From:
Lee R. Wilson
Date: 2002-01-10 09:23:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] litter training
I agree with Roger about the tubes not being the preferred
way to get around. They'll play in tubes, but they don't like
tubes as a ramp between floors. I put ramps in between floors
and all is well.
The bottom floor has a box and a water bottle/dish set up,
floor 2 has a big sleeping cube with tons of toys & soft tea
towels. Floor 2 also has a half shelf which serves as a "step
down" from floor 3.. The shelf has a tube on it for playing
and hiding also. Floor 3 is actually the top of Cage 1, with
the top hatch removed and flooring put in and Cage 2
strategically placed so that that half shelf works as a step
down and almost 1/2 of this newly created level is Litter box
#2, and I use another tube covered with a textured mat so that
they actually have to climb over the hatch down to get to the
box, which they find fun apparently. The other side of the
hatch has a food bowl and the ramp up into the loft, where
they have food, water, hammock and flannel blankies! I cover
part of the loft where they sleep with another flannel blanket
so they can feel secure and hidden when napping. I'm having
no problems with them getting to a box and have made pretty
much all the other areas either play or sleep areas so they've
never had accidents. Outside the cage is another matter...the
bottom floor opens to the world with a ramp and they have free
reign when I'm home and while they'll go in and out to eat or
drink, we still tend to poop wherever we may be. Oh well!
I just wanted to share my learning experience as I tried using
tubes as ramps when I combined the cages and they just stared
at me. I worked on this configuration for a full 18 hour
period until I got it exactly how they wanted it! Another
thing I like is that no one can fall very far and they get
lots of exercise. I have access doors on Level 1, 3 & 4 for
cleaning and feeding and I used those horrid little metal
rings that cages are constructed with so I'm sure it's safe
and secure. As we know, if they're happy, we're all happy!
Good luck,
Lee
Cheese & Raisin
----- Original Message -----
From: Roger Vaughn
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2002 10:36 AM
Do you have the SuperPet 4-story cage? By watching mine in
that cage I
figured out that they really didn't like the arrangement.
The tube to
the second floor was awkward, and the ramps to the upper
levels take an
awkward twist at the top to navigate.
In short, maybe your Pepe hates the tube enough to not go
down there
when he has to go. Try this - move the tube somewhere else
- maybe to
the top level. Also move the ramps to the *center* section
of the
floor. I find that mine are much happier with that
arrangement. I
would also replace the tube with another ramp if you can
find the ramp
sold separately anywhere. (I haven't found one yet.)
I also keep two litter boxes in the cage, on the first and
third
floors, so they never have to go more than one floor to get
to it.
Roger
Digger and Bear
>
>
>
>
> Hi everyone. I am so fed up trying to litter train one of
my
> ferrets. We got 2 ferrets about a month ago. They were
> appr. 8-9 weeks old at the time. We bought a 4 story
cage
> for them when we bought them. When I keep them confined
to
> the bottom story, Pepé will use the litter box fine. But
> when I let them up to the second story he won't use it.
It
> seems he's just too lazy to go down the tube. I hate
keeping them
> confined, but I'm at my wits end. I can't keep a litter
box on
> every level. I already have 2 in there. Does anyone
> have any ideas? How long does it usually take to potty
train? Does
> 3 months old seem too old to keep confined to one level? I
feel
> bad for the other one (Turbo), but Pepé will even pee on
the corner
> sleeper! Need some ideas, please...
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