Cage Sizes & Companion Ferrets

Question
Why would a ferrret need such a large cage when they sleep up to 20 hours a day?  also, would i need anything bigger then a 40 by 18 by 20 cage, if i held him alot and let him play with me?

Answer
Hi Dave:

The reason ferrets need a large cage is that they need to be active when they are awake. They need to be able to stand up full height and also to stretch their full length in a cage.....and still have room for a litterbox, food and water bowls, sleep sacks, hammocks, toys, etc.

With all that in mind, I will also tell you that some people don't even use cages for their ferrets - they actually have their own bedroom!  So, there are different requirements for different situations.  It is always a good idea to have a cage - in case of an emergency you have a way to transport your pet safely; in case of a fire in your home, it would be easier if your ferret is already in a cage for the night if you have to evacuate your home...so, some folks who allow their ferrets to have their own bedrooms keep their bedding in cages in the room so the ferrets are in their cages at night.

Although ferrets sleep (for the most part) for 20 hours a day, they do wake up every few hours to eat, drink, go potty and check their surroundings to see if anything interesting is going on.  If you take your ferret along with you a lot (which I have done in the past), you don't need a huge cage, but again, it needs to meet the standards above as far as him stretching, standing, etc. You can imagine yourself spending time in a cage that didn't allow you to stand fully upright or lie down and stretch your legs out.  

If you have only one ferret, you *should* spend a lot of time with your ferret and take him with you as often as possible.  Always be sure to keep a bottle of water and a ziploc bag of kibble along with you, as ferrets nibble off and on throughout the day. Also, he will probably get wiggly when he needs to be put down to go potty.  I have mine trained so that I put them down and tell them 'go potty' and they will go wherever I put them :-)  In time, you can definitely teach your ferret to do this same thing, if he doesn't already do it.  It is a good idea to have a few toys with you, in addition to a bag that you can safely carry your little friend in - usually one with at least one side being mesh so he has plenty of air movement.  Your ferret should never be in temperatures over 80 degrees (if it's hotter than that outside, leave him at home in the air conditioning).  

As long as you remember to offer food, water and potty breaks, I have found ferrets to be awesome full-time companions.  When I take mine, I have found that people like to offer him treats (anything from soda to chewing gum!)  Please - know that your ferret needs ONLY his own top quality ferret food and fresh water....no sodas, no candy, no sweets of any kind. Even tho he loves them, they would definitely shorten his life, so be ready to tell people 'no thank you' when they offer him a treat that is anything other than meat. Your ferret is an "obligate carnivore" and his digestive system is designed to process only meat and meat byproducts (including kibbled ferret food that is AT LEAST 34% protein).

Another thing you will want to be sure before taking your ferret out - have an "H" shaped harness and leash you can put on your ferret when you put him down to go potty. You never know when you may have to quickly pull him up into the safety of your arms if a stray dog, cat, etc is in the area (this is a real problem if you take your ferret outside a lot). Also, make sure he has both his distemper and rabies shots (give them on separate days and each should be given a benadryl shot a few minutes before, as allergic reactions to these shots can be deadly).  IF your ferret should ever bite anyone, the first thing they (or their parents) are going to want to see is that you have up-to-date vaccinations and their child is not in danger.  Better yet - keep him close to home and don't let others touch or hold him if he bites.

One other precaution I take with my ferrets - people, especially children - carry a plethora of germs on their hands and your ferret can get colds, the flu and all kinds of viruses from those hands that are constantly reaching out and wanting to touch his fur (small children are really bad for spreading germs).  Before I allow anyone to handle (or even touch) my ferret, I ask them to wash their hands for my ferret's well-being.  Usually people don't mind if they really want to touch him.  I don't make a habit of allowing just everyone to stick their hands up and touch him without permission - it is always good to teach children to ALWAYS ask permission before touching any animal they are not familiar with, so do be very cautious in public places.  And *always* remember that the same people who don't teach their children not to touch strange animals are probably the same parents who are first in line to sue if your ferret happens to nip their child.....make sure you keep your ferret's health and welfare as your top priority and don't be afraid to tell people that "because ferrets do often get sick from the germs on people's hands, you really prefer they not touch him, but they can look - just don't touch".  

Hope that helps.  Enjoy your little friend - ferrets are WONDERFUL companion animals.  Remember, tho, he is learning to be with you all day and if you suddenly decide to start leaving him at home, he will become very sad and depressed if left alone in his cage.  Perhaps the saying "all things in moderation" is a good idea when deciding where and when to take your ferret along with you.

Sincerely,

Jacquie Rodgers