ferret help please

[Godsgrl]

I have two ferrets that we've had about 2 months now. They are about 2 years old. When they are out, they are allowed to play in the kitchen, living room, and one bedroom. These are the safe areas for them to enjoy. I have a board up blocking the hallway to keep them from going to unsafe areas-the bathroom, etc. The problem is they obsessively scratch the board, and wall trying to get down to forbidden zones. They've scratched the paneling off the wall doing this. I'm thinking of putting sandpaper up to cover the area, but how do I make them stop altogether?

I've tried re-directing, spraying with water, and picking them up and firmly saying "no". None of this has worked. Help! Thank you for any suggestions you might have. They have cupboards galore, furniture to climb on, a bedroom to get lost in, a ferret jungle gym box, assorted grocery boxes, dogs to harass, a tunnel, and litter box containers to explore with treats. Still they want past the barrier.

 

[annanicole18]

They sound just like my cat. They are just the kind of creatures that want to have free run of everything and don't understand its for their own good. That why I'm partial to my dogs I say "None of your business" and they move on without a second glance but the darn cat will be right back there trying to break in.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Yup. They are determined little beasts. If they think there are greener pastures they will dig incessantly trying to make their break to freedom. You might try adding more toys in the allowed areas. Have you put out any tunnels like landscape tubing or long dryer tubing? Mine had a box of unpopped popcorn kernels to dig in. That seemed to scratch the "I gotta dig" itch. You need to find something more enticing than the break for freedom.

 

[ChickenfootDuckbutt]

When I had ferrets, they had free-roam of every where in my house ACCEPT the kitchen, and even then, they STILL wanted in the kitchen! (because that's where the wild mice were!)

I tried EVERYTHING to keep those little suckers OUT of the kitchen, bought them all new toys, including a 5 foot long crinkly tunnel, they loved it, but nope. they wanted in the kitchen, and finally once one DID get over the barrier, what did she do?, spent about 3 hours demonstrating the fact that she KNEW how to get over! before crashing in their cage

needless to say, I want ferrets again xD

 

[Godsgrl]

I'm late getting back to this, but thank you so much for all of your replies. I've decided, to save my sanity, that the girls can free-range the house with restrictions. They are not allowed in my room, (killer cat) the laundry room or the bathroom. So we'll keep these doors closed. Thank you so much for the help.

 

[xchairity_casex]

yeh ferrets are NOT the brigtest little critters LOL my sister had a ferret whom i dubbed "little retard" not becuase i didnt like him but becuase he reminded me of a little retarded child always happy but never able to pay attention to anything you say.
ferres are just that way it seems you cant teach them a gosh darn thing

 

[Godsgrl]

Quote:
Too funny. It isn't necessarily that they are stupid, it's that they have the attention span of a gnat. I have tried so many things to entertain them, and most of them last about 5 seconds before they are on to something else. Ferrets-gotta love 'em.

 

[xchairity_casex]

Quote:
Too funny. It isn't necessarily that they are stupid, it's that they have the attention span of a gnat. I have tried so many things to entertain them, and most of them last about 5 seconds before they are on to something else. Ferrets-gotta love 'em.

oh yes they are smart when they want somthing my sisters used to open the cuppboards even though we had them nearly wired shut he STILL managed to get into them so we began moving everything on the top shelves over our heads he learend how to go behind the fridge climb up the back THEN get into the top cuppboards like that and no matter how many goll darn times you got him down 3 seconds later he was right back up there again! and it wasnt even for food or for toys he jsut wanted to get into everything!

 

[Godsgrl]

Quote:
Too funny. It isn't necessarily that they are stupid, it's that they have the attention span of a gnat. I have tried so many things to entertain them, and most of them last about 5 seconds before they are on to something else. Ferrets-gotta love 'em.

oh yes they are smart when they want somthing my sisters used to open the cuppboards even though we had them nearly wired shut he STILL managed to get into them so we began moving everything on the top shelves over our heads he learend how to go behind the fridge climb up the back THEN get into the top cuppboards like that and no matter how many goll darn times you got him down 3 seconds later he was right back up there again! and it wasnt even for food or for toys he jsut wanted to get into everything!

Sounds about like a ferret. How frustrating! LOL I'm about to lose my mind with these two, even though they can range beyond the barrier, they are still scratching on the wall there. I'm going to have to cover it with something. I am trying to configure a way to keep them out of the kitchen cupboards. I'm thinking velcro, magnets...but reading your post, maybe that won't even work.

They definitely keep you on your toes.

 

[OldGuy43]

Never had this particular problem, but I tell you one thing. Ferrets HATE being yelled at. Try it.