pet concerns

Question
I have a young kit (i have had it for 5 months) he is very active and loves my cat. But I have no toys to play with him with. I haven't got a lot of money and have a baby on the way so i need things that are safe to have around the baby. He likes hard plastic things, shoes, cat teasers, plastic bags, and hiding in boxes. We are trying to train him to stay out of our shoes and electronics (any hints). He is out most of the day as long as I am awake and home. I also need ideas on what to use as a litter box, all the litter boxes in my town are to big for his cage. also bedding ideas he doesn't like the rose wood bedding i use. as for a sleeping bed, he doesn't use the hanging bed and sleeps on the floor of his cage (is there something i can put in there to keep it warmer, because winter is coming and i cant keep my house all that warm.) one last thing, maggots, what can i do to prevent them in his cage. i have an infestation of flies that i cant seem to get rid of and i clean his cage out every week and i find them in this poo. i don't want them making him or the cat sick is there anything i can do to prevent them?

Answer
Any toy that is safe for a toddler (hard rubber etc) can be safe for a ferret.  Usually they like things to play in like paper sacks, tunnels, tubes etc.  Ferret bedding should never be pet store bedding, always use sheets, towels, t-shirts etc that should be washed every week.  I wouldn't worry about where he wants to sleep and he will manage to stay warm, especially if you change his bedding.  I am guessing that his cage is very small if you can't fit a litter box inside it.  So, my first suggestion is to save money and try to buy a larger cage.  Try craigslist or a local ferret shelter for a lower cost option, but look for something like the Ferret Nation cage.  Then he can have levels and multiple litter options.  As for maggots, his litter areas need cleaned daily, not weekly.