my ferret goes potty in the corner of my room

Question
I am having a problem with my baby girl going potty outside her cage. The one corner of my room is constitly filled with ferret droppings. It is really gross. I tried putting a corner litter box there. But she moves the litter box and goes behind it. One time I caught her and tried to put in her cage across the room. I ended up with poop all across my room. What can I do?

Answer
Hello Chelsea,
Thanks for your question. Unfortunately, this is a common ferret problem!
 
Unfortunately, ferrets  are NOT 100% with the litter box when OUTSIDE the cage. I used to have to teach mine to go potty before they left the cage to play, and it takes a lot of patience, with a ferret staring at you for 15 minutes waiting for you to let him out of the cage, and me saying "GO POTTY!!" FINALLY he would go!! Then they eventually learned "If I go potty, I get out to play," ... so that's your best bet, is to make sure she goes potty before you let her out of her cage to play.
Also, since you are using a litter pan, I always used a DISH pan, or a small litter pan for a cat. It is larger, and covers a larger area, and is more difficult to move. I found the commercial litter pans for "ferrets" to be too shallow, and are triangular in shape, so that it leaves a lot of room for accidents, and are too easy for the ferret to flip over.   Now, If your ferrets are pottying in a remote corner of the room, first, clean that area thoroughly to remove all scent, and sometimes it helps to spray the area with vinegar (as a deterrent).
  If she continues to use THAT corner, put a LARGE litter box there, for instance, one of the smaller "cat" sized ones, and fill it UP with litter. By filling it full with litter, it makes it heavy and difficult to move. That way, it will be nearly impossible for her to move. If she still moves it, there are several ways to anchor it. You can put Velcro strips (wide) on the sides of the litter pan, and on the wall to anchor it to the wall. Also, you can turn a milk crate on it's side, and slide the litter pan into the front opening, almost like a drawer. Your ferret will not be able to flip the entire milk crate over, and the pan will stay secure.
But most important is to  retrain them to use the litter pan IN HER CAGE every chance you get. For instance, if you are taking her out to play, and you notice her going to that corner to go potty, stop her (BEFORE she gets to the corner and "backs up" to go potty), with a firm "NO" and put her  down in the litter pan IN HER CAGE. And then you will have the "climb out, put them back" scenario for a few minutes, and then eventually, she will go potty in the cage litter box, then BIG praise!!! Eventually, with patience, she will "relearn" to use the litter box in her cage.Also, again, I emphasize her using the litter box before she is allowed out to play, and then again after eating, napping etc.
   Also,A younger ferret will have to "go" more than an older ferret. Once she gets older than a year old, she will be very much easier to train to use the litter pan in her cage. When ferrets are young, they tend to go all the time, just like a puppy, so it is harder to "gage" when they need to go.
I really hope this helps. I know this is a difficult situation.This method worked with my ferrets, but it took a couple of months of diligent, repetitive training.
It is frustrating, but just takes patience. Good luck, and please feel free to ask anything else.
amy