Ferret Proofing

California Domestic Ferret

Educational Alliance, Inc.

Promoting, Protecting and Advocating for the Domestic Ferret

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Ferret Proofing

FERRET-PROOFING YOUR HOME

Your ferret should always have a large, clean, comfortable, ferret specific cage or “kitty condo” type cage available to keep him or her safe when you are not at home or in the event of an illness or emergency. Ferrets should be caged or kept in a ferret-proofed area of your home when you are not home to supervise them and at night when you are asleep. They should be kept indoors in a temperature controlled environment if outdoor temperatures are hotter than 80 degrees F and colder than 45 degrees F.

Ferrets should never be housed in a fish aquarium, due to lack of air circulation and moisture buildup on the glass bottom. This excess moisture can lead to bacterial and fungal infections on the skin and in the lungs (can lead to death).

~~Are all cleaning supplies and medications stored in cabinets or cabinets with strong childproof latches?

~~Are the spaces under cabinets, stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers blocked off in the kitchen and bathroom? Are all small openings that could lead to the outside or inside the walls blocked off?

~~Are the toilet lids down when the ferrets are about (ferrets can climb into toilets while trying to drink the water)?

~~Is the bar soap in an area that is out of the reach of your ferret (ferrets can climb onto some bathroom counters and can reach the bathtub soap dish)?

~~Are foam rubber or soft rubber items such as hand exercise weights, shoe inserts, toys, buckets with foam rubber handles, coasters, rubber bands or drink holders out of the reach of your ferret?

~~Are all sponges and Styrofoam products in an area where your ferret can't reach them?

~~Are your house plants out of ferret reach?

~~Do you have a "ferret safe" room in your home where your ferrets can play without constant supervision? Are your ferrets caged when you are asleep or not home?

~~Are unsafe rooms blocked off with ferret-proof barriers?

~~Is your laundry room always blocked off and off-limits to your ferret?

~~Do you make sure your ferret is not inside a chair or couch before you sit down? Are there openings in the couch or chair where your ferret can hide and come into contact with couch stuffing?

~~Do you check your laundry before you put it in the washing machine to make sure there isn't a sleeping ferret in the clothing?

~~Do you check the clothes dryer before you run it?

~~Do you check the inside of the dishwasher before you start it?

~~Do you have a chair that reclines? Do make sure all of your ferrets are accounted for before you recline in it (ferrets can get crushed in chair and couch springs)?

~~Are there pieces of furniture or shelving that your ferret can climb and get hurt if they fall? Do you supervise them around these items?

~~Do you cut cardboard toilet paper and paper towel rolls in half before throwing them in a wastebasket (ferrets can get their head stuck in them and suffocate)? Do you make sure that you keep wastebaskets with harmful material out of your ferret's reach?

~~Are your ferret's toys made out of hard rubber, tightly braided rope, and plastic? Do they play with sturdy stuffed animals that don't have small pieces that can be chewed off?

BEWARE OF HIDDEN DANGERS! Unfortunately, one of the most prevalent causes of premature ferret death is gastrointestinal blockage.

You can protect your ferrets by keeping a close eye on what they like to chew on. Basically, ferrets like any type of foam rubber, soft rubber, couch stuffing, sponge and Styrofoam. Additionally, many ferrets also enjoy chewing on paper, plastic bags, cardboard and fabric. These will all cause gastrointestinal blockages if ingested. Look for signs such as furniture stuffing on the floor, under beds or under other furniture. Make sure your ferrets are not digging holes under the couch and crawling inside. Keep your ferrets out of your furniture by nailing or tacking heavy material, card board, wood sheets or particle board on the bottom of the furniture. This keeps them from being able to dig through the soft fabric located under your furniture.

Keep all shoes with foam inserts out of the reach of your ferret. If your ferret is chewing his or her bedding, try a stronger fabric that won't tear.

Another hidden danger is house plants. Many house plants are poisonous, and ferrets are very intrigued by them.

Ferrets actually enjoy the smell of bleach, bar soap and some other household cleaners. Be careful when you are cleaning the bathroom or kitchen. Always rinse bathtubs very well after cleaning them. Some ferrets (like mine) are able to climb into the tub by themselves. They enjoy licking the water droplets off the sides of the tub. A small amount of disinfecting cleaner or bleach could make your ferret ill. Keep toilet lids down to keep your ferret from drinking out of the toilet. Again, toilet cleaners are toxic to ferrets. Ferrets could also drown in the toilet water. Store all cleaning supplies, medicine and bar soap in a ferret-proof area.

Ferrets will try to get under the refrigerator (they can be seriously injured by the fan), under cabinets, in drawers, under the washer and dryer (they can get in the dryer if you leave the door open) and in any other small opening at ground level. Ferrets can also climb into high places such as the top shelf of a closet. Unfortunately, ferrets can get themselves into situations they can't get out of and end up getting injured. Make sure you know where your ferret is at all times!

Finally, to keep your ferret out of potentially unsafe rooms such as the kitchen, bathrooms, and laundry room you must construct a ferret barrier. Traditional pet and child-proof gates will not work. Most ferrets can easily climb over these gates and can get strangled or stuck by trying to squeeze through the openings. The best way to keep your ferret out of dangerous rooms is to make your own barrier or purchase a gate made especially for ferrets (these are constructed out of a solid sheet of plastic or Plexiglas). You can make your own barrier by measuring your doorway and purchasing a flat sheet of wood or Plexiglas that is at least three feet tall. Stiff cardboard may work as well. Just wedge the board in your doorway to keep the room blocked off. Climbing over the barriers may seem like a pain, but it's nothing compared to trying to find a ferret who has gotten trapped inside a wall, under the fridge or behind a cabinet!

Generally, keep an eye on your ferrets and be familiar with their favorite places to hide and which items in the house they are fixated on. This will help you come up with a ferret-proofing plan that is right for your ferrets. Keeping a close eye on your little buddies and setting limits for them will create a comfortable, safe home environment for you and your ferrets.