The Hidey Hole

New Ferret Owners - help!

bay - Aug 24, 2009 - 07:41 PM
Post subject: help!

i have recently bought an albino male named Abu, he's very cute and i've already fallen in love with him. My sister bought a sable male named Mascot. but we're having some troubles.

our first one is(despite our best efforts) they both insist on sleeping in their litter box. i've researched litter training and even though i've put a little bit of poo in the litter box they still do it.

second, Abu has been biting. i know that they play rough, but last night he bit me while i was putting him into the litter box trying to get him to go there. he's also while i'm holding him he'll lick me for a bit then bite hard and not let go. i've tried grabbing him by the scruff of the neck but it doesn't have much of an effect, i've also tried squirting water but that doesn't help either. i really don't know what to do. please help!

Ferretlover - Sep 17, 2009 - 10:57 PM
Post subject:

Hi and congrats on your new kids! I'm so sorry that I wasn't able to reply sooner, but I was out of town.

bay wrote: › i have recently bought an albino male named Abu, he's very cute and i've already fallen in love with him. My sister bought a sable male named Mascot. but we're having some troubles.

our first one is(despite our best efforts) they both insist on sleeping in their litter box. i've researched litter training and even though i've put a little bit of poo in the litter box they still do it.

This sounds like a good thing you're trying. The bit of smell should help them realize what is supposed to be going on there. You could also try placing the litterbox where they seem to prefer going, and boxes at multiple locations is always helpful too. Try making any area that they have access to, that is not a litterbox, into places to eat or sleep. They really don't want to go in those places, but they are just fine with going in "unused" areas in between the eating and sleeping areas.

Make sure you have several cozy sleeping spots that are enticing for a ferret. Dark dens, or caves as we like to call them, are a ferret favorite! They also really like hammocks and blankets to curl up in.

Quote: › second, Abu has been biting. i know that they play rough, but last night he bit me while i was putting him into the litter box trying to get him to go there. he's also while i'm holding him he'll lick me for a bit then bite hard and not let go. i've tried grabbing him by the scruff of the neck but it doesn't have much of an effect, i've also tried squirting water but that doesn't help either. i really don't know what to do. please help!

When does he usually seem to do the biting? If he is playing with you when he decides to nibble, he may just not realize that he is being too rough with you. Ferrets have very thick skin, so they can handle the rough play, and it takes them some time to learn YOUR limits. If this is what's going on, then immediatly stop play if things get out of hand and give him a firm NO. He'll figure out that if he wants to play with you, he'll need to be more gentle about it.

You can also use a method that involves using your hand to muzzle him if he bites. Of course this is not meant to hurt him in any way, it's just a few seconds restraint to let him know that biting is unacceptable.

The main things you'll want to always keep in mind are to remain in charge. You need to be the top ferret, always in control. And be consistant with correcting him every single time he bites, even if you think he was just playing. Always use the same word or short phrase when correcting him.

And you're right, squirt bottles are useless with ferrets...they either think you're playing, or they go right back to what they were doing after giving you dirty looks.

I really hope something here has been helpful to you. If you have any other questions, or just want to chat about the furkids, we'd be glad to hear more!

Take care!