Making your Ferret a Home
Ferrets need daily playtime outside of their cages, but they usually still spend a fair amount of time in their cages when unsupervised. A large, well designed cage is a necessity. Some features to look for are solid floors and shelves / balconies (wire mesh is hard on the feet), and ideally solid ladders, too. Multi-level cages are nice, but depending on the arrangement of the levels, falls are possible. Get extra shelves or use hammocks to make cages safer if necessary.
You should purchase and set up your ferret's cage prior to bringing him home. The cage will serve as "home base" for your new pet, and should be ready and waiting upon his arrival. Below are some pointers for setting up your pet's new domain.
Size Does Matter
You'll need to allow daily out-of-cage playtime for your ferret. Even so, the cage should be large enough that your ferret can move about freely, stretch, and play a bit inside the cage during those times when he wants to exercise but you're at work, have company, etc.
Also important is that the cage you choose has room to keep litter pans or boxes, food and water, and sleeping areas well removed from each other.
Safety First
Many cages offer multi-levels for your ferret to explore and set up housekeeping. These multi-tiered cages are great in that they provide more room for your ferret to move about. However, if you opt for a multi-level cage take precautions to ensure the safety of your ferret. How does the ferret get from one level to the next? Through tunnels or "runways?" Make sure the openings at each level are large enough that there is no chance of your ferret getting stuck. Also make sure hammock and sleeping areas are far enough removed from openings that there's no chance of your ferret taking a long tumble down and hurting himself in the middle of a deep sleep.
Comfort Counts
There are many options out there in terms of the type of material from which your cage will be built. Metal, wood, plastic, and various forms of wire or mesh are a few that come to mind.
In choosing the best type of cage for your ferret, consider how easy it will be to clean. Will urine and food odors seep into the wood and be impossible to scrub away? Does the cage offer easy dismantling or removal and replacing of each level so that you can clean all the nooks and crannies? Ferrets aren't known for their neatness, and will make messes in places you've only imagined.
If you choose a wire or mesh cage, be sure to provide adequate bedding. Old blankets, towels and clothing work fine. The goal is to make sure that the pads of your ferret's feet are not injured or sore as a result of walking around on wires or mesh all the time.
Wire or mesh-type cages do have the advantage of allowing you to purchase the types of litter boxes and food dishes that can be hooked to the side of the cage, making it harder for your ferret to overturn them.
Accessorize!
Equip your ferret's cage with the following:
1. A litter pan, or pans, depending upon the number of ferrets in the cage and how stubborn your pet is regarding "potty training."
2. A dish that holds a good amount of food and is difficult for your ferret to overturn. Heavy dishes or those that can somehow be hooked to the side of the cage work best.
3. A large bottle that holds plenty of fresh water. The water bottle should be kept near the food.
4. An area designed especially for sleeping, with either extra bedding or a hammock or two. Ferrets love to curl up in hammocks to sleep, but will also enjoy comfy hideaways such as the leg of an old pair of your sweatpants.
5. A toy or two to keep your ferret occupied when he can't be outside the cage and isn't feeling sleepy.
Arrange your ferret's cage so that each "function" has a designated place. I have 3 ferrets in a three-level cage that stands over 5 feet tall. The first level holds two litter pans and some room to move about. The second level is the eating and drinking station. The third level are equipped with hammocks and blankets.
Setting up a safe and comfortable domain for your new furry companion will help him feel right at home.
Continued on the Making your Ferret a Home Part 2
