From:
Debi Christy
Date: 2002-03-05 20:36:00 UTC
Subject: Monty the Noisesome
Welcome to the wonderful (frustrating) world of new fuzzies!
Be sure he's awake for a couple of hours before bedtime. Play some active games like "Chase the Twirling Towel". Put him in the cage at bedtime. Close the door...several doors if possible. Sleep. Do the same thing every night until Monty gets the routine established.
Ferrets are creatures of habit, much more so than humans. Once he realizes that bedtime means the cage door is closed for 8 hours or so and no one's going to come let him out to snoop and play, he'll settle down and sleep for four hours, get up & snack & poop, then sleep another four hours... without all the scratching and paper shredding. Just keep putting it in there. He'll adjust, as long as YOU are as persistent (stubborn) as he is.
Once he's sleeping through the night (in 3-4 hour intervals) you can leave the cage door open so that he can have access to his room at night if he wants to.
If he resumes scratching at the door, tack a piece of carpet protector on the door with the edges taped down with clear packaging tape to protect the door (it's also a "quieter" scratching). If there's carpet at the door, you'll also need to tape carpet protector over it. Put Monty in the room with the door closed in the daytime, returning him to the cage at night. Ignore the scratching. If you respond in any manner, he'll continue to do it. If ignored, he'll eventually give up, though it will take a week or so.
Then, you can try leaving him out at night in his room without having to endure the scratching.
Debi Christy
Ferrets First Foster Home
Practical & easy training, care, & maintenance articles available at
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