running ferret

Question
One of my Jills keeps running up and down her cage for hours and hours without stopping. she seams quite distressed and im getting worried about her. she has never done this before and nothing has changed in her diet or day to day care. your views on this problem would be much appreciated

Answer
Hello Ian.  This is a pretty tough question since I don't know much about her.  Perhaps if you could answer several basic questions, I could better aid you.

First of all, how old is she and how long have you had her?  Also, are there any changes in the environment?  How many hours a day is she allowed out to play?  Is she really a jill, or has she been fixed?  A fixed female ferret is called a sprite.  This could be a VERY important.  It can be a life threatening condition if she is in heat and not bred.  This is why all ferrets sold in U.S. pet stores are fixed prior to purchase.   

Without more information, two things come to mind.  

The first is that she is bored.  Ferrets require at LEAST 4 hours of interaction with you DAILY.  A small cage, even with many toys, becomes old quickly.  Pacing, gnawing on the bars, and other odd behavior is usually contributed to not enough mental stimulation and play time. Perhaps try to spend more time with her outside of the cage and see if that helps. I think this is the most likely cause.  

The second is she is in distress due to pain or a medical condition.  You might want to make a checkup with a veterinarian to ensure her distress is not related to a medical problem.   

-Cindy P.