How do you ferret proof your home?

Question

My daughter just got a ferret. Do ferrets like to chew electrical wires and should we cover his cage at night when he is sleeping?

Answer 1

Electrical wires? Yes. And everything else too!

Yikes, ferrets are difficult to care for (but very, very rewarding) pets. If you haven't already, I'd advise checking out some books on ferrets from your local library (or even buying a few, they can come in handy when you need a reminder). The internet works for research too, obviously. There are also a few great ferret magazines, I read one that can be subscribed to annually, I've forgotten the name at the moment though. Petco or Petsmart, or any other pet store, has good reading material for any kind of pet, usually.

Ah, yes, on to ferret proofing. As you might know, the little critters are extremely curious and when they're not sleeping (which they do very often and sometimes very deeply), they're pretty high-energy. They need several hours outside of their cage each day and at least 3 or 4 hours of interactive play with a human or another ferret as well as avariety of toys. Depending on your household (size and members, other animals, etc) and lifestyle (always home or often away), then you can choose to just have one ferret-proofed room (or a few chosen ones) or proof the whole house. This depends greatly on the other animals in your home, the house's size, and where you want the ferret to be and not to be. Some rooms just take too much effort to proof, so be sure not to let the ferret into un-proofed places without being controlled somehow (harness and leash, just being held, etc).

Yes, ferrets chew anything they can get their mouths around. Electrical wires, metal, plastic - anything that feels interesting and especially anything that is exciting or taboo. Foam and rubber are ferret-faves, and of course, extremely dangerous. Keep floors picked up and watch them closely in carpeted rooms - those fibers can be tasty too. Close off any spaces that the ferret may get into but won't get out of. Usually if they can get in, they can get out too, but I'm sure you'd rather not risk it. Sometimes they'll just take a nap and rather not come out, and you may not be able to reach them.

Ferret proofing is similar to baby proofing. If you have children, then you'll have most likely been through this before. Go through the same procedures again - lock up cabinets, close off holes and vents, put away chemicals and medicine and choking hazards. Fuzzies can slip under doorways too, so if the bottom of the door isn't even with the floor, you can find rubber attachments or other things to block off the bottom hole at a hardware store. They love to climb and jump as well, so places up high aren't safe from ferret-fangs either.

As for the cage-covering, I assume you mean like you would with a bird. There's no need to do this. Ferrets sleep a good 18 to 20 hours a day, so when they're not active - playing or eating or going potty - then they're sleeping. They sleep deeply and can sleep in light and noise and all other things that may seem like disturbances. As far as I know, they're not primarily nocturnal and will be and stay asleep when you are (and when you're not) as long as they get enough playtime in the day.

Good luck and best wishes to your daughter with her new buddy :)

Answer 2

yep a ferret will chew an electrical wire, you could get some metal wire coverings. the best thing to do is keep everything up high and out of the way, get on you hands and knees and look for anything a ferret could get into. remeber they are escape artists and will escape from anything, if they can get theyre heads through it they can get theyre bodies through it.

although if your supervising your ferret during its time out of its cage you wont have to ferret proof everything just the obvious and youll have to keep an eye on the ferret. you can also buy ferret play pens which you can keep the ferret in to him/her safe whilst your not in the room for a few minutes.

as for covering the cage, this wont be needed ferrets sleep around 18 hours a day it will not make a difference covering the cage, although your ferret will appeciate a nest box, which is a box big enough to hold a ferret and have loads of blanket in it.

good luck with your new ferret!

Answer 3

There is no such thing because, even when you think you've thought of it all, they will find what you missed. They are like small children in that respect. Yes, they chew, they investigate, they snoop and they steal. If you cover their cage they'll only chew on it. You have to be diligent in the pick up and put up of things and he'll be fine.

Answer 4

Ferret proofing your home is like making it safe for a toddler, only a much smaller toddler and 10 times more active.  

Here is a good site with very detailed information on what to look for.

http://www.everythingferret.com/ferret_p...

Ferrets are very curious animals and it is critical that you make your home as safe as you can.  Ferrets love to chew on rubber items so you will have to watch and see if yours is attracted to the wiring.  Mine do not.  They steal pens, toilet paper rolls, paper, cardboard, anything rubber or candy, keys, shoes...

I keep their cage covered all the time.  Ferrets are very photo sensitive to light and need about 15 hours a day in total darkness, so I have covered the cage so not even moonlight can come in.  While they require light for the absorption of Vitamin D, they cannot get the full spectrum from the sun through a window so my vet reccommended a reptile light.  My ferrets hate the light and hide from it.  When you read about weasels, (that is what a ferret is) they live underground in tunnels and seem to love the safety and quite of a covered cage.  Mine are free roam in my home all day and live in my drawers, in the couch, under beds, in essence in dark places.  

This is kind of a fun cute site on the subject:

http://courses.ttu.edu/thomas/classPet/1...