Litterbox training

Question
Hi, I have 4 ferrets, Mya, Damien, Chewy, and Shoda. Damien is the youngest one I have and I've had the hardest time litter box training him. He's about four months old now and I got him when he was a month old. I tried training him to use the litter box by rewarding him everytime he uses it. When he does have an accident outside the litter box I move it to the litter box and show him. He still doesn't get it. And my other one Mya is 2 years old and she refuses to use the litter box as well. Are there other ways to train them that I'm oblivious to?

Answer
Hello and thanks for your question! Well, most babies take a while anyway to really get it as far as litter training goes. Just keep at it with him, he should be be fine once he gets over his baby age (another few months you should notice he's doing much better...closer to a year old he should be completely litter trained).

As far as your Mya goes, has she never used the litter really? Sometimes ferrets are more particular about where they go, so you may need to work around her. If the walls are "too high" for a ferret they won't go, if the box isn't in the "right spot" they won't go, if they can't smell other ferrets' droppings they may not go. Make sure to address all these issues...get a box with low (or no) front walls so the ferrets can just back their things right up. Make sure when you clean the box that you leave a poop in there so that they know it's the right place. Sometimes it's even just a matter of adding more boxes to more corners so your ferrets have more access to the toilet.

Remember, going to the bathroom for a ferret is an emergency, they can't hold it that long. A ferret normally won't go searching for the nearest restroom, they will just run to the closest corner. Observe where they've been going, then put a litter box or newspapers there. I personally just have the litter box in my ferret's cage, and then in their favorite 3 spots in my house I put down newspaper and they just go there. Easy to clean, I just roll it up and toss it. And of course be on the lookout when you see a ferret backing up into the wrong corner, a lot of times if you can save them in time and put them in the correct spot. Keep giving them treats and praise when they do it right. My 3 year old male knows I sing his praises when he goes in his cage, so now he actually climbs back into his cage and goes in there..smart guy!

So again, just be persistent, ferrets are smart and they will get it eventually.

Good luck, hope I've helped! :)

~sheila