Time to Clean the Ferret Cage!
If you are here, it's pretty likely that you either have a ferret already, or you are thinking about getting one as a pet. It should be pretty clear by now that I think they make great pets for the right person. However, in the interest of both potential owners and the ferret itself, it is only fair to give equal time to something that can be a pain in the neck. I'm talking about keeping things clean for your ferret friend.
These little guys are fun, but they can make a mess of their home. One of the reasons that you'll want to get a metal cage is that they are less likely to become giant breeding grounds for bacteria and such than a homemade wooden cage (which a ferret could also potentially chew through). Even with a metal cage though, there is some basic maintenance that you will need to handle. These chores are necessary for a couple of reasons. First off, you'll want to keep your pet healthy. Letting him wallow in an environment filled with traces of his own poop isn't conducive to that. Second, you probably don't want your home to smell like the bottom of a litter box. I don't think this one needs much explanation.
Even when ferrets are litter trained, they move about their cage so much that it is almost inevitable that they will spread around some of their droppings. They also are not always the neatest animals when it comes to dining or maintaining their toy collections. Even one ferret, by itself, can make quite a mess of its room. If you have more than one, well, use your imagination. It is not a pleasant task, but you should give the cage a thorough cleaning from top to bottom every couple of weeks at a minimum. I told you this could be a pain in the neck.
You will need to thoroughly scrub pretty much everything and wash anything that is washable. The cage itself should also be scrubbed down with soapy water (or possibly bleach water) as well. When you do this, make sure that everything has also been rinsed thoroughly too. By now you should realize that part of ferret proofing is considering anything that the ferret could end up getting into its mouth.
If you have allergies or are otherwise sensitive to doing this kind of cleaning, that might be a good excuse to pass this chore off to another family member. There are also cleaners specifically designed for cleaning ferret cages. They are made to not only clean, but also to do away with any unpleasant odors. I like one particular "green" cleaner that is made for this job that is also pretty cheap as pet supplies go. You can check it out here.
Seriously, I doubt that anyone looks forward to cleaning out a ferret cage. It is right up there with walking around and scooping dog poop out of the yard. It is a necessary thing to do though, and, even if your ferrets can't tell you, they will certainly appreciate having a clean living environment.
Category: Pet Ferrets
My tip is to keep up on the cleaning chore. The longer you wait, the stinkier things get, and the harder it is to get things really clean. Suck it up and get cleaning as soon as you notice things getting smelly.