If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
litter box training a ferel
we "trapped" a ferrel in our house, it came in out of the cold, we shut the
door and he ran and hid. we put a litter box and his food dish were he would find it. he hasn't eaten yet(3rd day) but did dirty on the floor. any ideas on how to train him or is it possible. we know he's a year old -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Well, first if he's going on the floor, he must have eaten... Do you have a
bowl of water in there as well You might try putting some dirt in the litter from where he used to go when he was outside. Cats are pretty smart about that but the scent should draw him to the box. They don't usually like to go where they can't scratch. Also, don't put the food/water right next to litter box as they don't like to eat where they go. Finally, use a litter tray rather than covered box for a while.... "basilz via CatKB.com" wrote in message ... we "trapped" a ferrel in our house, it came in out of the cold, we shut the door and he ran and hid. we put a litter box and his food dish were he would find it. he hasn't eaten yet(3rd day) but did dirty on the floor. any ideas on how to train him or is it possible. we know he's a year old -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
In article ,
"basilz via CatKB.com" wrote: we "trapped" a ferrel in our house, it came in out of the cold, we shut the door and he ran and hid. we put a litter box and his food dish were he would find it. he hasn't eaten yet(3rd day) but did dirty on the floor. any ideas on how to train him or is it possible. we know he's a year old Put the "dirty" he did on the floor into the litter box. That'll "prime' it and let himknow what the box is for. As the other respondent said, also separate the litter and food/water. Maybe put some dirt over the litter in the litter box. Good luck! Priscilla -- "And what's this crap about Sodomites? It's always Sodomites this and Sodomites that. What about us Gomorrahians? We were there too; we deserve some mention. Sodom always gets the credit, and Gomorrah always does the work." - JohnN in alt.religion.christian.episcopal |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Chris and Priscilla: thank you for your input on my ferrel "in the house"
and litter box training. I ended up buying a large dog cage, got her from under the bed and into the bathroom. closed the door, set up the cage outside the door way and then went in and "guided her into the cage. I had one angry cat! I put in a small litter box and as suggested put in her "thankyou" she left on the bathroom floor. This morning I noticed she had used the litter box. I had put too much litter in it and she spread all over, one big mess. she's a calico and very pretty i only hope she can be tamed, I really don't want to let her out in the wilds again or take her to the shelter and have her put down. Thanks again for your help. -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
"basilz via CatKB.com" wrote:
Chris and Priscilla: thank you for your input on my ferrel "in the house" and litter box training. I ended up buying a large dog cage, got her from under the bed and into the bathroom. closed the door, set up the cage outside the door way and then went in and "guided her into the cage. I had one angry cat! I put in a small litter box and as suggested put in her "thankyou" she left on the bathroom floor. This morning I noticed she had used the litter box. I had put too much litter in it and she spread all over, one big mess. she's a calico and very pretty i only hope she can be tamed, I really don't want to let her out in the wilds again or take her to the shelter and have her put down. Thanks again for your help. Patience is the key. Patience and giving her time. Oh, and being willing to wait. Patiently. ;-) Priscilla |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Glad to hear things are going well... Just another thought for you... If
you have a large cage, you might try leaving her in there for a couple of days with food/water & some little toys (balls, etc)(it gets a little messy). Put the crate somewhere where she can see you a good deal of the time (but throw a sheet over it so maybe she can see only out of one side). Try putting crate on some boxes or something so that you're not towering over her. Just putting your hands in & out to clean litter, change food/water, will give her a sense that you're not going to hurt her. THen I would try leaving the gate open & gradually moving the food to just below the crate so she can jump in & out... I did this with an adult stray and now he is the most affectionate guy in the world! It really only took a couple of weeks for him to slowly discover the couch & bed & decide it was better than the towel in the crate..... I think what did it was that he could see & hear all the routines of 'indoor' life and still feel safe in his little den. At first he would only come out to explore at night or when he thought I wasn't looking. The other thing I did right away was bring him in the crate to the vet for exam/shots. It avoided having to chase her in there later on. Vet gave me some pills, ace ? which sort of kept him reasonably calm but no matter what, be prepared for rough time at the vet. Whatever you do, do not open the gate except in your home... Have you given her a name? How old do you think she is? She's a real lucky little one! Just be patient and go at her own pace but let her see you and everyone in your home as much as possible.... "basilz via CatKB.com" wrote in message ... Chris and Priscilla: thank you for your input on my ferrel "in the house" and litter box training. I ended up buying a large dog cage, got her from under the bed and into the bathroom. closed the door, set up the cage outside the door way and then went in and "guided her into the cage. I had one angry cat! I put in a small litter box and as suggested put in her "thankyou" she left on the bathroom floor. This morning I noticed she had used the litter box. I had put too much litter in it and she spread all over, one big mess. she's a calico and very pretty i only hope she can be tamed, I really don't want to let her out in the wilds again or take her to the shelter and have her put down. Thanks again for your help. -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Chris wrote:
Glad to hear things are going well... Just another thought for you... If you have a large cage, you might try leaving her in there for a couple of days with food/water & some little toys (balls, etc)(it gets a little messy). Put the crate somewhere where she can see you a good deal of the time (but throw a sheet over it so maybe she can see only out of one side). Try putting crate on some boxes or something so that you're not towering over her. Just putting your hands in & out to clean litter, change food/water, will give her a sense that you're not going to hurt her. THen I would try leaving the gate open & gradually moving the food to just below the crate so she can jump in & out... I did this with an adult stray and now he is the most affectionate guy in the world! It really only took a couple of weeks for him to slowly discover the couch & bed & decide it was better than the towel in the crate..... I think what did it was that he could see & hear all the routines of 'indoor' life and still feel safe in his little den. At first he would only come out to explore at night or when he thought I wasn't looking. When I was socializing Sebastian, after a while I got a cage I'd put him in and put him in various rooms with me and the (then) other two cats. At the beginning I'd shroud part of the cage as Chris suggests above. That way Sebbie got to interact with Caley and Benjamin without their being able to tangle, and he got to size up the house. He visited every major room multiple times. He got to see me cooking, eating, watching TV, doing computer stuff, and so on. When it finally got to be time to release Sebbie into the general population, at first he didn't want to leave the guestroom where he'd been living for 2.5 months, but then, when he did leave, there was no slinking around the perimeters of rooms. He walked right down the middle of each one like he owned it. He knew the house already, because he'd already been everywhere. Hope this helps. Priscilla |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
basilz via CatKB.com wrote: This morning I noticed she had used the litter box. I had put too much litter in it and she spread all over, one big mess. If the dog crate is large enough, put a smaller cat-size carrier inside the dog crate. Most feral cats will hide inside the smaller carrier, especially when you come around. It's easy to close the door on the smaller carrier (If necessary, use a long wooden dowl.). This way, you can remove the cat in the carrier and give the larger crate a good cleaning. It's also helpful to use pellet litter, like Feline Pine or Cat Country. This type of litter is not as messy as clay or clumping and does not pose a health danger if accidentally ingested. she's a calico and very pretty i only hope she can be tamed, I really don't want to let her out in the wilds again or take her to the shelter You've forgotten what is most often the best option for true ferals. Spay her, release her and maintain her as an outdoor cat. Longterm confinement of adult ferals is not a kindness to these proud, resiliant, competent animals. T-N-R for adult ferals is certainly preferable to "taking her to a shelter" where she will, undoubtedly, be destroyed as "unadoptable". |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
much appreciation to all. This is the 4th day that our ferrel has been
caged. She is using the litter box( advice from you has worked), she has stopped meowing at 5 am, the vacum cleaner, television are no longer a concern to her, she is more relaxed, watchs me play with our two ****zsues and our other cat. our plan is to get her to the vet next week for shots/checkup etc. patience is certainly the key. I really do not want to turn her loose since i feed many different birds and would prefer her not feeding on them. Thanks again to all, your advice has been right on! -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
happy to report our new cat, formerly a ferel, has adapted thanks to the
help everyone gave . a little worried, took her to the vet and he tells me she has a "touch of feline leukemia" and wanted to know if i "wanted to keep her". I,m keeping her. Can't touch her but she walks around without fear, eats, butt heads the dogs, ignores the other cat we have, lays in the middle of the floor ignoring the pillows and uses the litter box. she was kept in the dog crate for ten days, slept under a bed for two . it was tricking getting her into the cat carrier for the vet visit, in 30 days she goes back for another blood test and to be spayed. thanks again to all the good advise, appreciated. bill -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
|
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Training an Older Cat to Use a Litter Box? | Mary | Cat health & behaviour | 0 | December 1st 04 05:51 AM |
Litter training kittens | muffin | Cat health & behaviour | 12 | June 5th 04 03:52 PM |
Kitty goes _outside_ the litter box... help! | Scott | Cat health & behaviour | 20 | January 9th 04 02:36 PM |
Litter Training Stray Cat | Arlena | Cat community | 4 | December 22nd 03 12:39 AM |
litter training kittens with mama | Laura Burchard | Cat health & behaviour | 4 | August 11th 03 09:03 PM |