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.
When it comes to creating or buying the perfect cage you have to take their full grown size into consideration. While ferrets are not particularly large, they need more space than your typical pocket pet cage will allow. They prefer to have various levels, places to hide, and a nice tucked away sleeping space. This allows them to rely on their natural instincts to feel safe and secure any time.
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. A pet ferret is a smart little creature, and they 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.
It’s not just the temperature you need to worry about. Ventilation is essential for preventing your ferret from becoming ill from his own bedding. Any kind of cedar chip bedding is quite likely to make his ill through respiratory complications or through the development of cancer. Use newspaper based bedding and provide a cage with good air circulation in order to prevent such health problems.
When you’re designing or buying the perfect ferret cages, try to think about how their life be when you’re not home. Since ferrets are truly not meant to be caged long term, you have to figure out a way to keep them healthy, happy, and mentally stimulated when they have to spend some time in there. This can often be done with a bit of education and forethought on their behalf.