Manitoba ferret association

Another trait of ferrets is their high intelligence. That long skull allows for a brain that is larger than that of most animals with the same body size, and it shows. Tests have shown that ferrets are as intelligent as small monkeys when it comes to problem solving. Other tests have shown ferrets to be smarter than cats and most dogs.

There is a correlation between intelligence and the need for stimuli; even in animals much dumber than ferrets, scientists have shown the brain needs interesting stimulation for it to develop to its maximum potential, and to remain physically (and emotionally) healthy.

The combination of these three traits -- curiosity, play, and intelligence -- results in an animal that constantly searches and plays during its awake time, getting into anything and everything, and scheming ways to get into things out of its reach. Ferrets will jump, climb, move, and even seemingly teleport to locations we humans thought were just out of reach, and they will make such attempts for what seems like an eternity.

Just forget to latch the cage once, or leave a chair by the planter, and you will know exactly what it means to live with a ferret. This is also why ferrets are such good escape artists; they aren’t actually looking to leave, they just want to see what is past the barrier. It might be a raisin … or better yet, a bug.

The traits also result in an animal that can become easily bored, which could result in nasty or unhealthy behaviors. Bored ferrets can become nippers; they can start chewing objects like cloth or rubber, increasing the chances of intestinal blockages.

They may become physically depressed, take little interest in things, or even take out their frustrations by carpet digging, fighting with other ferrets, or refusing to use the litter box.

They may just come out, sniff around for a few minutes, then amble off to sleep under the couch. While some of these behaviors could have other causes, many times the reason is nothing more than simple boredom. As a ferret owner, it is not enough to just let them run loose for a couple of hours and expect them to get an entire day’s worth of play and investigating done.

To maximize their emotional health, we have an obligation to make sure our ferrets’ play hours are filled with interesting stimuli and physically challenging things to do. Here are my top ten activities designed to increase ferret fun and frolics and minimize physical and intellectual boredom.

1. The Bottles and Boxes Game. It doesn’t matter what your species is, food gets your interest. Zookeepers have found that placing food into objects or in “natural” situations not only increases interest, but also can become a focal point of playtime activity. I like to put tasty treats into ferret-friendly boxes (ones they can open and get into) or into bottles. I’ll place a few plastic soda bottles on the floor, some containing a single raisin, piece of jerky, maple chip, or doggie treat. The ferrets have to figure out how to empty the bottles to get the treat. It may take a while, but mine have always succeeded. The boxes I use are cheap wooden boxes from a craft store, hinged on one side. I’m very proud to say all my ferrets know exactly how to hook a nail under the lid to open a box. When the ferrets are let into the room, they make a beeline to the bottle and boxes for their treats.

2. Stinky Snacks. Again, food is the object here. Before you let the ferrets into the room, mark a random trail on the floor with a favorite treat. Make sure the trail wanders all over the room. Leave a fresh treat at the end of the trail, let the fellas out and watch the fun. Mine can run with their noses to the ground!

3. Dig for Gold. Ferrets are natural diggers, much to the dismay of my carpet. I fill a plastic tub with aquarium gravel and bury a few treats near the bottom. If you place the tub on a large plastic sheet, you will not only catch most of the “diggings” but also create a second game -- tunneling under the plastic. I use a hand-held dust buster to pick up the scattered gravel, and just pour it back into the box.

4. Box Climbing. I save small cardboard boxes until I can build a rough pyramid about 3 feet high. I carefully seal each box closed, then cut a ferret-sized hole in one or more sides. I then glue or duct tape the boxes together, forming a three-dimensional maze that can be climbed upon or explored from within. I make sure several avenues of escape exist, as well as peeping portholes to the outside.

Continued on the Ferret Games Part 3