Ferrets love warm and cozy places. And since they spend a good part of their time sleeping, they will almost dislodge you from your bed. Many times you will find them curled up under your blanket. If you don’t want to get into fights with your little buddy, you should invest in the best ferret little/bedding.
Good bedding for ferrets should be safe, absorbent and able to control odor. With the wide range of pet litter out there, you may find it hard making the right choice. Fortunately, we have done the heavy lifting for you and have created a buying guide and a review of the top 3 ferret litters. Read on to make the right choice.
A Comparison Table of The Three Best Ferret Litters
Last update on 2021-02-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
A Buying Guide For The Best Ferret Litter/Bedding
Material
Many of the ferret litters available in the market today are made of plant, wood, silica, clay, and paper. Plant-based pellets easy to scoop. Their downside is that ferrets may confuse them for snacks and eat them.
Bedding made of clay can get sticky and erode on the cage tray. They may stick to your furry friend’s paws, eyes and nose when they are searching for a place to relieve themselves. After they have pooped, ferrets tend to scoot in order to clean their behind.
Ferret safety
When picking a ferret litter, you need to choose an option that is made specifically for a ferret. While there are litters that are made for cats, they may not be a good choice for ferrets. The comfort of your ferret will impact his heath. If your ferret is uncomfortable with his environment or the cage has a bad odor, this will put him in distress.
Consider whether the litter causes an allergic reaction to your pet. Choose dust-free beddings as they are a good choice for pets that have respiratory issues. They will also make it easy to clean the pet’s cage. It is advisable to observe the pet for a few minutes after introducing the litter to see how he reacts.
Clay can get stuck in the rectum of a scooting rectum causing it to get blocked. If your pet ingests it, it can cause a fatal blockage. Clay is also hard and dusty and can, therefore, be a hazard to the respiratory system of a sensitive ferret.
Wood shavings can contain chemicals that can lead to health problems. This is especially the case when they are gotten from cedar or pine that hasn’t been processed to remove the naturally occurring oil. The oil releases vapor that can cause changes in the liver enzyme and damage to the respiratory system. Silica-based beddings such as beads, pearls, gel, and flakes can cause serious damage to the mucous membrane when ingested. Avoid these products.
Ability to control odor
The goal of any litter box is to contain odor and waste. The best ferret litter to control odor should be very absorbent. Wood pellets and recycled papers are often the most absorbent and are therefore the best choice for controlling odor. Ferret breeders suggest that pelleted litters are a great choice as they are heavy. This ensures that they stay in the litter pan when your furry friend gets out. They also have very little dust as compared to other types of litters. They are absorbent and easy to scoop. Their prices are also a bit low.
Safe ingredients
You need to ensure that ferret litters are made from safe, natural and non-toxic materials. Some litters are unsafe for pets. Ferrets tend to sniff or roll in their litter. This is despite the fact that the majority of them have a very sensitive respiratory system. Therefore, choose an unscented and dust-free litter that doesn’t clump. If you happen to run out of litter, you can always use your cat litter as long as it has no scent and doesn’t clump. Litters that are made of recycled papers, denatured wood and alfalfa are generally safe. Avoid pine or cedar shavings as these contain chemicals that can be irritating to your ferret’s eyes.
Ease of cleaning
Unlike cats, Ferrets leave their stool uncovered. Therefore, a good idea is to use a thin layer that can be replaced after a few days. To avoid scooping, pick a litter that is made up of a thin layer.
Eco-friendly
Be sure to choose an eco-friendly and renewable alternative. The best ferret beddings are biodegradable, making them safe for the environment. Beddings made of high-quality papers are usually non-toxic and non-allergenic. They have a very soft texture, meaning they will not irritate your pet.
Ten Tips potty training your ferret
With a bit of patience, it shouldn’t be difficult to potty train your pet. When potty training your ferret, there are a few tips that can be helpful.
- Set up the litter box in your furry friend’s cage
- Choose a litter box that is big enough. The ferret should fit well in it
- Check the instinctive behavior of your ferret to use one corner of the cage to relieve himself
- Place urine and feces in the litter box. Unlike cats, ferrets won’t easily understand the role of the litter box
- Let the ferret remain in the cage until it uses the litter box
- If your ferret relieve himself outside the litter box, move the waste to the litter box
- When your furry friend uses the litter box, praise him or her
- Clean the litter box regularly
- If your ferret dig a lot fasten the litter box to the cage
- Avoid scolding a ferret when he relieves himself outside. Scolding him will only irritate him
On top of these tips, you can view this video below on potty training a ferret.
Top 3 Ferret Litters
You now have an idea on how to choose the right litter for your pellet. But let us now look at some of the best models that are worth considering.
1. Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals -Best for odor control
The main goal of a ferret litter is to control odor. Nothing beats Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals when it comes to controlling odor. The manufacturer says it will control odor for 14 days and this is nothing but the truth. All you need to do is to ensure regular cleaning. It is made of soft and cozy papers that crumble to provide the ultimate comfort.
The litter is hairless and dust-free and is, therefore, a good choice for ferrets that are hypersensitive to any kind of dust in beddings. The bedding is made of biodegradable material, making it a healthy choice not only for your pet but for the environment too. The USA-made litter is soft enough for small pet cages. The litter should be changed when it becomes ineffective in controlling odors or becomes wet.
The Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals is litter that is made of recycled papers. It is one of the best options for controlling odor.
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2. Marshall Ferret Litter, Bag - Best for allergens
Like we have already seen, one of the best decisions that you can make is to choose beddings that are specifically made for ferrets. Unfortunately, there are not many options out there. But the good news is that Marshall Ferret Litter, Bag has been made for this particular pet. It is dust-free making it a good choice for protecting your furry friend from allergens.
The litter is made of pressed papers that are 100% environmental-friendly and biodegradable. It has a great absorbency rate, making it a good choice for ferrets. It will puff up when soaked in urine and therefore, you can easily tell when it gets soiled.
Clumping litter can be a health hazard for a ferret. Fortunately, Marshall Ferret Litter is among the non-clumping options. The bedding doesn’t contain any perfume that may easily irritate your pet. The litter works perfectly in absorbing odor. However, you need to change it at least once a day.
The ferret litter comes with a 10-pound toy. While many ferrets will love this toy, it contains a mild chew flavor that can affect its shelf life. It is a bit scoopable and all you need to do is to scoop that little dirt every day. At times, it will go for 3 days with very little smell. If your furry friend decides to knock down the litter pan and onto the floor, you will not have to worry. Overall, this is a very good litter.
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3. Kaytee Small Animal Potty Training Litter - Best for potty training
Unlike cats, ferrets don’t cover their stool and therefore, you only need a thin layer of litter. When you put too much bedding, ferrets will dig it out. If your ferret is a digger, she will easily knock down the litter while it is still fresh. This means you will need a Ferret litter that is a bit heavy and doesn’t get knocked down easily. One of the options that are worth considering is Kaytee Small Animal Potty Training Litter.
As the name suggests, this litter is also a good choice for potty training your pet. With this product, it will be easy to litter box train your ferret.
The litter is made of bentonite, a safe and non-toxic ingredient. It works well in absorbing moisture and therefore, controlling the odor from pet waste. It works well in absorbing moisture and therefore helps to reduce waste odor.
One of the disadvantages of the material is that it is a kind of clay. Therefore, it hardens when wet, making it hard to clean. If you would like to make it easy to clean, put a thin paper layer beneath the litter and another thicker layer on top. Overall this is a good product.
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Conclusion - Our Pick!
A good pellet litter should be absorbent, control odor and be made of safe materials.
Of the three options we have reviewed, I consider Vitakraft Fresh World Strength Crumble Bedding for Small Animals to be the best option. I like the fact that it is effective in controlling odor and has no factory odor. You can spot scoop any soiled litter ad refill the empty space with the fresh litter.
It is easy to clean as it absorbs well without leaving a wet mushy smell. The litter is 100% compostable and therefore easy to dispose of. You can also flush it down the toilet. This is definitely among the best ferret litter/bedding in the market today.
