Your New Ferret
You have made the right decision in choosing ferrets as your pet. Lovable, cuddly and easy to take care of, ferrets are surely a wonderful addition to anyone who owns them and a welcome member in the family and in the home. Amazing that they are, these creatures can be trained to use litter boxes as cats do. However, before allowing your ferrets to roam around your home freely, it is important that you take some precautions.
An irrefutable rule is not to allow your new ferret to let loose in your house. It should, of course, be allowed to acquaint and be familiar with its surroundings but first, it should be comfortable with the cage where it stays. As mentioned, it also has to learn how to use a litter box. How much your new ferret uses the litter box depends on the amount of training you give to your pet. The training usually lasts a number of hours per day or up to several months. Proper training begins with letting the ferret run around a small room, such as the bathroom, first. As soon as the ferret first wakes up in the morning, the litter box should already be put in order for it to learn and get used. It is helpful to associate it with a treat, such that the ferret receives a treat every time it uses the litter box. Of course, you should not impose punishments on the ferret because doing so will only make the animal grow frightened in you. Learning good manners, such as using the litter box, is best done through positive reinforcement rather than punishment.
Another thing you have to do before allowing your ferret to roam around is ferret proofing. It means you should make your place safe for the ferret, considering that it is a small and curious creature that is fond of hiding into dark and small spaces. You have to check every little room you can find that the ferret is capable to fit in. Areas to be particularly cautious about are appliances such as refrigerators, which the tiny creature can climb in and find as a potential play area. Even couches can also be risky for the ferret, as underneath them is a thin fabric lining wherein ferrets can easily enter and go through the inside of the couch. The most important thing is to provide the ferret with a safe and secure place to run.
