What Cages are Best for Ferrets?
The best cages for ferrets are those that provide both spaces for lounging or hiding, along with vertical room to climb, dash about, and exercise. Ferrets are social animals who benefit from being taken out of their cage for supervised interaction with you and your home. Between “visits” with their human family, ferrets need to be restrained in a safe area where they will not get stuck in movable furniture such as recliners, or dash out the door into a challenging modern world.
Ferret Cages and Enclosures
Ferret cages and enclosures need to not only provide an escape-proof safe home for the ferrets, but also for their comfort and amusement. Ferrets are agile creatures who are well-suited to diving down a rabbit or rat holes to flush out vermin. In some areas, they are specifically bred and trained for rabbit hunting. In the wild, they feed on small rodents, immature bunnies, and similar creatures, they will also eat insects such as small beetles, crickets, and meal worms although these are not their preferred prey. Their cages and enclosures need to provide snug, secure sleeping spaces, places to climb and to run. They will also benefit from out-of-cage semi-secure places such as small pens and tunnels for supervised play.
Large Ferret Cage
A large ferret cage should be tall, giving these agile creatures room to dash up and down. It needs to have solid bottoms to its shelves. Mesh bottomed shelves or the bottom of the cage need to have some sort of covering to keep the ferrets from damaging their feet. On a bottom level, a thick layer of straw will do. On shelves, a piece of corrugated cardboard makes a disposable cover that can be used then discarded. Solid plastic shelves are probably a better choice since the ferrets are unlikely to catch their toes in them. They like to chew, so avoid anything that might have a toxic component.
Bars Used to Make the Body of the Cage
Ferrets are slender, agile creatures so the bars used to make the body of the cage need to be close enough together that they cannot stick their heads between them. If you are raising baby ferrets, this means that the mesh should be very close indeed! Also, the cage construction should be such that a curious, climbing ferret won’t poke a toe into the corner of a cage and get it stuck. This is painful for the ferret and could even lead to a veterinary visit if the ferret struggles before being freed. The paint should be non-toxic – if you would not paint a human child’s crib or bed with it, then it is not good for your ferret. Inspect wooden, plastic, or other organic substances regularly to make sure your ferret is not nibbling on them.
Ferret Cage Accessories
Ferret cage accessories should include a comfortably sized litter tray. The litter used in the tray should be an organic material such as pelleted straw, fresh newspaper pellets, or Marshall Premium Odor Control Ferret Litter. Ferrets do have a strong odor, so be prepared for frequent cage cleanings with plenty of extra fresh litter. They will also need a spill-resistant food tray and a water bottle with a metal tip to allow frequent sipping but discourage nibbling. They enjoy sleeping hammocks, slinky hanging tubes, and fun toys that they can bat or carry about. When it comes to feeding your ferret, their primary diet should be a good grade of ferret food, raw meat, an egg preparation sometimes referred to as “duck soup”, and the occasional feeder cricket for exercise and amusement.
Best Ferret Cage
Selecting the best ferret cage for your feisty pet will include a combination of personal budget, space in your home, and the number of ferret friends in your household. Here are five cages that can be a safe place for your furry “slinky”.
Models:
1/ Prevue Pet Products 485 Feisty Ferret:
Prevue Pet Products 485 Feisty Ferret is featuring two large doors for easy access, a central shelf that can be closed to create two enclosures and large castors so it can be easily moved from room to room. Smaller shelves, ladders, and a hammock make a pleasant space for ferrets to play, sleep, and refresh themselves. Read More >>
2/ Ferplast Ferret Tower Two-Story Ferret Cage:
Ferplast Ferret Tower Two-Story Ferret Cage come with two deep trays create spill/mess prevention while providing a good place for litter trays, food dishes, and toys. The two levels are connected by a tube that caters to Ferrets love of tunneling. Access is through two large doors as well as a skylight entrance for easy access for cleaning or toy placement. Comes with water bottle, food tray and sleeping hammock. Read More >>
3/ MidWest Homes for Pets 182 Ferret Nation:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054U8UGW?
MidWest Homes for Pets 182 Ferret Nation has two spacious levels that have smaller shelves and “happy feet” ramps designed to prevent dangerous tumbles, this cage can be used as a home for ferrets, hedgehogs, or chinchillas. It can be one connected cage or two smaller levels that are disconnected from each other. Wide doors make clean up easy. No tools needed for assembly. Read More >>
4/ Yaheetech 52-inch 6 Level Large Metal Ferret Cage:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HG6BZ9?
Yaheetech 52-inch 6 Level Large Metal Ferret Cage is an extra tall three-door cage, with a wire mesh cover for a clean-out tray making this a spacious home for ferrets, chinchillas, hedgehogs, or even guinea pigs. The straight ramps with wide landing shelves mean that chunky pets do not need to bend their spines at odd angles yet provide plenty of romping space for lively creatures such as ferrets or squirrels. A disadvantage of the mesh cover is that it might need a soft bedding layer, such as straw, to keep from damaging tender feet. Read More >>
5/ Marshall Folding Mansion for Small Animals:
Marshall Folding Mansion for Small Animals is an extra-large cage that provides plenty of space for agile small animals. It has a large clean-out door, three mesh shelves with connecting ladders, and an option to purchase a central shelf to make it larger. A disadvantage for this cage is that the shelves might need pads or covers to keep from damaging your pet’s feet. With a good bedding layer, it will give plenty of room for active creatures, such as ferrets or squirrels, to dash up and down for exercise. Read More >>
