From:
"April Armstrong Campbell"
Date: 2003-07-09 03:00:59 UTC
Subject: re: ferret bedding/litter
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Message-ID: <BAY1-DAV30sQztQoPAz0000682a@hotmail.com>
Howdy. I use wood stove pellets or Yesterday's News newspaper pellets for =
litter; I don't recommend clay or clumping litters to any of our clients at=
our vets' office who have ferrets b/c I don't use it myself. Why? Becaus=
e ferrets "scoot" when they're done using the potty, and absorbent clay can=
get into their rectums and cause irritation, etc.; clumping litters especi=
ally can get in and expand/clump and cause blockages. Clay litters are als=
o generally very dusty, which isn't great for those little lungs. I can al=
so recycle the wood stove pellets into my garden beds to help keep away the=
rabbits who nosh there-it does seem to be working keeping those critters f=
rom eating all my flowers and veggies so far! Plus, 40 pounds of wood stov=
e pellets costs me between $2 and $4, which is cheaper than any other kind =
of litter. (Newspaper litter is kind of pricey, but worth it if I can't ge=
t wood pellets.)
For bedding, I prefer cloth (sleep sacks, hammockes, towels-I have LOTS of =
old towels of all sizes for them, T-shirts, blankets-I have some nice ferre=
t-sized handmade afghans, etc.) because I can swap them out for fresh and w=
ash them frequently to reduce odor, hair buildup (which helps my allergy-pr=
one hubby out), dirt... Nice and sanitary; it's easy to change out and was=
h cloth items well if they have little ferrety accidents on them. And try =
OxiClean, vinegar or baking soda as additives to your wash cycle for extra =
kick to your detergents and bleaches.
Hope that helps!
-April