Setting Up an Amazing Cage For Your Ferrets
Ferrets are happier to be caged in pairs. The kind of cage you will have to build will pretty much depend on the time your pet ferret is most likely to spend its time inside. If its more than eight hours inside the cage, he will need as much space as possible. The cage has to be at least two feet high, two feet deep, and 2 feet wide. A smaller cage with smaller dimensions will only be appropriate if he is cage bound at night.
Make sure you remind yourself of the basics. Your furry little friend needs a cozy and warm sleeping area, a food/water area, a litter area, and a play place. This is the reason why your cage has to accommodate these important parts, and never forget that ferrets need a big white door, because most of the time ferret owners building a cage forget the door and the proper dimensions for the door of the ferret.
Ferrets are probably the most active, curious, and playful creatures you will ever take care of, so you should be able to provide a lot more entertainment to avoid boredom and depression. Putting in a hammock or some tubes, ladders, swings, ramps are good ideas, but there are just cases where he wants to just curl up and sleep all day. Ferrets love sleeping, so do not worry if he seems to be sleeping all day. Roaming space too is very important, so even if you are just building the cage, consider that he will have to spend time off-cage too!
Do not get disappointed if your ferret seems to ignore the wonderful toys you just bought for him and chooses to wrestle with an old paper cup instead. Remember that safety for your pet ferret is still the priority and you will have to make sure that there are no small bits and pieces of the toy for the ferret to choke. Anything you own can be a ferret toy in the eyes of the ferret.
Your cage will need the above parts mentioned: sleeping area, play area, litter area, and food area. A small basket will suffice; just put a cozy warm blanket as padding that can be an old sleeve, cut pants, or an old small towel. You will also need a triangular corner litter box to maximize any free space your ferret may need. Put in some quality litter for it to know that it is his bathroom. Avoid the clumping ones though.
Now, it is the food/water area. You must have a place where to put your ferret water bottle, never use something that will trip or spill or tip over, and a small bowl for food. Make sure you put yummy high-protein food onto the small bowl for the ferret to know that this is not his litter box.
Finally, if you will have to use metal, make sure that it is not the rusting type and all sharp edges must be tied and protected with duct tape. Ferret feet, nose and face are very, very sensitive, and make sure that the metal wood not hurt these sensitive parts of your furry little friend.