The short answer is yes, Ferrets do need a cage. Keeping your Ferret in a cage can have several advantages for them and you as an owner. A cage keeps your Ferret somewhere that they can’t cause trouble while you aren’t able to watch them. It also helps keep them entertained because their toys and hides are inside the cage to play with. Their cage should be large enough to allow them to have several different toys and allow them to move around and play.
Here are some of the reasons why do Ferrets need a cage:
Ferrets Need A Lot of Space
Ferrets are active pets that love to move around. While it might seem like a great idea to let them run around your home, if they are unsupervised it’s actually not. Ferrets are curious and playful animals. Leaving them alone without a cage is about as dangerous as letting a two year old child be unsupervised.
You can try Ferret-proofing a room or your home but it’s harder than it sounds. Ferrets are master escape artists and very smart. If there is a way to escape a room they will be the ones to do it. The last thing you want is for your Ferrets to escape and chew on electrical cords or other important things. Keeping them in a cage keeps them from escaping, hurting themselves or damaging your property.
A Cage Makes Them Feel Secure
Just like how Ferrets look for security in the wild, they seek the same in captivity as well. Many animals that live in cages view them as their secure space. They often think of it as a place of their own. Ferrets are also used to sleeping 16 to 20 hours a day. Without a cage they may not feel secure and sleep as long.
A Sense of Ownership
Ferrets are territorial animals. They mark their territory with their urine or the oil from their skin. They also become possessive about their food and toys. Leaving them without a cage can make it difficult for them to understand or mark their territory. Keeping them in a cage will let them mark their territory and give them a sense of ownership of the cage. It should also keep them from marking territory in your home with urine.
Will Keep Your Home Clean
Ferrets are playful and like to explore. If they are not confined your Ferrets can create a mess in your home while playing. By keeping them in a cage you will let them play with their toys without creating a mess in your home. A cage also becomes useful if you have to leave them unattended for a few hours. Confining them to a cage is the easiest way to make sure that they can’t destroy your home when you are away or sleeping.
Allows Them to Exercise Well
Ferrets have a lot of energy and need to burn it off. Getting a cage for your Ferret will let them play with their toys and explore the hideaways inside the cage. We suggest using multiple level cages so that they will have more space to play. The extra levels will let your Ferrets move up and down or run around as much as they like. It will help give them more room for the physical activity that your Ferret needs within their cage. Without a multi level cage it can be difficult to have them burn off their energy.
Helps With Training
Training a Ferret can be easy if they are kept in a confined space. This is especially true for potty training because Ferrets can be trained to use the litter box. Once they are trained they will go to the designated spot when they need to potty. Letting them roam around without a cage could leave you with urine or feces all over your house.
Ferrets Love Cages
It may seem surprising but most Ferrets love to stay in a cage. As long as they are given a large cage with lots of toys and things for them to interact with they will enjoy staying in their cage. While they will need a few hours outside their cage every day, they will be happy to go back to their cage to sleep. Changing their toys and bedding materials gives them opportunities to create new hiding places different from before.