As lovely and adorable as ferrets are, pooping is one factor that can chase you away from them. Pooping is a natural by-product of pets and as a pet owner has to get used to them.

Just the thought of poop irks everyone, but it is better to know and learn about it so you can understand what to expect from your pet ferrets. Pet Ferrets poop like any other animal does but theirs might be more frequent than others.

Ferrets poop every three to four hours on an average daily. Being able to know the regularity of your pet ferret's bowel movements depends majorly on how much and well it eats. Since ferrets are free feeders, their pooping can be 4-5 times or more, or twice daily at least. All the same, you have to always make food readily available to them so you can supervise their pooping schedules. 

There are several aspects of your ferret’s life that you have to get acquainted with, and their poop is one of them. One reason people consider owning ferrets as pets are because they believe that they are low maintenance pets. But that only happens if you've learnt the basics of training and raising a pet ferret.

Ferrets are creatures that can be trained as long as one is very patient with them. People also usually assume that ferrets will use litter boxes like cats, but that is not the case. Ferrets get separated from their mothers very early, so they do not get to learn litter training. 

Why do ferrets poop!

Ferrets are exceptionally playful, and they enjoy turning everywhere upside down, but when it comes to defecating, they often have a particular place they do it.

Those spots are usually in corners, such that they try to make sure they do not poop close to their playing area or sleeping area. They are intelligent and sensitive creatures that can properly distinguish pooping areas from other regions.

They even designate pooping areas themselves so they can always go back to it. If you own ferrets, you must've noticed that you can almost always tell when they want to poop as they make sure to go to their pooping spot. Also, pet ferrets are known to cause certain facial expressions or cues that show that they are about to poop.

Some owners will even tell you that their ferrets have pooping faces or sou ds when they are about to go. As a pet ferret owner, you can master the cues and signs they give when they are about to poop. This will go a long way in helping you as you want to train them to use litter trays. 

Litter training

Litter training your pet ferrets is not as hard as you think but the opposite. To train your ferrets, use a litter pan or box that's big enough for your ferrets but make it shallow.

All you need is thin layer litter because they do not bury their feces. Ferrets also tend to dig around in the litter, so it is advisable to get an unscented and dust-free litter tray.

This is to ensure your ferrets do not get an irritated respiratory system.  Ensure the litter tray is a pellet litter made from alfalfa pellets, denatured hardwood, or recycled newspaper pellets. This is to prevent any issue that accompanies clay or clumping litter.

To make your work more straightforward, there are several ways you can use to litter train your pet ferrets. Here are the primary training methods you can apply. In case one does not work, you can try another. 

‘Praise and Adulation’ method

If your pet ferrets run around the house regularly, you should try to put litter boxes all-around specific spots or corners.

And whenever you see them going to the litter box, run over, tease them and give them treats. This way you are endearing the ferrets more to you and in turn the litter boxes. 

‘Rise and Shine’ method

Try as much as possible to ensure your ferrets go to the litter box immediately they are awake. You can wake them in their cages and place them in the litter boxes yourself so they can see it. Once they do that, learn to give them treats for going to the litter box. You can do that consistently thrice a week, and they will instantly get it.

They will ease you a lot of stress when you teach them how to use the litter box. If you do it to them often or take them there from time to time, they will get used to it in no time. 

'Follow Your Nose' method. 

Ferrets have a perfect sense of smell, such that even a blind ferret can learn to use a litter box—the secret to it using a vanilla extract. Research has shown that ferrets love vanilla extract so you can try spreading it over the litter box. Bear in mind that the extract should only be around the box, nowhere else.

This way, they will grasp the use of litter boxes fast. If you take them outside the house, you can also spread vanilla extract around the litter box so they can smell and learn. 

The Other method

If you have tried the first two methods and it doesn't work, you should give this particular trial method. It is settled that your pet ferrets will always have spots or a spot they poop, instead of training them to somewhere else, put the litter boxes in the locations they already use.

Or you can do convert their pooping spot to their bedroom. Place their hammocks there such that they sleep and eat at the area. Once they realize they have to sleep and eat there, they would no longer defecate there. Once you have accomplished your mission, you can return the bed to its former location. 

Other Questions

Are ferrets easy to potty train? 

Ferrets are very easy to potty train so long as they have the proper factors put in place. They can be trained to go poop in a box though not to the same extent as cats, and there are bound to be a few accidents.

You can teach them with a litter box inside the cages and outside the cages. When your ferret is out of the cage, have litter boxes around, and when it is in the cage, put a litter box in there too. 

Do ferrets make good house pets?

Ferrets are lovely, adorable, with characteristics that allow them to cope with humans and their environment. They are amiable creatures, playful, curious, affectionate and cute. Ferrets are very determined, and they enjoy games and puzzles so you can try giving them puzzle-based toys or games to keep them busy.

They are petite, small and quiet creatures that do not disturb you all through the day. They sleep for about 18 hours a day, so the time they are awake is limited and little. They are also straightforward to feed and easy to exercise. Ferrets also have distinct personalities so bear that in mind when you decide to get them.  

Do pets ferrets stink? 

Ferrets, like some other carnivores, have anal glands that secrete a scent particular to their species. The Mustelid family usually has healthy anal gland secretions which are released whenever they feel threatened. Therefore, yes! Pet ferrets do stink, some more than others.  Unneutered ferrets especially, come with a pungent smell due to certain hormones.

However, you can ensure you make your pet ferrets smell less. By cleaning their ears, bathing them, cleaning their living and bedding spaces, you can prevent a large amount of stink. In terms of bathing, please do not wash them too often. In a bid to make them clean, frequent bathing can increase the stench. This is because bathing reduces the natural oils produced in the skin. 

References

If you require more information, please check these references

Know Your Ferret Inside And Out Discoveries From The Ferret Genome Sequence , article, "www.ferret-world.com", retrieved on, Thu 07-January-2021

Ferrets for dummies , article, "books.google.co.uk", retrieved on, Thu 07-January-2021