How to Make a Ferret Habitat

Ferrets enjoy snuggling, playing, tunneling and digging for fun. (See References 1 and 2)

Ferret habitats must be well ventilated to prevent illness and provide lots of space. Ferrets are inquisitive animals requiring a minimum cage size of 2-by-3-feet per ferret that includes places to eat, sleep, potty and play while inside the cage. The best defense against an unhappy ferret is to construct a habitat filled with activities that allows the ferret to indulge in its natural behaviors, which increases its quality and longevity of life.

Things You'll Need

• Ferret cage
• Food dish
• Ferret kibble
• Water dish
• Water bottle
• Two ferret enrichment toys
• Sleeping hammock
• Litter pan
• Ferret-safe litter

Instructions

1. Place appropriate size ferret cage in a cool room of the house.

2. Place a piece of carpet or cardboard on the bottom of the cage if the flooring is not solid.

3. Place a ferret-safe litter pan in one corner of the bottom of the cage. Fill the pan with a about an inch of ferret-safe litter.

4. Hang a ferret sleeping nest or tube from the top of the cage.

5. Place a water dish along with a food dish filled with ferret kibble in the floor of the cage. Secure the food and water dish to the side of the cage if possible to prevent spilling.

6. Place two ferret enrichment toys inside the cage with a few ferret treats near the toys to encourage investigation.

7. Hang a water bottle on the side of the cage a few inches from the floor of the cage or floor of a ledge. This allows the ferret to get to the water bottle easily.

8. Replace food once a day and water twice a day. Scoop liter pan daily, wipe down the cage weekly and wash bedding weekly.

Tips & Warnings

• Rotate and replace toys frequently to prevent boredom behaviors.

• Use small animal cages with less than 1 inch by 1 inch bar spacing to prevent escapes.

• Place cages in cool areas because ferrets quickly suffer heat strokes in 90-degree temperatures in just a few minutes.

• Ferrets require at least four hours a day outside their cage with two of that being directed and interactive play.

• Do not house habitats in garages, basements or other damp and dark places.

References

• Doctors Foster and Smith: Ferret Ownership 101
• Doctors Foster and Smith: Cage, Preparing Your Ferret's
• Pet Education: Housing For Ferrets