How to Make Your Ferret Happy

Co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS

Updated: August 18, 2019

Ferrets are highly intelligent, social, and active creatures that need a lot of stimulation and exercise to stay entertained. Keep ferrets in pairs, provide them with a fun cage environment, feed them the proper diet, and give them plenty of play time to make them happy. Make sure you have enough time to dedicate to your ferrets to keep them active, and you’ll share a bond with them for years to come!

Method 1 of 3:
Creating a Stimulating Environment

  1. 1
    Keep ferrets in pairs so they don’t get lonely and bored. Ferrets will be very glad to have other ferrets as companions. A pair of ferrets will keep each other company and play together while you are away or when you don’t have time to play with them.[1]
    • You shouldn't keep male ferrets that have not been neutered with other ferrets because they can become aggressive and start fights during mating season.
  2. 2
    Provide a cage that's 2 by 3 ft (0.61 by 0.91 m) for a pair of ferrets. Ferrets need a lot of space to play and move around in their cage. Cages with multiple levels are the best so that your ferrets can climb around inside their cage.[2]
    • Use a wire cage with a metal or plastic bottom for your ferrets.
    • You can get multi-level ferret cages at your local pet store.
  3. 3
    Put elevated beds or hammocks in the cage for your ferrets to sleep in. Ferrets like to be able to climb above ground level to sleep. Put hammocks or beds on higher levels of the cage for them to climb in and out of when they want to.[3]
    • You can get a ferret hammock at a pet store, or buy a small cat bed to put on a higher level of the cage. Make sure that any bed you buy is easily washable.
    • Ferrets spend 16-20 hours a day sleeping, so make sure they have comfortable beds!
  4. 4
    Put lots of accessories and toys in the cage and switch them up every few days. Purchase toys like hard plastic balls with bells in the middle, plush toys with squeakers, and tunnels that they can climb through. Ferrets get bored with toys easily, so rotate new toys in and out every 2-3 days to keep them entertained.[4]
    • Make sure that any toys you give them are durable and won’t break or fall apart and cause a choking hazard.
    • You can buy ferret toys at a pet store, or use small cat and dog toys. Plush chew toys for small dogs, or the kinds of balls and other toys for cats that have bells inside are good choices.
    • If you see that your ferrets seem to have lost interest in a toy or accessory, then replace it!
  5. 5
    Make a dig box for your ferrets with a large plastic bin and clean dirt. Get a plastic tub or bin that's at least 2 ft (0.61 m) tall and fill it with 1 ft (0.30 m) of dirt that has not been treated with any chemicals. Your ferrets will love to dig around in the bin during playtime.[5]
    • If your ferrets use the dirt as a litter box, simply clean out the messy parts and add some fresh dirt.
    • You can get dirt that has not been treated with chemicals at a garden supply shop.
    • Adding plastic balls to a box, tub, or kiddie pool is another great way to entertain your ferrets.

Method 2 of 3:
Playing with Your Ferrets Every Day

  1. 1
    Get an exercise pen for your ferrets if you can't let them roam your home. Many people don’t have a safe space in their home to let a ferret run free. If this is the case, buy an exercise pen at a pet store to create a safe space outside of your ferrets’ cage for them to play in.[6]
    • Put different toys like balls, tunnels, and chew toys in the exercise pen for your ferrets to interact with during play time.
    • You can connect multiple ferret play pens to create a larger space for them to run around in.
  2. 2
    Let your ferrets run free in your home if you have a safe, enclosed area. You will need to ferret-proof the room or area by removing everything that the ferrets could destroy or that could harm them. Fill the room with lots of ferret toys to keep them entertained and discourage them from damaging your home.[7]
    • Ferrets will dig into furniture like sofas, dig at the carpet, and scratch at closed doors. This is why you need to make sure they have lots of toys and other distractions in the room you let them free in.
  3. 3
    Take your ferrets out of their cage for at least 4 hours a day. Ferrets need to be out of their cage for at least 4 hours a day to stay fit and mentally stimulated. Split this time between solo playtime in a safe area like a play pen or enclosed room, and personal interaction between you and your ferret.[8]
    • Ferrets who spend too much time in their cage will become lazy, overweight, and lose their muscle tone.
    • Provide lots of variety of activities for your ferrets. Try building mazes out of cardboard tubes and boxes for them to explore and exercise in.
  4. 4
    Play and interact with your ferrets for at least 2 hours a day. Chase your ferrets around in a safe space in your home, drag chew toys around for them to chase, throw balls, or take your ferrets for a walk with a harness and a leash. It’s important to interact with your ferrets to establish a bond and to keep them fit and happy.[9]
    • Ferrets love playing on stairs, so if you have a safe room in your house with stairs this is a great place to play with them and chase them around.
    • Ferrets like to play tug of war. You can buy a rope chew toy meant for dogs and use it to play with your ferrets.
    • If your ferrets seem uninterested in playing or spends most of their time sleeping, they are probably bored with their daily routine and toys. Try new games and toys to find something that interests them.

Method 3 of 3:
Keeping Your Ferrets Healthy

  1. 1
    Feed your ferrets pellets that are made for them or no-carb kitten food. Ferret pellets don’t have any carbohydrates and are formulated to contain the right amount of protein to keep ferrets healthy. Use soft, carb-free kitten food as an alternative if you cannot find ferret pellets.[10]
    • Ferrets should always have food available. Put 1.5 cups (~150 g) in the dish for 2 ferrets and change it out every day. If they are leaving a lot of food then you can lower the amount you give them, but make sure they never have an empty food bowl.[11]
    • Adult cat food does not work as an alternative to ferret food. Make sure any kitten food you use does not contain fish as an ingredient. Ferrets only eat meat-based food or animal products like eggs.
  2. 2
    Give your ferret kitten treats, chicken, or eggs as a daily treat. Purchase soft kitten treats with chicken or lamb as the first ingredient to give to your ferret. Chop up chicken or cooked eggs as another treat option. Give your ferrets a treat when you are handling and playing with them daily.[12]
    • Give each ferret an individual kitten treat, an egg, or a piece of cooked chicken cut into a 1 in (2.5 cm) chunk at least once a day during playtime.
    • You should not give your ferrets fruits, vegetables, or bread because these are not part of a ferret’s natural diet.
  3. 3
    Check and refill your ferrets’ water bottle 2 times a day. Make sure there is always fresh, clean water available for your ferrets. Refill the water bottle anytime that you see it is not full or looks dirty.[13]
    • You can provide a bowl of water in the ferrets’ cage in addition to a water bottle. Some ferrets like to have a variety of water sources. Just make sure to clean out the bowl and fill it with fresh water whenever you see anything floating in it because it will get dirty quickly.[14]
  4. 4
    Put a litter box in your ferrets’ cage and clean it every day. Fix a ferret litter tray or litter pan to the side of the cage on the lowest level. A ferret litter pan has one lowered side so that the ferret can easily walk in and out, and is designed to fit into a corner and hook onto the bars of the cage.[15]
    • You can use regular cat litter as ferret litter.
    • Whenever the litter is dirty, scoop out the dirty parts and refill the litter pan with some fresh litter.
  5. 5
    Keep your ferret in a room that stays below 80 °F (27 °C). Ferrets like to stay at cool temperatures and cannot tolerate heat higher than this. Keep their cage away from heat sources or windows that receive direct sunlight.[16]
    • Temperatures higher than 86 °F (30 °C) can cause immediate health problems such as heat stroke in ferrets, and can even lead to death.
  6. 6
    Take your ferrets to the vet at least once a year. It’s important for ferrets to have annual vet checkups, even if they seem healthy, to monitor for any health problems. Always keep an eye on your ferrets’ appearance and behavior, and take them to the vet if you notice anything that seems unusual.[17]
    • A ferret’s eyes should always be bright and clear, their whiskers should be long and soft, and they should have clean teeth and pink gums. If you notice any problems with the appearance of these, take your ferret to the vet for an exam.

Community Q&A

Add New Question
  • Question
    Can you leave a ferret home alone for long periods of time?
    Expert Answer
    Provided they have a rich environment to play in and social interaction when you're home, they can be left for a day. However, I wouldn't advise leaving them for longer than this, such as when you go on vacation.
  • Question
    My ferret fell from the top floor of my house, which is about 30 feet. He seems okay, but is acting sleepy. Should I be concerned?
    Expert Answer
    Falling from such a height it's likely his head would hit the ground. His sleepiness may be concussion so I would advise seeing a vet, even if he otherwise seems fine.
  • Question
    Why does my ferret hiss when I play with him?
    Community Answer
    If he hisses and his mouth is open with teeth visible, he is very angry and may strike at you, however, if his mouth is closed, the hissing is just normal play behavior.
  • Question
    Can I give my ferret a bath?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you can only bathe them with ferret shampoo and try not to bathe them too much. Instead of making it smell better, it can actually make them smell worse. After giving them a bath, make sure to clean their ears to make sure there's no water or soap in them. Don't use a dry cotton swab as it can dry out their ears.
  • Question
    I've heard lots of answers that say the ferret might develop depression. If it does, what do you do?
    Community Answer
    Depression can be avoided (or, helped) by playing with your ferret more and making sure it's getting all of it's energy out. Make or buy more toys for them to mess around with when you're not around. Just keep them busy and having fun and their mental state should start to get better.
  • Question
    My ferret likes my brother more than me. What should I do?
    Community Answer
    Tell your brother to let you have a chance with your ferret, and play with it a lot! Beat your brother in the ferret-play race!
  • Question
    How can I help a pet ferret deal with the loss of another pet ferret?
    Community Answer
    Give your ferret more attention than usual—play with it more, give it more treats, give it more attention. Though you may be tempted to buy another, replacement ferret, remember that, like people, ferrets grieve, and grieve in different ways, and may need time in any case to mourn the loss.
  • Question
    Can ferrets have scrambled eggs? Not always but maybe once a month as a treat?
    Community Answer
    Yes, scrambled eggs are fine for ferrets so long as you don't give it to them too often and don't add milk as ferrets are lactose intolerant.
  • Question
    What does it mean when I'm playing with my ferret and its tail wags back and fourth quickly? Is this normal playing behavior?
    Community Answer
    Somewhat like dogs, ferrets will wag their tails if they are happy or excited - although it is not as common with them as it is with dogs, so enjoy it while it lasts.
  • Question
    Why does my ferret like popcorn?
    Community Answer
    Don't feed any more popcorn to your ferret! They're obligate carnivores and feeding them non-meat products can block their intestinal track and make them very sick, or even kill them. Make sure to keep popcorn away from him if he likes it, as he will probably try to sneak in and eat some.
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      About This Article

      13 votes - 85%
      Co-authors: 50
      Updated: August 18, 2019
      Views: 156,813
      Categories: Ferrets
      Article SummaryX

      To make your ferret happy, add fun toys and accessories to your ferret's cage so it doesn't get bored, and switch them up every few days to keep your ferret interested. You should also take your ferret out of its cage for at least 4 hours a day so it can run around and explore. Also, give your ferret kitten treats, chicken, or eggs once a day as a nice treat. If you only have one ferret, consider getting another one since ferrets can get bored and lonely without a companion. For more advice from our Veterinary co-author, like how to keep your ferret healthy, read on!

      Did this summary help you?

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 156,813 times.

      Reader Success Stories

      • AM

        Avery Morton

        Nov 17, 2019

        "I am always at school and my ferret rarely gets played with. I try and take her out when I clean her cage and do my homework, but I feel as though this is not enough. This article helped me by giving me lots of methods!"..." more
      • HN

        Haven Noelle

        Jan 15, 2017

        "This article is amazing, and it has absolutely everything I needed to know. There's even humor inside of the information, as well as tricks you can tell the writer has figured out on their own. They also keep it cheap, without telling you to buy thousands of things. I love it, thank you so much! "..." more
      • CT

        Cheryl Towne

        Jan 6, 2018

        "I love my 2 ferrets, Chester and Christine, and anything I can find out to make them happy is helpful. If I could only get them to toilet 100% in their litter box or on paper, they would be perfect. Thanks."..." more
      • EW

        Emilianna Webb

        Jul 30, 2017

        "We just added a ferret to our wonderful family and we can't be more excited! I honestly don't know anything about ferrets, and this site has a lot of useful information!"..." more
        Rated this article:
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        Annamarie Titley

        Jun 10, 2017

        "I have a fear biter ferret and I have been told so many ways how to handle, her but none work . Your article about ferrets has helped me vastly, thank you."..." more
      • MW

        Meghan Witty

        Jun 11, 2017

        "We adopted two older ferrets and I wasn't sure how to interact with them, so these articles and ideas helped me quite a bit. Thank you!"..." more
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      • MA

        Mi-Na Anthony

        Oct 9, 2017

        "This article helped me by letting me know what to do when I get my ferret In a few more weeks after I move and unpack everything."..." more
      • BC

        Bridget Culubos

        Jun 27, 2016

        "He had fun for a little bit, then once I did the next thing he made the doinking sound so that told me he was having fun."..." more
      • KP

        K. C. Phillips

        Aug 12, 2017

        "I just recently got a baby ferret and it bites too often. I hope this works."
      • AT

        Angel Tarasoff

        May 22, 2017

        "I liked that they say you can make the toys instead of just buying them."
      • SR

        Sasjia Ray

        Apr 9, 2016

        "This helped me by telling me what to do for my pet when I get a ferret."
      • BB

        Bob B.

        Jun 17, 2016

        "Great tips and info. Wish I new about this article sooner."
      • CA

        Carla Ana

        Sep 28, 2017

        "This article helped me understand my ferret!"
        Rated this article:
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        Sasjia Ray

        Apr 9, 2016

        "You taught me how to make it play."
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