MY NEW PET FERRET

Question
HI, I RECENTLY(2 WEEKS AGO) BOUGHT A YEAR OLD MALE FERRET FROM A FRIEND. I HAVE FOUR YOUNG KIDS THAT LOVE HIM,BUT HE DOES NOT LIKE TO BE HELD.HE JUST WANTS TO BE ON THE FLOOR.HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE VERY FRIENDLY. ALSO IN HIS CAGE I PUT A HIGH BACK FERRET LITTER PAN FOR HIM WITH SOFT LITTER IN IT BUT HE ONLY WANTS TO SLEEP IN IT.HE WILL RELEIVE HIMSELF IN THE CORNERS OUTSIDE OF THE PAN AND EVEN IN HIS FOOD BOWL(RIGHT ON TOP OF HIS FOOD).I PICK IT UP AND PUT IT INTO HIS PAN AND THEN AT TIMES HE WILL USE THE PAN ONLY WHEN HIS CORNERS ARE DIRTY.I EVEN TRIED PUTTING A DIFFERENT PAN IN THE CAGE,AND HE LAID IN BOTH OF THEM.I HAVE NOT EVEN TRIED LITTER TRAINING HIM WHEN HE IS RUNNING AROUND THE HOUSE CAUSE HE WILL NOT EVEN USE THE LITTER PAN IN HIS CAGE,WHICH IS NOT VERY BIG.I REALLY LIKE HIM AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP HIM, BUT AM RUNNING OUT OF IDEAS.IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.HE SEEMS TO BE MORE OF A BURDEN THEN A PET. WHAT CAN I DO?  

Answer
Liz - sorry for the delay.  I answered awhile ago, but apparently it didn't get sent!

Ferrets are like kittens - they are either up or asleep and not often much in the middle.  Your year old ferret is so happy to be out of his cage and to have play time that he doesn't want to lie still or be held.  As he ages he may settle down.  You can also give him more time out of his cage then hold him near the end of playtime.  Give him treats (hand fed food or healthy treats) when you  hold him.  Start with a short time then increase as he tolerates it.  Also encourage the children to play with him instead of cuddling with him.  There are tons of ferret interactive games he and they will love.  Ferrets are playful and the bond will be much stronger through play rather than forced cuddles!  

Litter box issues are something we all face having ferrets.  There are a few options.  1.  Try a different litter.  A recycled newspaper litter (regular cat litters are bad for a ferrets respiratory health) or even just newspaper so he can't burrow in it.  Offer him a few burrow places in which to sleep.  ferrets are naturally burrowers and like to sleep hidden.  Offer blankets/towels for him to get into as well as a nest box (rubbermaid plastic storage bin smallish with a hole in the front to climb into).  He will use the litter box (or at least need to go to the bathroom) after he wakes up.  To train him in the cage - wake him up for playtime and watch him closely.  When he looks like he needs to go - put him in the litter box.  Keep placing him in there until he goes then let him out.  He will learn to use it better this way.  I meet very few ferrets who are 100% litter box trained so be patient.  The chances of his being as good when he is out and about are also very slim so watch him and when he seems to be backing into a corner - place him back in the cage in the litter box and then back out again when he goes.  You also have to keep the litter box clean-ish - if he thinks it is dirty then he will go elsewhere.  
Get back to me if you continue having problems and maybe I can help again.  We currently have 6 and only 1 uses the litter box well but we have a concrete floor with floor drains in their room!  Sometimes you just have to be more creative than the ferret.

A few questions - what do you feed him?  What size is his cage?  How often is he let out?  For how long?

Ailigh