Message Number: SG5256 | New FHL Archives SearchFrom: "April Armstrong Campbell"
Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2003 23:00:59 -0400
To: <ferrethealth@smartgroups.com>
Subject: re: ferret bedding/litter
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
Send comments to Pam at pjdutche@email.unc.edu. Please note that this address is only useful for questions about the FHL archive. Questions about ferret health, or those intended for the FHL, should be sent to the Ferret Health List.