10 Best Litters For Ferrets – Reviews & Top Picks

The Buyer's Manual

For ferrets, finding a safe litter to use might be a challenge. It’s just that there are a lot of things that aren’t suitable for ferrets in litter made for cats and other animals.

Ferrets aren’t a good fit for cat litter made of clay, which is the most prevalent element in cat litter. Many of the chemicals used to suppress odors are also dangerous.

Adding insult to injury, there are just a handful of litters specifically intended for ferrets. Cats or tiny animals in general may not be safe from many of these products; this is especially true for ferrets.

Choosing a litter for your ferret is an important decision, and we’ll go through some of the considerations below. This is more often than not a matter of safety than it is of mere utility.

What’s Scoopable and What’s Not?

Scoopable litter has the advantage of being easily removed using a scoop. Since of this, you can go longer between whole litter box changes because you can more easily clean up individual messes. Scoopable litter is more convenient for the owner in the long run.

Scoopable litters, on the other hand, tend to be more costly. Except if they include some grain, they are not suitable for ferrets.

You’ll have to do some digging to discover a litter that’s safe for ferrets to use. It also tends to pick up litter that isn’t easy to remove.

Scoopability is an issue with most ferret-safe litters. This is mostly due to the fact that they are constructed of a material that does not naturally cluster together, such as paper. Ferrets should not be exposed to several of the clumping chemicals that are used.

Pellets

Litter may take a variety of shapes. Pellets, on the other hand, are what we advise. Choosing a litter that is smaller than huge pellets can cause difficulties with tracking and spread the litter.

As a rule of thumb, pellets tend to be less dusty than powdered and crushed litter. As a result, your home’s air quality suffers, which may have negative health effects on your cats.

Pellet litters are only not recommended if your ferret treats them as food. Occasionally, ferrets mistake pelleted litters for food and consume them.

Changing litters to something less attractive is the only option, and there isn’t much you can do about it.

Things to Keep an Eye Out For

There are a few types of litter that ferrets should not be used with. Despite the fact that they are occasionally promoted for ferrets, many of these products are dangerous to pets for a variety of reasons.

• There is a lot of clay debris everywhere. Clay litter is popular among cats, but ferrets should not use it. It might become sticky and thick if it gets wet. Your ferret’s face and paws will be covered with it. If swallowed, it might cause obstructions due to its dustiness. If your ferret likes to dig, it can be very taxing on their respiratory system.
• Shavings of cedar and pine. Because they commonly include oils from pine and cedar trees, these should be avoided. Some of the litter’s “natural” odor deterrents are added in bulk. Ferrets’ delicate respiratory systems and livers can be damaged by these chemicals.
• Litter made of silica. If you’re looking for anything that is “silica-based,” you may not be aware of it. Ferret owners may not be aware that many of these products are touted as being composed of silica, which might confuse them. Look it up if you don’t know what it is. Because ferrets have a highly sensitive respiratory system, they are susceptible to developing silicosis from exposure to silica. The high cost of silica-based litters, which many ferrets believe are for digging, is another deterrent to using them.
• Litter made from acorns. As a biodegradable litter, corn litter is becoming more popular. Cats may prefer it, but ferrets often consume it. Intestinal obstructions can result from this, depending on how the litter is handled. In addition, your ferret should be consuming ferret chow, not litter, anyhow. Also, they tend to be fairly dusty and susceptible to mold in most circumstances. For ferrets, there are superior natural alternatives.
• Pelleted Alfalfa for rabbit consumption. It’s easy to confuse rabbit food for litter. Often, it is composed of the same material as litter, which may be a bit of a conundrum. Despite its appearance, Alfalfa is not meant to serve as an absorbent material. Additionally, alfalfa might irritate or even cause an allergic reaction in certain ferrets. We don’t suggest it for these reasons.

Questions and Answers

• Is cat litter safe to use on ferrets?

Sometimes. You should always check to make sure the cat litter is safe for ferrets before using it. For example, ferrets should avoid using clay litter. Ferrets, who are more sensitive to odors and colors, might also be harmed by these additives.

The best cat litter for ferrets is not always the best for cats.

• Is it safe to feed ferrets pine?

Honestly, I’m not that concerned about it. Pine is tolerable to some ferrets, but not to others. To give them their distinctive scent, pine and other softwoods contain significant amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

As a result, the majority of litters are not made to remove these oils. Cats may benefit from this since the additional oils help to keep smells at bay.

However, due to the delicate respiratory system of ferrets, this is not an option. Pine litters are not recommended because of this.

 

Conclusion

You have a lot of options when it comes to mink sand. Because most lilies aren’t specific to ferrets, finding a safe nest for your pet will require some investigation. To help you find the best litters for ferrets for your small pet, BestForPets (bestforpets.org) hopes this post was helpful.

Compared to the other lints we tested, the original Clump-Free Paper Cat Filler from Yesterday’s News appeared at the top. This product is highly recommended in order to prevent the spread of scent in ferrets.

In addition, the Marshall Premium Odor Control Ferret Litter is also a favorite of ours at a lower price point. When it comes to ferret manure, finding a litter that is both affordable and dirt-free is really hard.

Reviews

Non-Clumping Original Unscented Yesterday’s News Paper Litter for Cats

Yesterday’s News Original Unscented Non-Clumping Paper Cat Litter is the finest of the litters that we tested. So named because it is created from recycled paper.

Compared to other solutions, it has a lesser environmental impact and contains no clay, therefore it’s safe for your ferret. It’s 99.7 percent dust-free and extremely absorbent, making it ideal for cleaning.

In order to protect the health of ferrets, this is a must. It’s also odor-locking, but it’s free of a lot of the chemicals found in other litters, which is a welcome change.

It’s made for felines. However, ferrets cannot ingest the additives included in many cat litters. Because this litter is reasonably priced and readily available, it’s a big plus for us.

For ferrets with allergies, this formula is safe to use (and humans). There are several common irritants in this recipe, making it ideal for ferrets.

Pros

• Clay-free
• Seventy percent clear of dust
• Additives-free
• Unscented
• Odor-locking

Cons

• It’s difficult to figure out where to take a swab from.

 

Marshall Premium Odor Control Ferret Litter – Best Price

One of the few litters specifically made for ferrets is the Marshall Premium Odor Control Ferret Litter. It’s also reasonably priced, making it the finest value for ferret litter. This is the litter to acquire if you’re on a tight budget.

It is constructed from one of the best materials for ferrets, 100 percent recycled paper. It has a high absorption capacity and is safe for the environment.

The fact that this trash is 100 percent biodegradable and healthy for the environment was another plus for us. For ferrets with sensitive skin, it is dust-free and made specifically for them. Some septic systems allow you to flush this litter down the toilet. It’s completely devoid of clay.

This bag appears to be having delivery issues. There have been several instances of it being damaged upon delivery. As a result of becoming litter, it creates quite a mess.

Pros

• 100% post-consumer waste paper
• Inexpensive
• Biodegradable
• Dust-free

Cons

• Problems with the shipping process

 

Premium Quality Litter: Oxbow Eco-Straw Pelleted Wheat Straw

Oxbow Eco-Straw Pelleted Wheat Straw Litter may be worth the additional money if you have a ferret or sensitive nose. One of the best ferret litters on the market costs a bit extra, but it’s worth it in the long run. However, you get what you paid for.

A superior litter medium for ferrets is wheat straw, which is used to make it. The enzymes in the wheat help to neutralize the stench by absorbing liquids.

This is one of the few clumping, scoopable litters that is safe for ferrets. This trash is also entirely biodegradable and ecologically beneficial. A flushable option is available.

There is no need to be concerned if your ferret consumes the litter, since this litter is even safe to eat. It is one of the safest alternatives on the market since it will not cause clogs like other litters. This is one of the top litters on the market because of these factors. It is, however, rather costly.

Pros

• Straw made entirely of wheat
• Scoopable
• Suitable for human consumption
• Biodegradable

Cons

• Expensive

 

Paper Pellet Animal Litter That’s So Fresh

The price of the So Phresh Paper Pellet Animal Litter is reasonable. It’s one of the most affordable solutions for those on a tight budget. If you’re on a budget, there are alternative litters that work even better than this one.

The fact that it is made for tiny animals, including ferrets, means that you may use it without fear of harming your pet.

Baking soda is used in the formula to help keep smells under control. Nevertheless, that’s about all the additional chemical it has to provide. For the rest of its construction it is largely recycled paper, which is resistant to water damage.

Clumps easily, although this is true of most ferret-safe kitty litters on the market. We found that the natural pellets kept moisture in while also reducing odors to a lesser extent than some of the other types we tested. It’s biodegradable and kind to the environment because it’s composed of paper.

It’s the lack of odor-blocking properties of this litter that we’re most concerned about. Baking soda is in there, but that doesn’t really accomplish much.

Pros

• Inexpensive
• Made from post-consumer waste
• Biodegradable

Cons

• There is no odor control whatsoever.
• Incapable of being scooped up

 

Bedding and Litter made of Vitakraft

Multipurpose litter that is suitable for most small animals, Vitakraft 34754 Bedding & Litter can be used as bedding or litter. For ferrets, it’s not a ferret-specific product, but it is made for tiny animals in general. Of course, you probably won’t be using it as a mattress for your ferret. However, it’s an excellent litterbox, too.

As far as the ingredients go, you won’t find any baking soda in this. Ferrets may safely eat the paper, and it does a good job of controlling the smell. You will have to replace the litter frequently because it is not odor-free.

Because it’s composed of paper, it’ll break down in the environment and may even be flushable in certain places. Ferrets love it since it’s largely dust-free.

Changing the litter on a regular basis is a hassle because of the scent. It can get a little smelly because there is no active ingredient to regulate odor. It’s also a little more dusty than other alternatives, and it’s more likely to follow you about.

Pros

• Made from post-consumer waste
• Biodegradable
• There is no charge for the use of baking soda

Cons

• Lack of odor control
• Dingy to the touch