If you’ve never been a ferret owner before you might be surprised to find out just how important the right ferret cage really is. There are still pet stores that sell ferrets out of aquariums filled with cedar chips, which is really an unhealthy environment for your little guys. The right cage, the right bedding, and the right ventilation can help your ferret live a long, healthy, and happy life.
It’s quite common for ferrets to come to their new owners as kits, and they will need to grow into their full adult size while in their cage. Try not to consider the ferret as a pocket pet because his needs are quite different. Offering your ferret a living space that allows for privacy, toileting areas, hide away sleeping spaces, and in-cage entertainment is essential to his overall health.
The cage will need to be large enough to allow for play. The ferret is a social creature with huge amounts of curiosity. He needs to be active and entertained when you are not there to be his friend. Just like most animals, lack of human companionship coupled with lack of entertainment can bring on unwanted behaviors and health issues. You want to make sure they get daily playtime outside of the cage, but you also want to ensure that their time inside their little home is pleasant.
Watch out for the escape artists. Pet ferrets are smart little creatures and are often able to figure out how to free themselves from the cage. The potential for disaster as he wanders around the house unsupervised is great so we want to avoid this altogether. Make sure the cage has an effective door.
Without enough air flow your ferret can get very ill or even die. Glass cages can heat up in direct sunlight the same way your car heats up through the windows. In order to make sure that there is enough air moving through the cage, go with a wire structure.
They also require ventilation to prevent breathing in the bedding fibers. Always used a recycled newspaper type of bedding and stay away from the cedar chips. Cedar chips have been shown to cause respiratory distress and even cancer in all small animals.
The more you learn about selecting ferret cages the more you start to see things from their perspective. Long periods of time at home alone will be a much happier and healthier experience if you take the time to understand what they need.
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