Question
Harley
I just got a male ferret that is a little more than a year old and I have a few questions about him. I've read up on ferrets quite extensively but still have a few questions. First, I adopted this ferret from another family that couldn't keep him anymore. He has a rather large cage that is about 5 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 2 feet deep. It has about 4 or 5 different levels.
First, the cage is one of those cages that has the litter under the bottom with a removable tray. He's used this for about a year and I'm trying to get him to use a corner pan inside his tray that will make it a little easier to clean. He doesn't seem to like it though. I've occupied all the other accessible corners but he seems not to mind eliminating by his food dish (he doesn't eliminate inside it but right up against it). He also doesn't always go for the corners. Sometimes it's just up against the edge. Any suggestions? Also, I've read that I need to put carpet down since the wire hurts their feet. I have theFeisty Ferret Home you can find at petsmart. He's been in it over a year already and I've also read that I shouldn't put carpet in there. I'm a little hesitant until I can get him pan trained.
Second, I believe the family kept him in his cage almost all the time because he absolutely loves to be outside of his cage but as soon as I put him back in he starts gnawing on the cage. He wasn't doing this at first but now it's almost constant. And anytime he is awake, he is gnawing on the cage to get out. I think he's got a taste of freedom and likes it. I've thought about getting some bitter apple spray to try and put on his cage. Any other suggestions?
Third, he likes to nip/bite. He never bites when I'm taking him out or I have been holding him. But if I'm picking him up while he's playing, it's about a 50/50 chance he'll nip. I don't think he is being serious because it never hurts and I feel it may just be he's all wound up from being out. Also, he loves to attack feet. The difference is when he's biting feet, it hurts. I don't know if this is just my feet are more sensitive than my hands or what but he likes to bite feet, with or without socks. I've read to scruff his neck and drag him about a foot or two while telling him "no bite" and I'll start doing that but do you have any other suggestions?
AnswerFirst congratulations on your new ferret!
For litterbox training this is what I do for a troublemaker and what many ferret owners advise.
Make the cage 1 level latch up the ladders and take out and shelves no hammocks. Don't use corner litter boxes since most ferrets refuse to use them instead use a small or medium sized cat litter box with one side cut short. Place the box in one corner. Let the ferret sleep on a blanket or dog or cat bed for a little while until it gets a strong ferret scent and place that in another corner. Place a blanket that has the ferret scent on it in front of the food bowl to deter eliminating in front of it. In the other corner place water bowl/bottle if using a bottle put an unmovable bowl underneath. And attach something unmovable in the last corner. This gives the ferret no choice but to go to the litter box or eliminate where he is sleeping.
I would definitely put something on the wire flooring it is not healthy at all for a ferret to live on wire floors. He may no mind now but as he gets older it will begin to affect his feet and joints. I wouldn't use carpet since ferrets tend to dig at carpet. I would use ceramic or stick on tiles. You can even use pieces of linoleum cut to fit.
A lot of ferrets pull on their cages when they want out. If you are giving him ample (4 hours or more) out time then I would not give in when he does it or he will keep doing it. I know people who have made covers for the whole cage to create complete darkness this sometimes help the ferrets not chew or shake the bars. You can absolutely try bitter spray. I wouldn't try the apple variety most ferrets seem to like it. A fellow ferrent of mine uses "Bitter Barrier" and has had great success with it.
Yes picking them up while playing will usually end up with a nip they are very wound up when playing. Mine do not nip at all but if you pick them up while playing they think you want to wrestle so that is what they try to do.
When he bites your feet scruff him hiss then drag and tell him no bite. This asserts you as top ferret. After a few times he should get the picture. Some will get very mad and try to bite you after dragging this is them trying to assert themselves as top ferret. If he bites you after dragging do it again until he stops. Good luck!
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