Mary Allen
There are a few subtleties to keep in mind when keeping ferrets. In particular, creating a species-appropriate and safe environment is not that easy. Find out here how to create a safe home for fur animals and what you should keep in mind when keeping them in general.
No Classic Small Animals
The small carnivores require a lot of space, a lot of exercises, and physical activity. According to the Animal Welfare Act, the enclosure for two ferrets should never be smaller than two square meters. The active animals must also never be kept in a commercially available small animal cage. It is best to have your own room that offers the little roommates enough space to run freely. The cage of the lively four-legged friends should be as large as possible, have several levels, and be varied.
Keep Your Eyes Open When Buying a Cage
Self-made enclosures are recommended. However, if you do not have the necessary manual skills and cannot offer the animals their own space, you should be careful when buying ferret accommodation. A lot of space is needed to keep ferrets and most of the enclosures provided are simply too small. Large rabbit stalls connected to an outdoor enclosure are recommended. These offer the little speedsters a lot of space to let off steam and at the same time, a retreat for the required almost 20 hours of sleep a day.
A Ferret Rarely Comes Alone
The sociable animals absolutely need conspecifics. They love to cuddle and romp around with each other. Ferrets should only be kept in a group of at least 2-3 animals. If you have enough time and space and have sufficient financial resources, there are almost no upper limits. Of course, depending on the number of ferrets, visits to the vet can be really expensive! Purchase of the lovable fur noses should therefore also be carefully considered from a financial perspective.
Gourmets on Four Legs
Ferrets are not too expensive to buy. Diet, on the other hand, has a negative impact on the wallet. The little fur noses have different eating habits than, for example, guinea pigs or rabbits. On the wish list are not straw or lettuce, but rather juicy pieces of meat. Apart from pork, which may never be fed uncooked due to possible pathogens, a hearty ferret meal includes raw beef and rabbit as well as chicken treats. High-quality cat food with a high proportion of meat can also be included in the menu. In general, you should make sure that your ferrets have something to eat around the clock. Due to the particularly fast digestion, they feel very hungry almost the whole day. In order to offer your darlings a particularly balanced diet, you should also consider dead feed chicks from specialist shops, vegetables, eggs, and vitamin pastes.
Keeping Ferrets: A Safe Environment is Mandatory
To prevent accidents or the ferrets escaping, the apartment and/or the outdoor enclosure must be adequately secured. Particular care should be taken with doors, windows, and balconies. These invite you to go on longer exploratory tours and can sometimes lead to life-threatening situations. Tilted windows in particular have a high potential for danger.
Even small holes and cracks should not be accessible to four-legged friends. Under certain circumstances, the daring little animals can get stuck in these. Fragile inventory should also not be in the immediate reach of the four-legged friends. Also, keep in mind that the nimble fur noses can jump approx. 80 cm high and approx. 160 cm wide from a standing position.
The thugs also find particular pleasure in rummaging around in potting soil. In a matter of minutes, they can turn your apartment into an unkempt flower bed. The corresponding plants should accordingly be at an unreachable height. Of course, access to medicines and cleaning products should also be taboo. Caution should also be exercised before turning on the dryer, washing machine, and other electronic devices.
The Right Facility
After you have adequately secured the apartment, you should look for suitable employment opportunities. Standard cat toys, digging boxes with balls and leaves are ideal for this. However, care should be taken to ensure that the ferrets do not come into contact with parts that could be swallowed. Drainage pipes also offer a lot of fun and variety. Hammocks, blankets, cat and dog beds are also ideal as cozy places to sleep.
Care and Hygiene are Essential
The enclosure of the funny four-legged friends should be cleaned daily. The claws also need to be trimmed regularly. You should make sure that you do not start too close to the blood vessels. We recommend using simple nail clippers or claw scissors for rabbits. The ferrets usually endure cutting without any problems. The ears also need to be cleaned every now and then. If the animal scratches itself on it frequently, you must visit the vet immediately. A possible ear mite infestation is a very unpleasant matter! Teeth and gums also require care. In old age tartar often occurs, which can lead to painful inflammation of the gums.
Ferrets are Not Cuddly Toys
The attitude of the lively four-legged friends is not exactly straightforward. Before you get a ferret, you should be aware of this. The maintenance costs can hit the wallet hard. The carnivores require good quality meals and eat large quantities. A suitable enclosure also has its price. The active animals need a lot of space to run, hide and play. If you are up to great responsibility and have enough time available, then you will have a lot of fun with the animal roommates!