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Post by airy on Dec 10, 2009 10:23:03 GMT -4
This is so frustrating for me. Loki is so stubborn. He does not use the litter box despite all my attempts to teach him, he insists on having nothing to do with it..here is my problem, when he is in the cage he goes to the very corners of the cage and his "business" often drops to the outside of the cage. Yesterday when I pulled the cage out to vacuum, he has feces splattered on the wall and molding behind it, while I was able to clean it off the molding no problem, it ruined my wall paper, it is a cloth based wallpaper so it soaked right through. Its not his fault so I cannot be mad at him obviously, but still it makes me unhappy  . Is there some kind of cage cover I can buy to prevent this from happening again? I just need something that will cover the back and side corners. It is a Ferret Nation model 141 cage. My husband told me to rig something up out of cardboard, but that will look bad, surly you must be able to buy something for this. Also when he runs free in the house he only does it in one corner, it is hard wood and really easy to clean up so I don't mind, both girls use the litterbox no problem, I just wonder what Loki's issue is with it?? Is it a male thing? |
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Post by Tressie on Dec 10, 2009 11:23:15 GMT -4
This is not Loki's issue but an issue for his human mom  Not a male thing at all - he's being a normal ferret. In my experience males generally tend to be better about toileting than females, but each is an individual. Some ferrets simply do not like litter boxes. I have puppy pads and litterboxes in all the cages and in their room so they have a choice. It is always far, far easier for us to change our unrealistic expectations about ferrets and adjust our behavours than vice versa. And I remind people that ferrets are not for everyone because of their idiosynchracies like toileting habits, crawling into dangerous places, etc. I get soiled walls near their cages as well, and simply clean it up. However, I can see the issue with wallpaper. With ferrets, vinyl washable wallpaper would probably be best, or no wallpaper at all. Your husband's suggestion is a good one. There is no cage cover you can buy that won't get soiled. It will have to be washed. If you don't like the idea of cardboard, perhaps you can find something else at a craft or hardware store that you can use. Often one has to get creative with ferrets. Such is life with ferrets! I would put down a puppy pad in his preferred corner on the floor. Tressie |
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Post by airy on Dec 10, 2009 11:51:06 GMT -4
Tressie, I even tried the puppy pad idea. I gave them their very own room a few weeks back, problem was the room was carpeted so I had puppy pads in all corners of that room, Loki my smart little guy, would actually move these pads out of the way so he could do his business. I told my husband that I wanted to replace the carpet with linoleum flooring but my husband said i was going too far so I eventually ended up moving them back down here..which honestly I like it that way much better because I did not like them all alone up there, even though I would visit them in that room like 20+ times a day while they were in there, they just seemed sad not being able to watch everything that goes on in the house, plus Im happier when my ferrets are down here where I can see them  I am going to Saint John again this weekend to do some more Christmas shopping, I am going to see if I can find some materials to construct one on my own |
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Post by ferretmothertoo on Dec 10, 2009 11:56:14 GMT -4
I use plastic (runner plastic that you can buy at the hardware store) in vulnerable corners and places. It is easy to clean and protects the floor. Be glad Loki doesn't leave "presents" in the middle of the floor for you to step in.
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Post by airy on Dec 10, 2009 12:06:09 GMT -4
I use plastic (runner plastic that you can buy at the hardware store) in vulnerable corners and places. It is easy to clean and protects the floor. Be glad Loki doesn't leave "presents" in the middle of the floor for you to step in. Oh trust me, I am very glad about that lol. Here he always goes at the exact same spot and a large portion of this house is carpeted so I am lucky there. At my old place he also chose a uncarpeted place to do his business and there he also did it in the exact same spot every time. Maybe that is how he prefers it but I like to think that his is just being courteous and considerate towards me lol |
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. Is there some kind of cage cover I can buy to prevent this from happening again? I just need something that will cover the back and side corners. It is a Ferret Nation model 141 cage. My husband told me to rig something up out of cardboard, but that will look bad, surly you must be able to buy something for this.
