From:
Sukie Crandall
Date: 2004-04-29 17:43:31 UTC
Subject: Re: [ferrethealth] Sunday paper as litter?
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-Id: <BAF2A0DC-9A04-11D8-AA43-000A95CD182C@mac.com>
The concern with newspaper had been the inks since some were heavy
metal based and therefore a health hazard, and that some news
publishers used high-clay content papers which are not very absorbent.
I have read on ferret lists that heavy metal inks aren't used in the
U.S. any longer, but you can always be safe by asking your newspaper's
office.
The concerns with the wood pellets are that some of the wood stove ones
are treated for easy combustion and those should be avoided, that
storage conditions for some of the large ones make them susceptible to
being mold factories, that cedar has very dangerous toxins, and that
some ferrets are highly allergic to pine and those individuals can even
go into anaphylactic shock.
We use newspaper, Yesterday's News, pine pellet litters, litter boxes,
potting trays, and thin strips of linoleum behind some doors.
Sometimes you can add paper towels to that list.