Seems like everywhere you look there are cheap ferret cages available. There’s a difference between inexpensive and poor quality- here’s a few tips on what to look for in a ferret cage to save money, and provide a safe home for your ferret.

First off, let’s talk about air flow. Your ferret needs to be able to breathe; a wire cage is a necessity. An aquarium or glass enclosure does not provide adequate ventilation. Wire floors are easy to clean, however ferrets can get their feet caught and it’s best to put down cloth bedding that won’t snag (for example fleece)- or if you have an area you’d like to be a little more durable you can put in a piece of cut to fit linoleum. Tip: A few spring loaded clips can prevent rearranging of the furniture. Be sure to have some bedding in the bottom level of the cage- the ground can be cold and that easily transfers- particularly if the bottom is metal as well. Plastic bottoms and levels are fine and are easy to clean, just make sure they are durable and can’t be chewed into pieces and eaten.

Cheap ferret cages are often small. Ferrets need room to move about and play. It’s a good idea to have them out for some supervised play between two and four hours a day. For the rest of the day they’re cooped up in that cage, so a little room to stretch is healthy. A good rule of thumb for a cage for a single ferret would be two foot wide by three feet long. A good height is about two feet. If you have more than one ferret, ideally you’d want to add that much space for each new ferret to make sure everyone has a place to sleep and play.

A word about safety. It’s okay to save some money as long as you take care of these important areas. First off, if you get a tall cage, make sure that your furry friend cannot fall more than a foot or so. I’ve seen many cages that are five feet tall and there are ramps along the sides going up and up, to a hammock in the middle at the very top of the cage. Underneath the hammock is a sheer drop of 5 feet. They will fall! While smart, ferrets tend to test boundaries and are fearless, to the point that you have to protect them from themselves. Also, make sure you that the cage you have is sturdy and comes with a good locking mechanism. It needs to be escape proof, a cheap ferret cage is of no benefit if Bandit can escape at will. They tend to get out at the worst possible moment, when you are bringing in groceries, when the door outside is open, etc. It is also a good investment to get a cage with larger doors on each level to be able to easily remove the litter box(es).

Once you have picked out your ferret cage, a well planned layout makes cage changes simpler, and provides a healthy environment for your pet. Food crocks that attach to the cage are handy, and keep the food where it belongs. Try for one litterbox per level- every other level at the minimum. Put the food one side of the cage and the litterbox on the other, ferrets prefer to have some distance between the kitchen and the bathroom.