We all love somewhere soft and snuggly to sleep, and with ferrets spending a large portion of their lives chilling in their cages, creating the best ferret cage setup is vital for their health and happiness.
Having owned multiple ferrets – 2 Jills and 1 Hob – their cage setup is dependent on various needs. For instance, my Jills prefer fleece blankets, a cat cave, and minimal climbing material, so their cage is set up with soft furnishings to support their snuggles.
On the other hand, my hob, Kiko, is a climber and loves to swing and climb on ladders and relax in his hammock.
A few things though that are essential regardless include:
- Food/Water Bowls
- Litter/Litter Box
- Bedding
- Toys
- And of course, a cage
Whether you have multiple ferrets in one cage, male ferrets, baby ferrets, or even outdoor ones, here’s everything you need to know about creating the ideal space for your furry friends.
Contents
How to Set Up a Ferret Cage
From blankets to litter, food bowls to water, understanding what you need in your ferret’s cage will ensure that they have everything they need to make their home a haven of happiness.
Need an easy way to set up your ferret’s new home? Well, follow our simple steps below to create the best setup for your furry friends.
Buy a Cage
Before considering your ferret’s cage setup, it is important to buy a cage that will provide the pawfect home for your furry friend. Once you have the best cage in your home, you can then kit it out with everything your ferret will love and adore.
For those with indoor ferrets, try a cage like Yaheetech’s 6 Level Ferret Cage as it offers great overall space, comfort, and coziness. It’s spacious enough for hammocks, platforms, and climbing toys.
For breeders of these furry friends or perhaps you prefer to keep your ferrets outdoors, Pawhut’s Large Outdoor Hutch is the best cage on the market for those wanting an al fresco way of living.
This safe, secure, and spacious wooden hutch is designed with dual platforms making it ideal for those with a few ferrets needing a home.
What is a proper cage for a ferret?
When it comes to choosing your ferret’s cage, the three S’s are the most important factors you should look for: Safety, Space, and Stimulation.
- Safety – Your ferret’s cage should have secure doors and minimal space between the bars. Ferrets are expert escapologists and slide and slither in and out of tiny areas so be sure to select a cage that keeps your ferret safe and secure.
- Space – Even if you one have one furry friend in a cage, there should be enough space for them to run and play. Avoid cages for small pets, such as hamsters, as these cages (even when your ferret is a baby) will not provide enough comfort through development. Have multiple ferrets? Choose at least a two or three-tiered cage as this will ensure there is enough space for your ferrets to run and roam.
- Stimulation – Despite sleeping for a large portion of the day, when awake, your ferrets require at least 1 to 2 hours of play. As the owner of a 3-year-old hob who loves to climb, invest in hanging ladders, swings, and hammocks to keep your ferret stimulated during play.
Organizing your Ferret’s Cage
For the best ferret cage setup, we advise:
- Place between 3 or 4 ramps and platforms within the cage. You should aim to give platforms and ladders easy access (for younger ferrets ensure their layout isn’t “too easy” to run and scurry as an element of difficulty can aid stimulation).
- Hang toys and hammocks from the roof for stimulation and comfort. Opt for hammocks that are larger than your ferret’s size for supreme comfort and coziness. If you have multiple ferrets, try and find a hammock with several layers.
- Place litter boxes and food well away from each other. It’s important to remember that ferrets love to bang and crash into anything that isn’t fixed to their cage so when choosing bowls, choose ones that attach to the bars of their cage to stop any unwanted mess or spills.
- Line any plastic bottoms with blankets or substrate to prevent destructive chewing of their cages’ lining. This often wears over time, so it’s best to cover it up to stop any cracks from appearing that can be a nuisance or problem to fix/replace.
When organizing your ferret’s cage, it’s always important to place their litter tray away from where they sleep and eat.
Despite many efforts, my ferrets hate using a litter box so they do their business on their cage’s bottom platforms (covered with paper towel). This is placed firmly away from their food, water, and toys.
Choose the Best Bedding
As natural burrowers and diggers, ferrets require bedding to support their natural instincts.
When looking for ferret bedding, choose one that focuses on comfort and safety.
Ferrets are prone to respiratory issues so selecting bedding that is dust-free can ensure no nastiness enters their sensitive noses. For indoor use, bedding types include:
- Recycled Paper
- Cotton
- Straw
- Fabric
We would strongly advise against bedding such as straw and wood chippings as these can be problematic for your ferret’s noses.
One of the best beddings I have come across as a fellow ferret owner is Carefresh Small Animal Bedding.
It is the perfect solution for your ferret no matter what age or size and my ferrets love it for its soft, supportive design for activities such as digging, burrowing, and foraging.
Regularly cleaning and changing your ferret’s bedding is vital for hygiene. You should aim to change your ferret’s litter box daily (if not twice daily) and their bedding once a week to stop any unwanted odors lingering around their room.
Hang them in a Hammock
There really is nothing cuter than seeing your furry friend chilling in a hammock.
For maximum comfort, choose a hammock significantly larger than your ferret’s size and ensure it is lined with soft fabric such as fleece or plush for the best comfort and support.
Hammocks are a great way of providing a secure sleeping space for your furry friend.
As ferrets naturally love to climb and clamber, hammocks allow for play through the daylight hours and a comforting place to rest when the lights go out.
Ever noticed your ferret squeeze into tiny spots? Ferrets adore squishing themselves into small and secluded places as both a predator and prey instinct. Hammocks and hanging tunnels ensure your ferret feels safe and cozy and well away from their litter box (where they hate to sleep next to).
With so many different hammocks to choose from, deciding the best one was a tricky task, however, one that definitely trumped the rest was VEDEM Triple Bunkbed.
Have multiple ferrets living in one cage? Well, VEDEM’s Triple Bunkbed is a superb solution to keeping your ferrets occupied whilst playing in their home.
Fancy a Hammock with a difference? To create the coziest and coolest ferret cage on earth, invest in LEFTSTARTER Noctilucent tunnel.
With glow-in-the-dark panels, once the lights go off in your ferret’s room, their cage will illuminate with moons and stars of soft, natural lighting. Often struggling with artificial light, this hammock/tunnel provides your ferret’s room with a comforting light with a difference.
Tempt them with Toys
Toys can be a great part of your ferret’s life.
Only active for a few hours each day, toys can help reduce aggressiveness, encourage stimulation and help you bond with your furry friend.
Using toys with your ferrets can not only showcase their natural hunting instincts but it can strengthen the bond between you and your ferret too.
Watching your ferret run, jump, play and pounce can really put a smile on any owner’s face and will hopefully encourage a ferret’s “happy dance” – a backward arched movement where your ferret shows excitement.
Giving your ferret a multitude of different types of toys will keep boredom at bay so try and find a toy selection to suit all their ferret needs.
SunGrow Assorted Ferrets Toys contains over 30 different toys for your ferret to have fun with.
From 2-way tunnels, crinkle mice, and furry teasers, your ferret is spoiled for choice of what to play with in this superb selection. Have a destructive chewer at home? These toys are expertly designed to help alleviate destructive chewing and scratching.
Litter Box & Litter
Just like their feline friends, ferrets often do their business in a litter box filled with absorbent and odor-reducing litter.
Finding a litter and litter box that is both safe to use and reduces odors helps keep your furry friend safe from respiratory problems whilst ensuring your home stays clean and fresh all day long.
For litter and litter boxes in your ferret’s cage setup, we recommend both Marshall’s Premium Ferret Litter and Lock-on Litter pan as they do everything you need to keep poop time as smell-free as possible.
Fastening securely onto your ferret’s cage, this litter box is claw and paw friendly and will keep their litter firmly in place when they are ready to use it.
However, for other litter and litter box options, check out our best ferret litters and litter boxes in our simple and stress-free guides.
Food & Water Bowls
Requiring fresh food and water daily, placing food and water bowls in your ferret’s cage is vital.
Have ferrets that love to hunt and forage for their food? Sungrow’s Coconut Hamster House is the best way to store your ferret’s food giving them a fun way to find their food. Just simply hang onto your ferret’s cage and watch them climb the ladder to a tasty treat.
For those requiring a little less adventure when munching their dinner, be sure to invest in a food bowl that fits your ferret’s cage.
Having a tendency to flip and fling loose things across their cage, fixing your ferret’s food and water bowl prevents any unwanted and messy spills.
The Choco Nose Small Pet Heart-Shaped bowl and Lixit Weather Resistant Water Bottle both offer mounted solutions so your ferrets can eat and drink without making a mess.
FAQs:
Best Way To Set Up Their Cage
Setting up your ferrets cage really is an individual preference but to suit their comfort and stimulation, I recommend choosing a cage that has:
- Tiers/Levels (more the better)
- Platforms and ramps
- Bedding & blankets for lining
- Fixed food and water bowls
- Stimulating & comfort toys like swings, ladders, and most importantly – hammocks
With many ferret products easily detachable and interchangeable in your ferret cage, frequently changing the layout can help avoid boredom ensuring your furry friend stays stimulated during play.
With all of the items above available on Amazon and Chewy, creating the best ferret cage setup is easier than ever before.
