I am thinking about getting a ferret for the first time. I don't want to keep it in a cage. Good idea?

Question

I live in a small second-story apartment/flat. Ferret owners, tell me if it's a horrible idea to let my little friend have rein of my flat. (I would give her a small doggy bed and litter bin to use, of course.)

Answer 1

When we had ferrets, they were free-roam, but they were confined to one room and we ferret-proofed it before hand.

It can work, but there's several things you have to do before allowing your ferret to roam freely - anything that they could choke on needs to be up out of their reach; anything that could harm them if chewed on and/or ingested needs to be out of their reach (household cleaners, wires/cables, rubber things, poisonous plants, etc.); any holes need to be covered securely; they're good climbers, so you'll want to make sure there's nothing they can climb up and then fall off of; cupboard doors should have locks on them (some ferrets can open them); make sure there's no openings anywhere that lead to the outside. Those are just a few things involved in ferret-proofing, there's so much more! Even when you think you have the place completely ferret-proofed, they always seem to find something you missed.

In my opinion, it would be best to either keep them confined to one room (like a bedroom) or only allow them to be out when you are home and able to supervise them and keep them in a cage the rest of time. A cage really is the best place for them when you're not home or able to keep an eye on them (they can get into so much when you're not looking!). It was easier for us to allow our ferrets to be free-roam because the room we gave them was an empty room. It was easy to ferret-proof and all that was in it was ferret safe toys and bedding.

Here's two sites with some ferret-proofing info:
http://www.ferretdepot.com/ferretproof.shtml
http://www.ferret-universe.com/care/ferret_proofing.asp

Answer 2

I can completely understand how this would sound like a good idea, honestly, but in the best interest of the ferret it's better not to unless you really want to put more effort into them. Ferrets do not tolerate the heat well, as you know; they're cooler weather animals and need dry conditions. They don't sweat, they release heat through their mouths and footpads like dogs do, and humidity that would occur in the bathroom won't let them. Unless you shower with the door open every time, or let them roam around in another secure area while you shower, they might get heatstroke. (Which you can do! This is another great option!) But besides, the thought of a ferret watching me poop creeps me out. I would totally make a curtain so they couldn't watch me. It would be too weird. The dining room might be a better option, and they'll probably be more accessible when you take them out and put them back in. They might get more interaction this way. Don't worry about the smell; it's not as bad as you think. The litter box is what is the worst.

Answer 3

bad idea- ferrets can get into everything- easily can get stuck behind a stove, in a couch, get in a garbage, eat erasers, go through a 1 inch hole in the wall, etc. It there is even a 1% chance of a ferret being able to get in there- guess what- they will.

I allow my ferrets free run of the room that I am in, and have a divider I put up to separate the rooms. The ferrets run around when I am home to supervise them. When I am gone, they go in their cage ( I have a ferret nation 2-story- I love it).

Also to note: ferrets are not 100% litter trained. I have one that is about 90%, and the other is 100% in the cage, and 1% outside the cage (working on it yet).

Ferrets need about 3-4 hrs of interaction time a day- either with other ferrets or you. I let my guys run for 30min in the morning before classes, and then an hour in the afternoon before work, then 2-3 hrs after work- and usually, they are back in their cage sleeping by halfway through that night time play. I actually last longer playing than my ferrets do, lol.


PS- I don't think they really smell- a cat's urine odor bugs me a lot more than anything coming out of a descented ferret. Of course if you keep them in a wood cage, never wash their bedding, and clean out the litterbox irregularly, they will smell, but no more than any other animal would in the situation.

EDIT: I got a thumbs down already for being a concientious pet owner?! I have worked in an animal emergency hospital, and have seen things that animals have gone into.

Answer 4

The litter box won't be used 100% of the time, so you'll be picking up poop around the apartment.

The ferret will find ANYTHING to amuse itself with, including emptying the garbage out, repotting your plants onto the floor, taking anything loose and hiding it, digging INTO the bed and gettin inside that or the couch....they are hyperactive two year olds on speed.

They will also get behnd and inside the refrigerator, stove, dishwasher....... It's much better to contain them and let them out only when you can supervise or keep them confined to one room (some owners use a plexiglass divider they can step over but which the ferret can't climb over to get out.

Answer 5

You can let a ferret run loose, but only when supervised. Keep it in a cage otherwise. Ferrets can go just about anywhere and get into anything.

Answer 6

no way should you let a ferret run lose, ferrets are meat eaters and very territorial and very small to fit under and around most anything. The also tend to smell unless constintally cared for, depending on there diet. The possibilty of the ferret hurting itself or ingesting something fatal is also a big possibilty because ferrets are very curius creatures

Answer 7

actually they say its not good to keep a ferret caged up all teh time because that is how they become mean. they say its good for the ferret to be out at least eight hours a day. and they are easy to train. the only thing i can say is that you need to be careful every time you sit on your couch, or if you have a recliner, be careful reclining it. ferrets are known for hiding and burrowing in unseen places, and my vet told me most the time when he was unable to help peoples ferrets it was because they were injured to bad when owners sat on them or they got stuck in recliners, and he had to put them to sleep, if they weren't already dead, so be careful, but dont listen to all those ppl telling you to cage your ferret up

Answer 8

Can you barricade the kitchen with a baby gate and keep the ferret in the kitchen, or the bathroom? I agree with not letting it run loose, you might not be able to find him again.

Answer 9

Not a good idea, all animals should be kept in a cage when your not at home, for the animals welfare sake

Answer 10

They are easier to train than a dog and they are very clean as long as you get them young. You can teach them to like water and give them baths. If you are going to be gone though for a while you should keep him in a cage until you trust him(like crate training a dog) You must make sure there are no holes or anything they can get into get get hurt or lost. Tey are know to get into vents and die.