The cage

The ferret is an animal very lively, that needs to be able to play outside the cage and explore the environment at least for a few hours a day, both its physical and psychological. Therefore it should not be kept permanently locked; however, to put him safe from dangers, it is ok to leave it safely in the cage the time spent sleeping or times when no one is present to supervise (unless you can prepare for him a whole room made safe, “ferret-proof”, neatly).
The cage must obviously be more spacious as possible; to increase the available surface without creating an excessive overall dimensions can choose a cage with several floors joined by ramps. Of course, the cage must be of durable material and easy to wash (in general, with a plastic bottom raised borders with the upper part consists of steel bars). Necessary to check the resilience of the doors, because many ferrets are particularly adept at gaining the release forcing the closure. An essential accessory consists of a bowl for the water hanging on the cage or in heavy material (ceramic); perhaps with a nipple drinker. On the bottom of the cage, which must be fully screened and not, it is preferable not to put absorbent materials such as sawdust or hay, because ferrets get dirty in a corner; You can leave a litter box available for the needs that will use clean, leaving the rest of the cage. In the background you can leave at the disposal of rags or towels (If the ferret does not tend to bite and chew). The choice of the cage is an important thing to ensure our ferret a place convenient and safe. There are many commercial cages for ferrets, but not all are great. There are small cages, for rabbits, that we do not recommend if it is to make the house function for lullabies (If the ferret has his own room, and if you would like to sleep, could go into “warren” only sleep) and then keeping the cage door open.
Here are the cages that are used more for ferrets:

The rest area

As in nature, ferrets are sleeping in underground burrows, Ferrets also love to sleep in “Tane” warm and dark where they can feel safe; These burrows can be represented by rags, towels, old sweaters, cardboard boxes, plastic tubes. In the market there are also several items suitable for the purpose, such as small hammocks to hang inside the cage, generally very popular. Be careful with young ferrets, of less than one year, because it may tend to chew the stuff (also one of the hammocks) exposed to the danger of intestinal blockage. In this case it is necessary to remove these materials and leave to such a box stuffed with hay, proposing other materials when the ferret has been a year of age.

 

The box needs

Almost all ferrets learn to use a cassette for the needs, even if they are less reliable than cats. But do not cover their feces, for which the cassette must be cleaned several times a day. The ferret needs is moving back towards a vertical surface, then the tape should be placed against a corner of the cage. In commerce there are specific boxes for ferrets, a triangular area to fit the corners, with a low edge to make it easier to enter the ferret and a raised part of the bowel movement to prevent dropping out. Some ferrets do not like the classic cassette corner. The background material should preferably be free of dust; the best is made up of pellets of recycled paper, but you can also use wood chips or shredded paper.

 

Of affordable:

 

Toys

One of the biggest dangers for ferrets is represented by objects of rubber, terry, of latex or plastic tender; Ferrets love to chew these items and often swallow the pieces thus causing intestinal obstruction. Although all objects small enough to be ingested are a hazard: candies, small balls, eyes of the dolls. Even toys corn starch for dogs and cats can be shot to pieces and eaten, behaving as foreign estranei.Si can instead use hard balls, such as ping pong, paper bags, tubes and boxes in which slip. You can also tie a string to an object and drag the ferret because it rincorra, simulating a predator in flight.

 

Outside the cage

The ferret is a curious animal, explorer, Small and agile, all characteristics that predispose to get in trouble if left unsupervised at home. Because the ferret needs to spend at least a few hours in the wild is necessary to provide an environment (is sufficient room, does not serve the whole house) so that it is safe.
The greatest dangers are represented by:
– objects (especially rubber or plastic) that the ferret can swallow (Spugne, coatings of stereo headphones, erasers, elastic, insoles for shoes, cushions are, the lower part of the rubber mats ...),
– electric wires (danger of electric shock and short circuit),
– small openings from which it can escape,
– toxic substances (plants, drugs, products for household cleaning, sigarette, unsuitable food),
– heavy objects that they can step on him accidentally,
– falls from (in an attempt to climb, eg, or falls from the terrace),
– be crushed to be hiding under a mattress or a pillow, be stepped, be crushed by a door (that closes abruptly to a current of air, eg),
– end up in the washing machine,
– attack by dogs or cats.
When it leaves the ferret is well exposed to watch it and observe its behavior whether in making the environment “ferret-proof” something has been overlooked.

 

SOURCE: Vet.Marta for Leftovers AAE

SOURCE: Sandra per Ferret’s life