the Makai ([info]angeltabris) wrote in [info]ferretlovers,
2009-01-25 10:55:00
I've had ferrets for over a decade now and I've always just used basic Tidy Cats clay litter (ETA: not clumping - regular clay) in the litter boxes (free-range ferts). It's worked well overall, but I'm tired of dry foot pads and the dust (99% dust free my butt). What do you all use? I've tried converting them to pellet-type bedding (slowly, very slooowly over a course of a month or two), but my ferrets must be old and set in their ways ;), and always decide the carpet is better than any pellet bedding. So, I'm looking mainly at brands of cat litter for use with ferrets.

If anyone else out there uses cat litter, what brand do you use?

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  • 24 comments

[info]tearsinger

January 25 2009, 18:08:17 UTC 3 years ago

World's Best is a wheat litter. It is clumping wheat litter that is small and grain like. We find it doesn't get stuck noses or to foot pads and they use it -- unlike the wood stove pellets or the newspaper pellets.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:32:00 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you!

[info]tearsinger

January 25 2009, 20:59:07 UTC 3 years ago

3 of our 4 will also use puppy pads or skippy pads when out of the cage.

[info]pengybean

January 25 2009, 18:11:00 UTC 3 years ago

We use the Feline Pine and it works wonders on the urine odor. I know pine isn't the best thing to uses as far bedding (we use aspen) becasue of the oils, but it's not like they are sleeping in the litter and the pine pellets have been processed. Ours switched over to it very easily. We had converted our cats first and then discovered it would be great for the ferrets as well.

[info]femalecheetah

January 25 2009, 20:23:13 UTC 3 years ago

Why do u use aspen for bedding? Ferrets need fleece or any type of clothing material as bedding. Aspen or any type of shavings isn't really recommended for ferrets. For my ferrets I use baby blankets, sheets, or fleece and they love it!

[info]pengybean

January 25 2009, 22:27:57 UTC 3 years ago

They have a multi level cage and the aspen is just in the very bottom with the litter box. They still sometimes have accidents outside their litter box and this makes it easier to clean up. The upper levels have fleece hammocks and blankets.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:32:25 UTC 3 years ago

Yeah I was hoping for something NOT pellets, but thank you anyway!

[info]obsidiantears

January 25 2009, 18:55:50 UTC 3 years ago

We use Yesterday's News ;)

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:32:59 UTC 3 years ago

Thanks - but that's pellet-like and my ferrets are stubborn. I'll try it again but I'm not holding my breath :)

[info]skreidle

January 25 2009, 19:06:58 UTC 3 years ago

Feline pine (pellets) here too, or the Petsmart version--absorbent, clean, smells good, and ferrets didn't mind the change in litter.

I've heard bad things about clumping litters, particularly clay--can block their airways/sinuses if they dig through it.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:33:26 UTC 3 years ago Edited:  January 25 2009, 20:36:51 UTC

I've never used clumping litter for that very reason*, but never had a problem with just straight clay.

*and the additional worry of impaction, I might add

[info]skreidle

January 25 2009, 21:51:38 UTC 3 years ago

Indeed to the footnote, and we prefer the absorbency and easy-to-clean nature of non-clay litters. :)

[info]pearlandopal

January 25 2009, 19:47:30 UTC 3 years ago

Yesterday's News here.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:33:40 UTC 3 years ago

Thanks - I might try it again. :)

[info]wends

January 25 2009, 19:57:27 UTC 3 years ago

Thirding Yesterday's News.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:33:48 UTC 3 years ago

Thanks!

[info]femalecheetah

January 25 2009, 20:24:28 UTC 3 years ago

I use yesterdays news or wood stove pellets here.

clumping clay cat litter is a big no no.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:34:17 UTC 3 years ago

Yeah I was hoping for something not pelleted that people could recommend.

I've never used clumping; just regular clay litter.

Thanks though!

[info]silverdragn2002

January 25 2009, 20:44:40 UTC 3 years ago

Swheat Scoop, although some ferrets think it is food because it smells like bread. You will have to watch them when you first put it out and make sure they don't eat it. It will go right through, but it makes scary poops.

[info]angeltabris

January 25 2009, 20:45:38 UTC 3 years ago

Thank you - I will add it to my list to check out!

[info]parathalyn

January 25 2009, 21:52:37 UTC 3 years ago

When I had cats, we used Swheat for the cats. It doesn't produce a lot of dust, but it seemed to bother my ferrets. Do yours dig in it and sneeze from it?

[info]parathalyn

January 25 2009, 21:49:21 UTC 3 years ago

I use Equisicate pine litter. I used to get a pine horse bedding material that was super inexpensive and was about the same as what I'm using now, but I can't order it anymore. I love the odor control and no dust of the pine litter. Before pine, I used Yesterday's News litter that is a recycled paper pellet. It didn't handle odors as well as the pine does, but is still pretty good.

[info]swingsister_t

January 26 2009, 04:02:28 UTC 3 years ago

I can't remember the brand, but we adore this litter that's made up of little bits of corn cob. They're not big like pellets, more like a litter - but it absorbs liquids and smells very very well.

green bag - you can find it at PetCo or some Tractor Supplies (they took it out of ours, sadly)

[info]daoine_o

January 26 2009, 05:11:01 UTC 3 years ago

generic woodstove pellets; whatever brand's at the hardware store (currently 'heat'rs'). i've never had a problem with any of mine taking to them...young, old, whatever. but of course, all the ferts in the world are such individuals! just like people. ;)

good luck to you! :)

p.s...just recalled some other sort i'd seen/someone gave me a partial bag with a furchin i adopted a long time ago...it's newspaper, but not pelleted like yesterday's news; grey, but kinda fluffy, kinda squishy, kinda clump-y...not sure what it was. it's been years...maybe someone knows what i mean?
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