A Useful Guide to Cleaning a Ferret Cage

As a responsible ferret owner, it is your job to clean the ferret cage regularly. And when you say clean, this includes wiping, replacing the sheets, washing the accessories, and getting rid of the litter. Since it is just a very small area, we assume that it would be very easy for you to take care of all the mess.

Take note that cleanliness is essential for your pet’s well-being and happiness. Thus, to make things less of a hassle, here are some tips to follow:

Choose the Right Cleaning Products

It is pretty much self-explanatory that the overall health of your ferrets relies on the cleanliness of the cage. Take this as an example. In an average day, you can notice that they use the litter box a lot of times. Whenever they see it full, they would find other places, such as the food or water bowls. With that, if you allow waste to build up in the litter box, then it might definitely result in sicknesses or any other unwanted conditions.

Knowing that it is vital to your pet’s health to keep the cage clean, you should also consider the cleaning products you will be using. As much as possible, use products that are safe for ferrets and use them as instructed. With all these in mind, you will never have to worry about sanitary issues.

Although there are plenty of cleaning products sold in the market nowadays, you must not just settle on something that is on sale or something very cheap. You need to check the quality. You don’t want to compromise the health of your ferrets for a cleaning product that is ineffective or of poor-quality.

Use Appropriate Cleaning Tools

To make things faster and easier, it is better if you assemble a cleaning kit right from the very beginning. Separate these things from your household supplies to avoid contamination and other ferret health issues.

Here are some of the most important cleaning tools you will need:

Playpen or Extra Cage

An extra ferret cage or playpen will be very useful for relocation purposes. Of course, you will need a place to temporarily place your ferrets while you are cleaning the cage.

It is easier to clean the ferret enclosure if your ferrets are not in it. Therefore, buying a playpen or another cage will be helpful.

Brushes

Depending on the cage, the size of the brushes you will need also varies. However, toothbrushes will definitely make a great tool for cleaning the corners.

Buckets

Buckets can be used for storing water for the purpose of cleaning. These can also be used as a storage place for all other cleaning materials.

Cleaning Cloths and Paper Towels

In order to speed up drying, cleaning cloths and paper towels will be needed.

Rubber Gloves

When handling toxic materials, rubber gloves will be needed. These will also be useful to avoid the spread of any viruses.

Disinfectant

A disinfectant like diluted bleach plays a vital role when cleaning as it gives you the assurance that the ferret home is free from bacteria and germs.

Set a Cleaning Schedule

Yes, you will have to clean the ferret cage regularly. But this doesn’t end there. You also need to perform weekly cleaning and maintenance to make sure nothing will hinder the happiness of your ferrets.

Here are several things you need to do when cleaning daily and weekly:

Daily Cleaning

First, you need to scoop all the solid wastes out of the litter pan. And then, empty the water and feeding bowls. Rinse them with soap and water. To ensure effectiveness, make sure you brush it. Lastly, change the bedding with a new one.

Weekly Cleaning

Just like cleaning on a daily basis, you need to eliminate the wastes in the litter box first. Next, disinfect the cage with a solution comprised of ¼ cup of bleach and 2 quarts of water. After that, rinse it properly with water. When doing this, do not forget to wear gloves and goggles. Allow it to dry.

In addition, you also need to wash all the toys and the bedding. Be careful with this step, as some items are not washable by machine. Aside from that, there might be residues left in the accessories so you need to watch out. Once dry, put it back to the cage.

Consider Cleaning Hygiene

You can’t clean the cage in the kitchen sink just because you want to. Ideally, you need to do it in the garage or in the laundry room. But then again, if these two aren’t available, you can go to the bathroom sink.

As much as possible, try to avoid the kitchen sink. Keep in mind that you want to minimize the risk of contamination; so washing the cage in it is definitely not recommended.

Take note that this is just a guide. Cleaning still depends on the number of ferrets you have, the ferret breed, and their habits. The more you have, the more frequent you need to clean. But if you are really passionate about raising ferrets, then there is nothing you need to worry about. In the long run, you will find yourself looking forward to cleaning a ferret cage.

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