Nobody wants a pet that urinates and defecates all over the house which is why it is essential to provide your ferret with a litter box.

The good news is that it is very easy to litter train a ferret as they typically like to do their business in a corner.

By simply placing a litter box in the corner of the enclosure or room, your ferret will naturally gravitate towards it and will eventually associate it with using the bathroom, so to speak.

However, you need to make sure that you choose a litter tray that is going to be up for the challenge.

You could be forgiven for thinking that any old litter box will do but there are some that are more suited to these small furry creatures so it’s important to put a little thought into the buying process. 

We’ve got you covered and have put together this detailed guide on what you should be looking for when choosing your ferret’s litter box. We will also be showing you some of our favorite products and giving you a few handy tips on training your ferret. 

Top 5 Ferret Litter Boxes

The internet and pet stores around the world are packed with a huge array of ferret litter boxes so finding the right one can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. Take a look at our top picks, all of which offer everything your ferret needs to toilet in comfort and safety.

Ware Manufacturing Lock And Litter Pan – Best Overall

One of the first things you will notice about this set of two litter pans is that they are incredibly affordable. You certainly don’t need to break the bank to get a good quality litter box and these ones have several features that make them comfortable and easy to use for both you and your ferret.

They are made from highly durable plastic and feature a locking clip on either side to ensure that they attach safely to the cage. They won’t move around when your ferret uses them or tip over.

The material is also stain-resistant and won’t hold onto odors so you can feel confident that, despite its reputation, your ferret will smell as pleasant as possible. The high back prevents litter from being unnecessarily scattered while the lower front part of the tray makes for easy access.

Marshall High Back Ferret Litter Pans – Best For Big Spaces

Don’t be fooled by the high back title of these litter pans, there is a nice cut out where your ferret can easily enter and exit the litter tray without having to exert himself. 

What’s even better is that these come as a set of two making them ideal for larger enclosures or for people who have several ferrets. They are also large enough to comfortably accommodate your pet without his freedom of movement being restricted. 

These trays are slightly pricier than some others on the market, even when you consider that you are getting a set of two. However, since the durability is second to none and the easy to clean material makes keeping things sanitary so much easier, the higher price isn’t so much of a downside. 

GOLDEAL Cage Potty Trainer – Best For Baby Ferrets

We must point out that the smaller size of this litter box makes it unsuitable for fully grown ferrets. However, for litter training purposes when your pet is smaller, this tray makes a great cage accessory. It comes in a choice of colors and is durable and easy to install. This is thanks to cage hooks on either side, at the back of the trainer, allowing you to attach it to the cage for safe and stable use. 

The GODEAL cage potty trainer comes with a removable grid. This prevents your baby ferret from stepping in his own mess and makes the training process much more hygienic. Moreover, the materials are resistant to odors and stains, further improving the hygienic design of this tray. 

What we also loved about this cage potty trainer is that it is so affordable. When you have to buy something specifically designed for younger pets, knowing that you’ll have to eventually replace it as they grow, the last thing you want is to have to spend a lot of money. But this affordability doesn’t come at the cost of quality. 

Litix Corner Litter Pan – Best Value For Money

If you are looking for something simple and no frills that does the job you need it to do then the Litix corner litter pan is one of the best options. Not only is it excellent value for money but you are also getting a high quality litter box that will stand the test of time. 

This litter box features a high back that will prevent your ferret from scattering litter outside of the cage. The front is lower allowing your pet to enter and exit safely and easily. 

The brightly colored litter pan has a maximum width of 14 inches, which is more than enough for most average sized ferrets. What’s more, it is made from a non-toxic material that is superbly easy to clean. The only real downside is that there aren’t any cage hooks so this one might not offer the same kind of stability that others on this list boast. 

Kitty Go Here Senior Cat Litter Box – Bonus Pick

Now, we know what you’re thinking; this is a litter box designed for a cat, right? Technically, yes but what sets it apart from many other cat litter boxes are the low sides. Designed for older cats who might have mobility issues, these low sides make it easy to get in and out of which is also perfect for a ferret. 

While this one might not have the corner design that a ferret-specific litter tray would have, the rectangular shape still makes it easy to put into the corner of the cage. Moreover, this design is slightly larger so is great for ferrets that are a little bigger than average. 

The litter box is made from a high-quality poly material that is super easy to clean and comes in a variety of colors. 

What To Consider When Buying A Litter Box For Your Ferret

It would be easy to assume that picking up any old litter box would meet the needs of your pet but if you want to give him the best care, a lot of thought and attention needs to go into anything you buy for him. Let’s take a look at some handy buying tips to help you choose the best option. 

Pan, Tray, Or Box?

Litter boxes are much more high sided than pans and trays and may often come with a lid which is great if you are looking for something that isn’t going to create a huge mess every time your ferret does his business. 

However, since ferrets only have short legs, the sides of these boxes can be a little challenging for them to get over. For this reason, it might be better to stick with a pan or a tray whose sides are easier for your pet to step over. 

That said, there are some boxes with one dipped side which makes a great compromise between the two.

Size

You must make sure that your ferret has enough room to comfortably toilet in his litter box. That said, you don’t want it to be so large that it becomes more of a play area. Your pet should be able to turn around in the litter box in order to get into a comfortable position. 

Easy To Clean

Keeping your ferrets litter box clean is one of the most important parts of your pet’s care in terms of toileting. Ferrets are known for their particularly potent odor but by keeping everything sanitary, you’ll go a long way in tackling the problem. 

However, you must ensure that the litter box is made from an easy to clean material (plastic is usually best) without any hard to reach areas. Of course, when you are cleaning, you should use non-toxic products that are suitable for ferrets. 

Cage Hooks

Many ferret litter trays come with small plastic hooks on either side at the back that allow you to attach the litter tray to the bars of the cage. This serves no other purpose than preventing the tray from falling or moving but it is a very useful feature and an important one to look out for!

What About Automatic Litter Boxes?

It can be tempting to choose an automatic litter box for the pure and simple reason that keeping them clean becomes much simpler. However, while it might serve you, this type of litter box is highly impractical for your ferret. 

For starters, the sides are usually much higher, even than a standard litter box so it can be tricky for your pet to get in and out. What’s more, many of these models have holes in the sides that your ferret may try to squeeze through which could, of course, result in an injury. 

Durability and Quality

What’s The Best Litter To Use For A Ferret?

If you’re new to buying animal litter, it may surprise you to know that there are many different types. While they might all be advertised as ‘super absorbent’ or ‘odor eliminating’, not all of them are suitable or safe for ferrets. 

One of the best things to use are pellets. These will often come in various types including wood, paper, and alfalfa; all of these make great litter for a ferret. What’s more, this type of litter is highly absorbent and doesn’t cost the earth. 

There are some litters that are made from pine or cedar shavings but these can be irritating to your ferret and should be avoided at all costs. That said, if you find that you are unable to get pellets, it is safe to use cat litter provided that it is unscented and doesn’t clump. But we wouldn’t recommend using this as your go-to product. 

Litter Training Tips

Training a ferret to use a little box is fortunately quite an easy task. These animals like things to be organized and this is reflected in their toileting habits. As we mentioned earlier, they prefer to do their business in a corner so you must place the litter tray here. 

Moreover, you should make sure that the litter tray is not placed near your ferret’s food and drink supply as these animals will not toilet where they eat. If you pay attention to your pet’s behavior, you will likely notice that he tends to go to one particular corner when he needs to pee or poop and it is here that you should put the litter tray. 

If you find that your ferret doesn’t naturally take to the litter box, which can often be the case then you may need to strategically place some poop or pee inside. Using soiled bedding or other things can work quite well. 

While this might sound gross, you have to keep in mind that ferrets are not like other animals that use litter trays, such as cats. They won’t instinctively use them and when there’s no associated with peeing and pooping, this may not make the link. In addition to this, it can be helpful to move any accidents into the litter box to further encourage your pet to use it. 

Keep in mind that, while it is relatively easy to litter train a ferret, it will take some time. You must be patient with your pet and encourage them rather than shouting at them. A ferret will not associate you raising your voice with having done something wrong so it won’t speed up the process. In fact, if anything, it’ll likely only scare and stress out your pet, affecting your bond with it. 

Conclusion

Finding the right litter tray for your ferret is extremely important as this will ensure that they have somewhere comfortable and safe to eliminate. However, with so many different types of litter box to choose from, it can be a little confusing. 

It’s important to keep in mind that ferrets have short legs and so require a little box with lower sides. You should also make sure that they have enough space and check for additional features like cage hooks.

We’ve done much of the hard work for you and have put together a list of, what we consider to be the best ferret litter boxes out there.