Potty training a ferret

It is necessary to accustom the ferret to the tray gradually, the main helpers in this matter are patience and attentiveness. To begin with, limit the territory of the ferret. The smaller the area on which the tray is installed, the more likely it is that the ferret will use it. But if the ferret is immediately allowed to roam throughout the apartment, then, most likely, he will ignore the tray. Therefore, at first it is better to keep the ferret within the same room, and also use a cage.

Limit space, use a cage

To begin with, we install a cage in the room and place the tray there. Let the ferret live in a cage for the first time, in such a limited space he will learn to walk in a tray, after which he can be gradually released from the cage.

Keep a close eye on your pet. If you notice that the ferret intends to “guilty” – quickly take it to a cage with a tray. When he does all his business in a tray, be sure to praise the animal and treat him with a treat. If you failed to take the ferret to the cage in time, and he nevertheless “offended”, give him a severe reprimand and lock him in the cage. Wash the place where the ferret has shat thoroughly with special products that destroy odors. However, during the first time the ferret is in a new home, try to prevent the ferret from “tricks” so that later familiar smells do not distract him from the tray.

All ferrets have an interesting moment: about 3-5 minutes after waking up, they run to relieve themselves. Use this feature in the learning process. Wake up the ferret or catch the moment of his awakening, take the pet in your arms, play with him. As soon as you notice that the ferret is worried, put him on the tray. When he does his business, be sure to praise him by treating him with a treat. Ferrets really appreciate and love praise, and some of the most cunning specimens sometimes even pretend to go to the litter box to get a treat.

At first, when you first start letting your ferret out of the cage for a walk, it is recommended to return him to the tray every half hour.

Tray cleanliness

Always pay great attention to the cleanliness of the tray. Ferrets are very clean, even cleaner than cats. Therefore, if the tray is dirty, the animal will definitely find another place. If you do not use filler for the tray, then the tray should be washed at least once a day. At the same time, do not use household chemicals, as its smell will scare away the ferret, it is enough to rinse the tray with plain running water.

Where to put the tray?

In the room, it is better to install the tray somewhere in the corner, not far from the ferret’s bed – try to guess which place your pet would choose. If the ferret ignores the tray and chooses another place, collect the excrement and put it in the tray, and carefully treat the floor from dirt and smell so that the animal is not tempted to “guilty” again. If the place that the ferret has chosen for help is suitable for installing the tray, move the tray there, this will greatly simplify the task.

You should know that ferrets have very fast digestion, and, having decided to relieve themselves, the animal will not run for a long time to the tray, but will choose another convenient place. Therefore, if your pet moves freely throughout the apartment, then it is desirable that the tray be in every room.

We wean from “visits” to the wrong places

Often, ferrets already accustomed to the tray from time to time still “play pranks” and relieve themselves in the wrong place. To wean a pet from annoying “misses”, you can resort to a tricky method: put rags on which the ferret sleeps on the places chosen by the ferret. The next time the pet is about to play pranks in his favorite place, he will smell his own bedding and change his mind, most likely heading to the tray, where all the “right” smells are already collected.

As we noted above, ferrets are very wayward pets, and their training is not an easy process. As a rule, puppies and females are much easier to become accustomed to the toilet than adult males. Some of the ferrets can not be accustomed to the tray, while others themselves begin to use it without any problems. But there is a golden mean: if the ferret uses the tray by 80%, and the remaining 20% ​​are his “misses”, then do not rush to get upset, this is not a bad result at all! Urine and ferret feces are practically odorless, and with basic hygiene, there will be no unpleasant odors in the apartment.

If you have a cat in addition to a ferret, then each pet should have its own tray. If you have several ferrets, they will feel great urinating in one common large tray.

There are times when a ferret that has already been brought up and knows the tray suddenly begins to “play pranks”. In order to “remind” the pet about the tray, you need to return to the initial stages of training and again limit the space to the ferret. After a fault, give your pet a severe reprimand and close it in a cage with a tray. It is very important that the punishment follows immediately after the misconduct, or at least “in hot pursuit”. If you noticed the wrongdoing late, the punishment will not bring any result, since the ferret simply will not understand what and why he was punished.

If the ferret is marking territory

Every year, starting from February-March, ferrets mark their territory. This is true for both males and females (to a lesser extent). You should understand that labeling has nothing to do with urination. Territory marking is an instinct, and in no case should you punish ferrets for what nature has invested in them. The only way to solve the problem is castration and sterilization, and if you did not plan to have offspring, then this is the most suitable option for you.

Love and take care of your pets, you are the most important thing they have!