(Part 4) Top products from r/ferrets

Here’s some tips and tricks!

If your ferries are having a difficult time litter-box "training", here are some things you can try that have worked for others (and some of my own):

1. Replace small or "corner" boxes with wider boxes (square or rectangle) that they can fit their "whole body" into (they seem to prefer having ALL four legs in the box when they back-up), and make sure the entrance is very shallow for easy in/ out. I have had great luck with the Marshall high-backs & lock-ons sold on many online pet sites that sell ferret supplies (*link below).
   
   
2. Check the type of litter you are using, as some are picky about textures, and also make sure it is a "safe" litter choice (many are not safe like clay and crystals cat litters). *Link below to American Ferret Association's (AFA) safe vs. unsafe litter for ferrets and why.
   
   
3. If they poop on the floor (or other undesirable place), move it to the corner of the litter box (tip: a plastic sandwich bag over the hand works well for this ;) ), and thoroughly clean the soiled spot with something safe/ non-toxic like white vinegar & water or pet safe enzymatic cleaner such as Nature's Miracle or Kids -n- Pets to remove the scent. If you see them "backing-up" attempting to poop outside of their box - gently pick them up and place them in the corner of the litter box. Keep litter boxes clean, but leave a tiny bit of soiled in the corner for them to smell while they are box training (this helps them to know where to go). *Link to enzymatic cleaners below.
   
   
4. Try the Vanilla extract trick, but use an "imitation" vanilla that is alcohol-free (real vanilla extract contains ethyl alcohol, an intoxicating ingredient!). Vanilla is a strong scent that many ferrets will instinctively try to "cover-up" with their own scent (urine) to mark their territory. It is supposed to be a great aid in training blind ferrets to go potty in a specific place.
   ****TIP: You ONLY need to use a COUPLE DROPS, do NOT spray the vanilla or saturate all the litter as this will be too overwhelming for their sensitive respiratory system which could cause health issues.😷 Link below to an example of food grade alcohol-free vanilla extract product.
   
   
5. If all else fails try "Litter Box Boot Camp" by the Holistic Ferret (HF): http://holisticferret60.proboards.com/thread/108/litter-box-boot-camp
   
   *Links:
   • Marshall Litter pans: https://www.chewy.com/marshall-ferret-litter-pan-high-back/dp/128779
   • AFA Litter Guide: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ff1KKgD0lkBheQxs0uAp0cv9KzQoRyqX/view
   • Kids -n- Pets (enzymatic cleaner): https://www.chewy.com/kids-n-pets-instant-all-purpose-stain/dp/161708
   • Nature's Miracle - Just for Ferrets (enzymatic cleaner): http://www.1800whiskers.com/View/Natures-Miracle-Pet-Stain-and-Odor-Remover-for-Ferrets-
   • McCormick Baker's Imitation Vanilla Extract (Alcohol-free): https://www.amazon.com/McCormick-Bakers-Imitation-Vanilla-Extract/dp/B000B6MUKG/ref=asc_df_B000B6MUKG/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=309769273892&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17164894249100503132&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003293&hvtargid=pla-624342296807&psc=1

I adopted my baby from the Houston SPCA. I checked their website every day till they had one pop up. They told me that ferrets usually last less than a week in a shelter. From what I can tell, she is intelligent, too smart for her own good and her name suits her very well in my opinion.

One of my friends got a ferret from a pet store, and he is... well an idiot... I'm not sure if it's from the over amount of breeding or just his personality in general. I went to that pet store asking when they would get ferrets again and they told me they get ferrets every couple of weeks.

Also I researched ferrets for about 3ish months and I'm still learning things about them as we speak. My boyfriend recently bought me the Animal Planet - Pet Care Library(Ferrets) and it has been super helpful and I'm greatly enjoying it.

As far as collars go, I get kitten ones for my girls, one of them is qute small and it just about fits ok. They are safety ones that unclip as soon as they are tugged on too much, which is reassuring but a pain when they lose them under the sofa!

Harness wise, if you want to walk your ferrets I recommend these I am in the UK but I am sure they will do something similar out there. They fit better than the usual strap type harnesses, especially on my smaller jill as she only has little legs!

Not the answer you are looking for, but some advice for the next purchase. I find the landscaping drain pipes don't smell so much, and are much more durable/ less expensive than the type you linked. Added bonus is that you can easily connect a bunch together for maximum tunnels.

Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Flex-Drain-Flexible-Expandable-Landscaping-25-Feet/dp/B000GI840E/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510033017&sr=8-1&keywords=landscape+pipe

Also Training Your Pet Ferret

Best tip is to have a loud squeak toy with a distinctive sound that you use only in emergencies and always reward with ferretone when they come running!

Ok seems i found a great book on the subject, Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals

https://www.amazon.com/Reaching-Animal-Mind-Clicker-Training/dp/0743297776/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&coliid=I1UIXR02B0R55W&colid=EB90Z6TWT7WO&qid=&sr=

I bought a cat toy at PetSmart a few years ago that was clear ball with a light inside that lit up whenever the ball moved. My ferrets absolutely loved it.

http://www.amazon.com/Bergan-Twinkle-Replacement-Ball-Colors/dp/B000FSHBYK

Extra-Large 36" x 28" Puppy Traning Pads for Large Breeds, Pack of 100 by Best Pet Supplies https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VSHS1XZ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Y1uyDbR0MBHP5

Ferret nation dimentions are 25” by 36” so this should be big enough plus some wiggle room. I also secure mine down with duct tape otherwise they try to dig under them

It's the Midwest Ferret Nation cage (a.k.a. the ferret mansion). They're really big, sturdy, high quality cages. So easy to add levels to them too!


Edit: I should also make mention of how great their customer service department is! One of the doors of the cage broke, I sent an e-mail with a picture and proof of purchase and received replacement doorS within two weeks (HO was somewhere in the States, I'm in Canada).

I use this pen but I covered the sides with those decorative metal sheets, and bought the cover that fits over the top. It is so much easier than a cage, and my ferret definitely prefers it.

First off, find a new vet that knows about ferrets. Low blood sugar could be a sign of insoloma or adrenal disease. He needs to be tested and placed on medication to regulate his blood sugar if needed.

You can do something like this as an occasional treat or if you need to quickly raise blood sugar. Do not feed often as it is high in sugar and again, not extremely healthy for ferrets.
https://www.amazon.com/FerretVite-Multi-Vitamin-Paste-4-25-Ounce/dp/B000FPL0FE


Make sure you are feeding him a high quality food. There is a list to the right that can hep you find a recommended food.

I have both the Marshalls brand and the Petco brand harnesses. I've noticed no difference between them. For slimmer ferrets, I've had to glue the neck portion so it holds it's size but beyond that it's worked well for my whole bunch from 1.5lbs all the way up to 4lbs! I keep the leash slack unless I'm stopping them from going a certain direction and only ever pull gently up so their front legs are lifted off the ground. At least for mine, this prevents them from panicking and pulling backwards out of a harness. They never put up with being harnessed indoors but now that they know a harness means outdoor time, they come running at the sound of me taking them out!

I too have always used baby shampoo.. for the ferrets, the dog, and the cat. For conditioner I use this stuff which is freakin' amazing.

You can look in to portable a/c units (like this.) I had to get one for my ferret room. Texas heat is horrible. Anyways they are pricey but you can them used for around $100ish. You just need a window to vent the heat from.


Short term solution maybe try a diy a/c?

One of my girls refused to use the triangular litter boxes (I think because she's a little chubster and was honestly too lazy to squish her body in a little) so I got her one of these and it seems to be working! It's a little longer than the triangular one so she doesn't have to squeeze herself in there. Because it doesn't have any real way to attach to their cage, I drilled two holes on opposite sides of the box and attached clips that easily clip onto the cage bars (also did this for the larger rectangular litter box you mentioned so they don't tip it over or move it to the middle of the cage)

Maybe pick up one of these if you have the problem again. Works great on stray cats. Scares the bajeesus out of them without hurting them.

This looks like it:

http://www.amazon.com/Super-Pet-Deluxe-Multi-Level-Casters/dp/B000CMHWZC

I don't have the casters and I'm missing the ramp. But mine has the purple platforms and the green spiral thingy and the openings where this one has openings.

when i search for that, I can only find their "folding ferret mansion" Is this what you have? Or something different maybe?

My fuzzies enjoy nibbling on anything rubbery, but I've never actually had them be diligent enough to chew through it. If you're worried, use this. It tastes awful, so she will eventually learn to avoid the nasty tasting cord. If you do use this, don't just spray it, the particles will go everywhere and you'll end up tasting it. Daub some onto a paper towel and wipe down the cord.

As for the zip ties, look at them. Is she tearing pieces off? If so, she could swallow them and you obviously don't want that. If they're sturdy enough that she can't do any damage, I think you'll be fine.

I petsat someone's ferret who enjoyed scratching and biting at the carpet immensely, but my two fuzzies show no interest in that. So you'll just have to watch and see what she does.

Other tips:

I believe it's pretty commonly accepted that ferrets prefer water bowls to water bottles. Would you want to drink water by flicking up a little ball and getting one drop at a time?

Look at this if the zip ties are a problem, then you won't need them.