Caring for ferrets

The Blue Cross recommend a house that is at least 3 meters long x 2 meters high by 2 meters wide, but always buy the largest enclosure you can so they have plenty of room to exercise and play. The hutch must be out of direct sunlight, weatherproof and draught-proof. The wire bars used for the hutch should be strong and the spaces between them should be too small for ferrets to fit their heads through.

Good quality hay or shredded paper can be used for bedding and the floor should be lined with newspaper and wood shavings. Fleece blankets, hammocks and fabric nesting boxes can be used for bedding. Litter trays should be cleaned every day and the rest of the ferret’s housing should be cleaned at least weekly. Ferrets will hide food, so it’s important to remove this when cleaning them out so it does not go mouldy.

Ferrets are naturally curious and like to interact with their owners. But they are very active and can get bored easily, so playtime is important.

Dry food can be scattered around their enclosure to encourage foraging or it can be placed in feeding toys. Ferrets will easily demolish many pet shop toys, so only sturdy toys should be used. Ferrets love tunnelling and climbing.

Using drainpipes and shelves in their enclosure is a good way of keeping them happy. They also like to sleep in hammocks which can be hung inside their enclosure. Ferrets should have daily exercise either in the house or in a large run, they can be trained to walk with a harness and lead, and can be taken outside to explore.

Ferrets are true carnivores, and need a high protein, high fat diet, and so it is best to feed a dry complete ferret food. Water should always be freely available and changed daily. Ferrets can be trained to drink from a gravity bottle or you can use a heavy bowl and these should be placed away from their litter tray.

Ferrets can be vaccinated once a year against distemper. This an uncommon but serious disease in ferrets, which generally starts with coughing, sneezing and discharges from the eyes and nose.

Microchipping your ferret is very important. Ferrets are keen escape artists and a microchip means they can be traced to their owners if they go missing.

Neutering a male ferret (hob) involves three options – castration, vasectomy or hormone implants. Please contact the surgery to discuss which would be best for your pet.                 

Female ferrets (jills) can be spayed. Jills come into season approximately March to September as the day length starts to increase. At this time the high level of oestrogen can cause a life threatening anaemia. Please contact the surgery to discuss the options to prevent this.

From time to time you may be concerned about your ferrets’ health. Contact the surgery if you notice any changes in your ferrets’ eating, drinking and toilet habits.

Ferrets’ nails grow continually so they need to be clipped. Long nails can make walking uncomfortable and lead to joint and back problems.

Common health problems include diarrhoea, hair loss, obesity, dental disease and anaemia. If you have any concerns about your ferret please contact the surgery.