Ferret Care

Find a local vet

When you get a new pet, it’s important to find a local vet and book a health check. Our vets will not only check your pet ferret’s general health but will also discuss a preventative healthcare routine including vaccinations, parasite control, de-sexing and nail trimming. It is also a great time to ask about any questions you might have such as exercise, dental care and breeding if appropriate.

All pets require a minimum of one health check per year. Regular health checks are a great way to keep your ferret in top shape. They also help your veterinarian to identify and treat any health concerns before they become serious.

Always be on the lookout for slight changes in appetite, toileting behaviour or general habits as changes can be an indicator of a health condition. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, contact your local vet.

Suitable home

Your ferrets cage should be big enough that they can stretch out, turn around and walk about easily. Their cage must be well ventilated, however also escape proof. Ferrets can squeeze through tight spaces so when selecting or building your cage, make sure the spaces are small enough that they cannot escape and it can be securely closed. Provide the largest enclosure possible to give your pet space to exercise and explore. Cages with multiple levels offer additional space that your pet will enjoy and benefit from.

Ideal cage location

Due to their strong smell, ferrets often live outdoors, but can be kept as indoor pets too. It is important to keep their enclosure out of reach from other animals, weatherproof and away from direct sunlight or draughts. Ferrets should not be continuously confined to their cage. They should be let out each day in a “ferret proof” supervised play area where they can explore and play.  

Enrichment devices

Make their cage interesting by providing space to run around, things to play with and areas to explore such as cardboard boxes, paper bags, plastic tubes, tunnels, hard plastic balls, shelving and ramps. This will help keep them entertained. They love crawling through things, so old clothes with long sleeves or pant legs can be great too. Avoid foam or rubber toys, as they will most likely chew them, which can cause an obstruction if swallowed.

Regularly rearrange objects in their cage to keep them entertained and interested.

Sleeping

Ferrets are crepuscular, which means they are most active at dawn and dusk. They like to sleep for approximately 16-20 hours a day. However, when they are awake, they are very active and playful. As ferrets love to nap and sleep, they need a cosy sleeping spot. Bedding such as towels, blankets or old t-shirts can be used to snuggle into. Privacy should be offered with a shelter box lined with a t-shirt or blanket for hiding or resting. A hammock or hanging hideaway up off the ground is also a great idea, giving them another place to relax.  

If you are keeping your ferrets outdoors, make sure they have plenty of blankets and insulation to keep themselves warm in the cooler seasons.

Social needs

Ferrets are very social and are generally happiest when kept with other ferrets that they are compatible with. They can live in pairs or small groups, ideally with the same sex or de-sexed males and females to stop them reproducing.

They love to playfully chase and wrestle with each other and bonded ferrets will also snuggle up and sleep together.

Not all pets will like a ferret friend. In the wild, ferrets are predators, so never mix a ferret with other prey species such as rabbits or rodents. Even the scent of a ferret can be extremely stressful for these small animals so they should not live in the same household.

Cleaning the cage

You will need to clean your ferret’s cage regularly. A spot clean should be completed daily which includes scooping out poop and dirty litter, uneaten food and cleaning and refilling their water. A more thorough clean should be completed 1-2 times per week. This includes washing soiled bedding and cleaning the entire cage with hot water or ferret safe disinfectant. Make sure the cage is completely dry before adding the bedding and your pet back into the cage. Ferrets often hide their food, so it’s important to check for this when cleaning so you don’t end up with mouldy food in their cage.

Toilet Training

Ferrets can be litter trained, just like cats! Providing them with a litter box in their cage will contain their toileting waste to one area and make it much easier to clean up after them. If you have more than two ferrets, you will need to add additional litter trays. Most ferrets go the bathroom in the corner so a corner litter tray is best, but you can also use a cat litter tray. Place the litter tray where your ferret likes to go to the toilet.

Fill their litter tray/s with shredded paper or pelleted products. Cedar or pine shavings are not recommended as these can cause respiratory and liver problems. Do not use clay/clumping cat litter, as it can be very dusty and cause breathing problems in ferrets.

Ferrets hate stepping on old pee or poo, so if their litter tray is dirty, they will either go next to it or somewhere else entirely. So, make sure you regularly clean out their tray to encourage good toileting habits.

Diet and nutrition

Ferrets are carnivores, which means they must have animal protein and products in their diet to survive. Your pet ferret must have access to fresh food and water at all times. Their food and water should be placed away from their litter tray to prevent urine or faeces contamination. Food and water bowls should be appropriate to the size of their cage and heavy enough that they cannot easily be upturned and used as a play toy.

To offer a complete and balanced diet your pet ferret will need:

• The best diet for a ferret is whole prey foods, such as mice and rats, which is what they would eat in the wild.

• The alternative is high protein commercial ferret food (kibble) or a combination of them both.

• Ferret treats can include cooked eggs or a small piece of high-quality meat, such as chicken or turkey. Treats should be fed sparingly, only be given as a supplement to their diet, not be the main part. They should make up no more than 10% of their overall diet. Treats are a great tool for training and social interaction with your pet.

• There are many foods that can be harmful to their health and cause digestive problems. DO NOT feed your pet ferret chocolate, grapes, raisons, processed meats, vegetables, fruits, grains, dairy products, sweet sugary treats, alcohol or caffeine.

Your ferret will need a constant supply of fresh, clean water. The water will need to be cleaned and changed daily.