpets from accidents. It may also be a good idea to place the runners in corners where there is no litter box. Again, repeat the close observations and rewards when your ferret uses the litter box. Most ferrets learn quickly that he gets a treat when he uses the litter box. After a while they may frequently run there and pretend to relieve themselves just to get the reward.
Litter box training can be made easier by using a Pet Playpen. In the beginning this method is somewhat easier because the shape of the playpen is circular, thus no corners! Reaching into this area is very easy and training is definitely less cumbersome than a cage.
We have found this to be the easiest method. A ferret’s digestive tract is so short that within a few hours time after eating he will have to relieve himself. Place the ferret in the litter pan as soon as you see him backing up to go. Repeating this method over and over again does work. Make sure to leave some feces in the pan so the ferret gets used to the fact that this is where to go! If he has accidents outside of the pan, scoop up immediately and clean thoroughly. Cleaning that scent is important, this will deter them from going there again.
When the ferret is using the litter box regularly, you can expand his territory. Repeat this gradually until he has the run of your home (or at least those areas where you are willing to allow him to roam). Litter boxes will usually be required in each room.
Chances are good that he won't use an area as long as his bedding or food dish are present.
Available to you also are ferret books – the book “Ferrets For Dummies” is the most recommended. You may purchase this online @ http://www.ferret.com/or check with your local library for availability. There are also multiple web sites on litter training. Google the words: litter box training and ferrets.
Sincerely,
Marshall
Readers Column
Submit your own ferret health or behavior question to marshall@marshallpets.com. We may run the question and answer in CLIFFNotes. This is because Paul over at Marshall Pets bragged that he could litter train a ferret in 15 minutes.
Seeking Insulinoma Advice
I'm in need of your input and past experiences. I have a 5-1/2 year old male ferret that was just diagnosed with low blood sugar. I'll bring him back in early next week for a blood sugar/glucose re- test to see if it's the start of Insulinoma or if it was just low for that day, but considering he has very low energy and sometimes seems depressed and uninterested in playing, I'd say it's the start of insulinoma.
I have been all over the Internet and read all the books, so I know the signs and symptoms, but I have never had a ferret with this, so I would greatly appreciate anything you can tell me on what you have experienced with your ferret if you went the medication-route only (and how well they did or are doing), or if you chose the surgical/medication route, and how that went. The Vets are not usually to forthcoming on how much it costs for the surgery, and the Internet prices are all over the place. I've seen $100 to $500, and also $1,000 to $2,000, if you don't mind sharing on how much it costs...... that would be great. It would also tell me how much I need to try and save up for it.
I live in the Santa Clarita area just above Los Angeles, but there is only one Vet that treats ferrets. She's really great, but I would like second opinion and the most qualified Vet to do the surgery. If you can recommend any Vet that you has experience with, please send it my way. I'll drive anywhere in the Southern CA area,
My E-Mail is
Ferretmom7098@yahoo.com
Hope to hear from you soon, thanks
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Second Pre-EIR Report Is In
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| Ferrets are the pinnacle of respectability! |
No Surprises - Ferrets Are Safe!
Dr Geo Graening submitted the 2nd of four reports on the work being done prior to filing the Environmental Impact Report. The report is going as any informed ferret owner would expect:
"Questionnaire response content to-date has been rather benign; those agencies that have responded that the ferret as a regulated or non-regulated pet. The exception is the State of Hawaii, which vehemently opposes importation or possession of ferrets. None of the questionnaires received to-date have documented the establishment of any feral breeding populations, or negative interactions with wildlife, or significant impact on human health or safety. Several agencies have attempted to qualify the number of domesticated ferrets in their state; this will assist us in creating a national estimate of ferret ownership, which is important baseline data for performing future risk analysis of ferret ownership/legalization."
Questionnaires have been sent to any state agency that may deal with the domestic ferret issue. In California, that would be the Department of Fish and Game, the Department of Food and Agriculture and the California Department of Public Health.
Questionnaires have also been sent to all the Canadian provinces and may go to Mexican states.
There is also a literature review underway. There is a lot of literature out there about how bad ferrets are. They are all unscientific and need to be examined by unbiased professionals. (that will be fun) When everything is finished, provided no child-eating ferrets (or any such thing) turns out, the official Environmental Impact Report will be filed. Yippee!
Ferrets Seized After Student Mentions Them in Class
A girl in Northern California spoke about her ferrets in her class this Thursday and it turns out, that one of the student’s dad works for animal control and has started an investigation.
It didn't take long. By Friday evening Animal Control was in their driveway.
They asked how long they had their ferrets, the answer was for about a year. They asked about anyone been bitten, the answer was no. They asked if they have attacked any animals, again "no." The officer let the owners take his picture with them. He went to his vehicle came back with a cage. He said, I hope you understand we do have to take them in, the daughter asked why? The officer stated since they were not safe for her to have. The girl started to cry. The officer headed back to his car to fill out some paperwork. Gave them a ticket and said can we find a good home for them within 30 days.
One Word Here - Outrageous!
Environmentalists Tell Us Why Ferrets Should Remain Illegal
Note - last week we accepted a challenge from a group of Bay Area people who said they would prove why ferrets should be illegal. - Here is their response.
[Ferrets are] hard to manage... and happier not in homes, an invasive species, if they get loose they can harm the environment and out-compete native species and cause prey populations to drop, I guess...they can also interbreed with wild species of ferrets and make hybrids, but I don't think that's a problem in CA...Ferrets not only harm native populations but they are very tricky animals who are cute but need a special environment and I believe they are nocturnal so they aren't that fun to have as pets anyway. They are ferocious predators who can multiply and destroy the already depleting native populations in California.
 Our response - this is insightful only because it shows what we are up against. Despite having neither facts nor data, these otherwise intelligent people felt the need to prove to us that ferrets should not be legal. I promised them anonymity but I get the feeling these people are environmentally conscious and obviously to us, badly misinformed. I wonder if our research will change their minds.
And One Humboldt Realty Company
Warns of the Danger of Ferrets as Pets
Note - OK, I'm giving into my petty side. I get these stupid emails occasionally but since Joshua used his work address - and the guy appears to own a company that deals with the public I can't resist to publish everything! - Is it a joke? I've asked, but so far no response.
have you ever returned to your baby carriage and found all the toes and fingers chewed off your baby? have you ever opened your picnic lunch and found all the meat eating out of every sandwich, replaced by small stacks of ferrett poop? have you ever gone to your drug stash, found it empty, and heard a flock of ferretts playing your favorite cd while ripped to gills.? hope you get the point. these evil little bastards have been kicked out of every civilized nation on earth, and hardly deserve the civil rights which youi propose for them. Off the Ferrets. Shoot em if they run, chop em if they stand. Our great democracy cannot stand even one more step backwards on this important issue.
They should change their name to "Sad Home Realty"
P.S. - From Lance M. - There's an email address listed For Joshua Kinch. Please, let's all let Mr. Kinch know how badly misinformed he is. Sadly, a human being with this skill set is likely to believe anything you tell him, so please be kind with your emails, since he will likely not be too kind with any response he sends back. - I feel badly for this person. Truth be known, there was a time when I didn't want ferrets in my life. I thought them to be smelly, vicious critters. I will forever be the first to acknowledge how very wrong I was. Ferrets are the epitome of love and fun, wrapped in a furry package of joy.
But Ferrets Are Family
We need some cute faces to counter all the inaccuracies and prejudice mentioned above - so Joe Ferret's friends sent these in:
The Real Downside to Ferret Legalization
My boyfriend is from San Diego too and used to be a ferret owner. The whole idea behind why they're illegal is bullsh*t. But in a way, do you ever think that maybe its hard on us, but doing the animals a favor. I mean, think of how many idiots would want to run out and get one if they were legal. It would be the new big fad. And since there would be money in it, a new hot commodity, they would be recklessly sold just like pot bellied pigs and reptiles etc. to people who will grow sick of them and not care for them properly. The state will be flooded with rescue and abused/neglected ferrets just like every other animal. At least now, the people who own ferrets are True lovers of them and go out on a limb to care for and protect them. By legalizing, aren't you concerned it may do more harm than good? Just something to think about... -And an Answer..
I'm the President of Ferrets Anonymous, and one of the Founders of Orange County Ferrets. Once upon a time (it seems like forever ago) I didn't want ferrets. I thought them to be smelly and vicious critters who would sooner bite you than be a good companion animal. This is because I had limited interaction with them as a child. When I was a kid, a friend of mine had a ferret that bit my mom's nose clean through. As it turns out, the ferret wasn't to blame - the owner was. Why? Because the parent of the child who owned the ferret didn't take an active enough role in the care of the ferret. Since the ferret was more of a plaything than a companion animal, the ferret didn't receive the socialization that ferrets absolutely require to be the wonderful pets that they can become. Ferrets aren't for everyone, and it takes a whole lot of work.
As far as ferrets becoming legal, and a whole bunch more people having them, there are far more ferrets already in California than in any other state already. Animal shelters are not being overrun because there are groups already in place out there who are taking the sole burden of sheltering ferrets upon themselves. Sometimes, the burden is more than many can bear - but its being done and had been for many years. This is the only way to be 100% sure that ferrets are not being put to sleep under the current ferret ban. If made legal, at least the hoops that the Department of Fish & Game makes people jump through to do rescue legally would be far less difficult, and we could be assured that we would never leave a ferret without an escape route. -Nothing brings me to tears faster than not being able to do anything in certain situations. Luckily, this is rare.
- Does it mean that more irresponsible people can have ferrets legally? -Sure it does. But it also means that when those people decide that they can't handle the special needs of ferrets - we can step in more easily to take care of those ferrets. Its not right that a special companion animal such as a ferret should have to be hidden away its whole life without the pleasure of feeling the warm sun on his face or grass between his toes. I have had ferrets go their whole life only feeling the outside breeze on their fur during the cover of night for fear of being found. To me, I'm willing to keep working doing rescue long after ferrets become legal, just to ensure that ferrets can enjoy the basic freedoms that are given to any other domestic pet. -Lance M.
In Conclusion
What was supposed to be a fun issue of CLIFFNotes to put together because of the 2nd pre-EIR study showing, as expected, no negative consequences from ferrets turned out to be an unpleasant eye-opener.
Ignorance and prejudice (throw in a little hostility) seem to have come our way. Why do these people care? Couldn't our Bay Area environmentalist have Googled "feral ferrets" or "ferret health risks" or something and see how unfounded their viewpoint is?
As Lance said when he was elected President of Ferrets Anonymous - "We sure need to focus on education!" So we will be putting together our "test your ferret knowledge" quiz in time for the Orange County Pet Expo. And then another version for the 2010 elections.
On the other hand I am having a blast with the new babies I got for my birthday. It is truly a gift to watch the two girls, Bailey and Tiger grow up. Their antics are amazing and educational. Bailey is a little flower. I tried to train them both to come when I squeak the squeaker. Bailey is afraid of it, Tiger stole it.
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Bailey, top left and Tiger |
More good news to focus on is our funds are doing well. Calendar sales pushed into the positive, our Wysong affiliate (see the bottom of this email) has raised about $800. We can pay for our EIR report.
Thank you for supporting the efforts!
Pat Wright
More Cute Photos
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