We just got a new female ferret and she doesn’t act like she knows how to use a litter pan. We have tried to put her in it when she starts backing up but she just goes wherever she is. She will go in the litter pan but won’t go to the litter pan if she needs to go. I did not see a litter pan in her cage at the pet store. We had another ferret and he was like a cat, he just knew to use his pan. This is getting messy.
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If you haven’t already, try lining the entire floor of your cage (under the food dish and right to the edges of the litter box and everything) with some blankets, old clothes, or other cloth. Ferrets tend to recognize this as ‘bedding’ and not ‘bathroom’ more readily than they do with bare floor. If you have a really big cage where you can block off a second or third level, do that for a few days- it’s easier to train them when there’s less space. Give her treats whenever you see her use the litter pan, and scruff her if you catch her going outside of it. Good luck
My ferrets are mostly litter box trained. It takes work. Heres what I do when I bring a new ferret home: Kept them in a cage while I was at work and when I got home let them out. Have a comfortable cage- maybe a hammock and a blanket or two. No bare spots on the cage floor- if the ferret wants to poop they should have three places to go: 1. blanket (her sleeping spot) 2. Food or 3. Litter Box. Food and water should be on the opposite side of the cage as the litter box. Put some ferret poop in the back of the litter box- DON’T keep the box clean UNTIL she learns thats the poop spot.
When they wake up they poop. When they back up they are thinking of pooping. This are your clues.
When you see this get a bottle of ferretone and a spoon (leave it on the cage ready to go) and as soon as she backs up put her in the litter box. After she has gone -as soon as she has finished and before shes are even out of the box- give her a spoonful of ferretone.
While she’s in the cage she should improve quite fast. When you let her out you will need to really watch her. Try to introduce her to one room at a time. The first room you show her, do it when she is asleep. Wake her up and show her the litter box- use ferretone every chance you get.
I do not let them have unrestricted access to the home until they are close to 100% litter trained. Takes about 2 weeks for adult ferrets, some have proven to be quite stubborn.
FYI: Bringing the ferret to the poop on the floor and saying NO never works. They have no idea why you are interested in their poop or why their is a loud noise coming from you.
Good Luck!