What to Do if a Ferret Refuses to Use Its Litter Box

Where bathroom issues are concerned, cats are often somewhat easy pets -- litter box use seems almost natural to many of them. Although litter pan use may not be as innate and automatic in ferrets, with a little time, effort and patience, it usually can be a success story.

  1. Letting Your Ferret Out

    • Ferrets generally have the urge to eliminate as soon as they open their eyes after sleeping. If your ferret has a problem with going in the litter box, try to encourage him to use it by not taking him out of his enclosure until he successfully does so.

    Examining the Cleanliness Level

    • If your ferret refuses to use his litter box, it may be time to conduct a detailed examination of its hygiene. Ferrets, similarly to felines, are often meticulous creatures. If your pet's litter box isn't immaculate enough, he may turn his nose up at eliminating in it. If you suspect that your ferret is objecting to a rather soiled litter pan, it's time to up your cleaning practices. Spruce up your ferret's litter box a minimum of once a day.

    Inappropriate Spots

    • When a ferret isn't using his litter box, he's definitely eliminating somewhere else in your home -- probably in a place that doesn't make you feel too happy. Train your ferret to stop going in his previously soiled locales by covering them up with materials that resemble and feel like bedding, like blankets or ragged sweatshirts. Since ferrets tend to object strongly to getting their sleeping spots messy and yucky, by doing this you may just prevent your pet from going in the undesired areas. If he stops going in those areas, he may just start using his litter box -- phew. It also is crucial to immediately clean up after your ferret's "oops" messes. If certain spots in your home smell distinctly of urine or fecal matter, it may cause your poor ferret to mistakenly believe that they are appropriate bathroom options.

    Box Evaluation

    • A ferret's refusal to go in the litter box may be related to discomfort and difficulty more than anything else. If the edges of the pan are too high, for example, it may cause your pet to unintentionally go outside of it. If you think that this may be the case, it's time to invest in a new box for your cutie. It also is imperative to ensure that a single edge of the box isn't too high -- that way it won't be hard for your little one to get in and out of it. Lastly, make sure that the box is spacious enough. If a litter box is too cramped and uncomfortable, your pet may avoid going inside of it.

    Sharing

    • Some ferrets dislike sharing their litter boxes. If your ferret refuses to use his, it may be because he does not like that another animal uses it too. If you think this may be your situation, get a separate litter box for all of your individual animals -- no exceptions.

    Caution

    • Never reprimand your ferret for not using the litter box. The correlation between the reprimanding and the refusal to use the litter box won't be clear to the poor thing -- and you may just scare him. Instead, focus on making the aforementioned changes, tweaks and evaluations to get your ferret on the proper path to being a litter box superstar. Whenever your pet does indeed use the litter box, make sure that he is completely aware that you're pleased about it.