Letting your ferret free roam is the key to a happy and healthy ferret. They must be allowed time to explore, romp and play. They're so similar to cats and kittens, an animal we don't commonly cage at all. Please make sure you're providing a minimum of 6-8 hours a day of free roaming out of the cage. More is better, and 24/7 free roam is ideal. Cages are not a requirement. It's incredibly important that your free roam space is safe. It can be very much trial and error, as ferrets are all different. For example, my four do not chew chords. But that’s something some ferrets do like to do. Watch my video on free roaming here.
Kitchen / Bathroom Pesticides and rodenticides. Keep these items in a basement or garage, in a completely separate area, if you can place them in another container possibly high up, so that if your fuzzy is to escape, they can’t get to this. Cleaners. Buy a good baby lock for the lower cabinets, keep in mind some baby locks allow it to be opened a bit, which then a ferret can climb in as they are so slinky. Carpet powders. Essential oils. These can be very toxic. Perfumes, soaps, lotions. Appliances, make sure they cannot fit under or behind them. Keep toilet seats down. ALL HUMAN FOOD. Make sure there is no food items on the ground. ALL HUMAN MEDICATIONS. Keep secured and out of reach. Advil and Tylenol can cause liver and kidney damage. Toothpaste. Risk of xylitol. Toilet paper. They will make a mess of this. Empty toilet paper rolls. Hair-ties and headbands. Can have rubber on the inside of them. Tinfoil. Garbage. I keep mine out of reach. Living Area Household deodorizers, essential oil diffusers. Holiday decorations with dyes, glitter, christmas tree water. Make sure under couch area is clear. Vacuum often. Recliners. This is one of the leading causes of ferret deaths in the U.S! Rocking chairs. Cushions should be checked regularly to make sure they aren’t getting into them and chewing on them. Open railings down stairs etc. Fans, space heaters, fireplaces. Misc Styrofoam. Rubber. I.e tables, stools, laptops, etc Superglue. Small plastic pieces. Stuffed toys with hard plastic eyes or noses. Pencils, erasers or rubber hand grips. Things they can easily climb. Anything shorter than 3 feet can be jumped on or climbed, anything within a 3 foot distance of something else can be utilized by them. Velcro. Things that can be pushed across the room and used as a ladder. Phone cases. Floor vents. Carpet is a hazard. This can be dug up and pieces can be swallowed. Having flooring is safer, but sometimes it can’t be helped (etc if you’re renting) Spaces under doors. A 1” gap is all they need! You can use plastic playpen panels and duct tape them to the bottom of the door to extend the door. Holes or cracks in the walls. Window screens and sliding doors. Any playpens with horizontal bars within reach, they can climb. Try vertical barred playpens. Certain toys your ferrets really love to chew, should not be left unsupervised. Baskets of laundry. Dryer duct vent. Candles. Bedroom / Office Box spring mattresses. Electrical chords. Floor speakers. Window drapes, ferrets are great climbers! I tie mine up, even though they don’t climb them. Keep dresser drawers closed, they can use them as a ladder. Keep under the bed clear. Drawstrings and shoe strings. Socks and gloves can be eaten. Zipper pulls. Backpacks keep out of reach. Indoor Plants Aloe vera, azalea, baby’s breath, chrysanthemum, ivy, lilies, tulips, yew etc. Keep all potted plants out of reach! These items can cause liver or kidney damage. Chemicals in potting soil. A few reminders… If it’s in the room long enough they will find it. If you think it’s out of reach, they will reach it. If they try enough times, they will succeed. Before free roaming, put your fuzzy in a harness and leash and watch them carefully. They will show you what they want to get into! *If you cannot dedicate the whole house, find a large enough room for them to play in.
2 Comments
Regina
6/16/2020 01:49:42 pm
My whole house is rabbit proof all things they can chew on are on high cupboards will that be enough? and I have a shelve with a bunch of books with they chew on the books? I have tons of stuffed animals I don’t care if the sleep on them or chew on them but will they destroy them?
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