What litters materials are not safe for ferret?

Many people consider owning ferret because they belief that ferret is low maitenance pet. However, the fact that ferrets are similar to cats, ferrets are also trainable and training them is not more difficult than training a cat.

The best ferret litter box and litter training  will helps keep the cage clean and tidy, control odor, and also ensure your ferret comfort. But before get start to litter train your pets, you have to choose the right litter, and what is unsafe for ferret to use.

#1 Clay litter

You have to be verry careful with clay litter as it can be the worse choice. When it gets wet, it gets very think and sticky and thhis is a big change that clay will stick to the paws, and skin of the ferrets. It can even stick to their eyes and nose.

Ferrets also may drag their bottom to the litter box, it lead the clay particles also get stuck to their bottom. This can be vey dangerouse if the clay get stuck and block the anus of the ferret. There have been instances where the ferrets ingest it and cause a fatal blockage.

Besides, clay litters tend to produce a lot of dust which cause bad effect on the sensitive respiratory system of your ferrets because they wil dig around in it and end up breathing it in.

There are some clay litter product are suitable for ferret but remember alway check the manufacturer’s guidelines and ask your vet before use it.

#2 Wood shavings

It is also not safe to use pine or cedar wood shaving. This is beacuse of the aromatic oils and phenols that they give off. These oils can be dangerous for a ferret’s respiratory system and it also impacts their liver heavily as they tent to release toxic vapors.

Not only that, the pine and cedar wood will not be treated to remove essential oils. They cause changes to the enzymes of the liver.

#3 Silica-based litters

Silical-based pearls, flakes, beads or gel can also cause health issuses for your ferrets as well. They can be inhaled by ferret, cause significant trauma and respiratory tract damage and silicosis for the ferret.

There are also some silica available in the market are amorphous silica, these type of silica are safe for the respiratory tracts of the ferrets. However, it also should be used carefuly as the ferrets think that they are dig boxes rather than litter boxes. Besides, silica is not a good absorbent material.