One of the most important things you can invest in is the best ferret cage possible. We reached out to real ferret owners around the world to pick their brains on what makes a good ferret cage and which brand they recommend.
First, we will teach you what makes a good ferret cage (so you can make an educated decision). Then we will give our top ferret cage recommendations. If you would like to see our top product recommendations first (based on real ferret owner feedback) please scroll to the bottom of this page.
Why Does My Ferret Need a Cage?
As we learned in our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets, ferrets sleep 15-18 hours per day (according to Ferrets for Dummies). To get some quality nap time, ferrets prefer dark, quiet environments. A cage is the perfect place to make your ferret feel safe and secure enough for a deep sleep.
Important: Even though your ferret may sleep a majority
of the day, this does not mean they should be left in their cage all the time.
We recommend that you allow your ferret to play outside their cage at least 4
hours per day. Personally, our ferrets free roam all day long and only spend
their nights in the cage. *We are home to supervise them during the day*
The second reason your ferret requires a cage is to guarantee
their safety -specifically when you are not there to supervise them. My husband
and I work from home so we are always available to check on them throughout the
day. If we hear a suspicious *CRASH* *THUMP* we can run into the next room and
check on them. If they start to cough, we can immediately locate them and make sure
they aren’t eating something they shouldn’t.
However, if we were not home during the day, our ferrets could get into some serious danger around the house-and we wouldn’t be there to stop them. As you will learn from our Ultimate Guide to Ferret Proofing, ferrets have a knack for getting themselves into dangerous situations. Mischief is in their nature! And while ferret proofing can minimize the most common causes of ferret injury, you can only truly guarantee your ferret’s safety while you are gone by putting them in their cage.
What Makes the Best Ferret Cage?
Ferrets are incredibly unique animals and therefore have unique housing requirements. There are few basic considerations you need to keep in mind when choosing the best ferret cage:
Lots of Space
Ferrets for Dummies advises that a single ferret should have a cage measuring at least 3 feet wide x 2 feet deep x 2 feet high. For more than one ferret, most owners recommend investing in a multi-level cage to double the available space.
Good Ventilation
Glass tanks have bad ventilation for ferrets
It may make sense to keep a snake or a lizard in a glass tank, but keeping a ferret in such an enclosure can cause serious health problems. Glass tanks have very poor ventilation (air circulation) and with the amount of pooping and peeing your ferret will be doing in there, your ferret could become exposed to unhealthy amounts of bacteria. Not to mention, their urine (pee) will eventually transform into ammonia which could seriously harm your ferret.
Now that you know to stay away from glass tanks, what kind of wire cage should you get for your ferret? We recommend choosing a cage with no more than a 1 inch gap between the bars. People joke that ferrets are ‘liquid’ because they can transform and squeeze their body into just about anywhere. For this reason, we advise against using kennels made for dogs or cats -their bar spacing is usually way too wide!
Solid Floor
A good ferret cage has a solid floor for your ferret to walk on. Cages with wire bottoms are not ideal because your ferret can get their foot caught and injure themselves. Even if they don’t get their feet stuck between the bars, wire flooring can irritate their paw pads.
Escape Proof
Ferrets are master escape artists. They love to
problem-solve, so when you present them with a cage that has a weak door, they
will take it upon themselves to figure out how to escape.
If your ferret cage does not have a door that locks, you can
use a ‘snap bolt’.
However, we recommend investing in a cage that has complete locking mechanisms.
Easy to Clean
Some ferret cages are much easier to clean than others. This includes cleaning the litter box on a daily basis, as well as cleaning the entire cage every few weeks. The best ferret cages have entire panels that open up to access the inside of the cage.
Picture reaching into your ferret’s cage and pulling out a litter box or a litter tray. Big doors make it x10 easier!
Safe Materials
As you learned in The Ultimate Guide to Ferrets, ferrets are not in fact rodents. They are not especially known for gnawing on wood like a rabbit or mouse. However, some ferrets will chew on wood. This can cause them to ingest material that can cause obstructions. For this reason, we strongly suggest against buying a cage made out of wood.
Another reason to avoid wood: it cannot be fully sterilized like metal
Where Should I Put My Ferret Cage?
Beyond the cage you buy, ferrets also have very specific needs that will determine where you put their cage:
Away From Loud Noises
You should place your ferret cage in a quiet area away from loud noises and potential stressers. Ideally, your ferret cage is far away from the television or speaker system.
Away From Air Vents
It is important to place your ferret cage away from central air vents. This is because constant cold air can make your ferret sick (just like people!). If you place your ferret’s cage next to a heater, they could potentially suffer from heat stroke.
Unfortunately, ferrets often miss their cage litter box and poop can end up either on the wall behind the cage or on the floor. Poop and pee are very hard to clean out of carpet. We recommend placing your cage on a floor that is easy to clean (tile or laminate floor).
In a Loving Environment
Please don’t place your ferret cage in an area you never visit! While it is important to find a quiet space for them to sleep, that doesn’t mean you should isolate them from the rest of your home.
Example: When we adopted Newt and Albert (our two white ferrets), they were living in their previous owner’s garage. He tried his best to spend time with them, but he could only manage about one hour per day. Besides that, our two future-ferrets were left alone in the dark. Not to mention -they were surrounded by harmful chemicals like spray paint and bleach! If you want to get a ferret, you need to find a space for them in your home, and in your life.
We put our ferret’s cage in the corner of our living room. It is out of the way without being isolated.
Best Ferret Cage
Now that you know what makes the best ferret cage and where to put it, take a look at our top recommendations. These reviews are based on our own personal experience as ferret owners (we’ve purchased multiple types of cages) and the opinions of ferret owners around the world that reached out to us to give their two cents!
Expensive ($139 for single level, $249 for double level)
Takes time to assemble
***Even though we have affiliate links, we are not paid by Ferret Nation. They genuinely have a solid cage design that is by far the most popular in the ferret community.***
photo credit: Desiree
Real Reviews for our Facebook Page Community Members:
“I love the ferret nation cages because you can make them as big as you like and they are safe and very easy to clean.” – Desiree
“Pull out trays, no wire floors or ramps and doors big enough to fit big litter boxes through!” – Valerie
“Ferret Nation by Midwest all. The. Way. Big doors for easy cleaning, vertical bars to deter climbing, wide shelves to prevent injury!” -May
“The only cage I recommend is a ferret nation. It’s easy to clean, easy to upgrade/make bigger and the best cage I’ve found so far. I tried the feisty ferret before, a cheaper option but hated it. Only one side opens, making it hard to clean. It has wire floors which are bad and can injure ferret feet and legs, and no way of upgrading it/making it bigger. I wished I had spent the extra money and just started with the ferret nation. ” -Catherine
Alternative Cages
We do not recommend the Prevue Hendryx Feisty Ferret Cage for two main reasons: the bars are flimsier and a determined ferret can bend them; also the cage has a wire floor which can injure your ferret’s feet. If you choose to buy this cage, cover the wire bottom with a tray.
We do not recommend the Kaytee My First Home Deluxe Cage. This is because it is very flimsy and the wire doors are easy for a ferret to open on their own. It is also very difficult to clean because the doors are so small. This is the cage we had before we bought a Ferret Nation.
“Kaytee I would say isn’t a good choice. The plastic doesn’t hold up, and there isn’t enough room for them in my personal opinion.” -Kaylee
Conclusion
While there are many ferret cages to choose from, the majority of experienced ferret owners end up investing in a Ferret Nation cage. We recommend skipping the cheaper ‘starter kit’ and going straight for a cage that will cost a little more but make you much happier in the long run.
If there are other ferret cage brands we did not mention that offer unique advantages, please comment below and we can add them to our list. Thank you!
Are you new to ferrets? Check out our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to teach you everything you need to know about these incredible pets.
Best Ferret Cage: Real Owners Review
One of the most important things you can invest in is the best ferret cage possible. We reached out to real ferret owners around the world to pick their brains on what makes a good ferret cage and which brand they recommend.
First, we will teach you what makes a good ferret cage (so you can make an educated decision). Then we will give our top ferret cage recommendations. If you would like to see our top product recommendations first (based on real ferret owner feedback) please scroll to the bottom of this page.
Why Does My Ferret Need a Cage?
As we learned in our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Ferrets, ferrets sleep 15-18 hours per day (according to Ferrets for Dummies). To get some quality nap time, ferrets prefer dark, quiet environments. A cage is the perfect place to make your ferret feel safe and secure enough for a deep sleep.
Important: Even though your ferret may sleep a majority of the day, this does not mean they should be left in their cage all the time. We recommend that you allow your ferret to play outside their cage at least 4 hours per day. Personally, our ferrets free roam all day long and only spend their nights in the cage. *We are home to supervise them during the day*
The second reason your ferret requires a cage is to guarantee their safety -specifically when you are not there to supervise them. My husband and I work from home so we are always available to check on them throughout the day. If we hear a suspicious *CRASH* *THUMP* we can run into the next room and check on them. If they start to cough, we can immediately locate them and make sure they aren’t eating something they shouldn’t.
However, if we were not home during the day, our ferrets could get into some serious danger around the house-and we wouldn’t be there to stop them. As you will learn from our Ultimate Guide to Ferret Proofing, ferrets have a knack for getting themselves into dangerous situations. Mischief is in their nature! And while ferret proofing can minimize the most common causes of ferret injury, you can only truly guarantee your ferret’s safety while you are gone by putting them in their cage.
What Makes the Best Ferret Cage?
Ferrets are incredibly unique animals and therefore have unique housing requirements. There are few basic considerations you need to keep in mind when choosing the best ferret cage:
Lots of Space
Ferrets for Dummies advises that a single ferret should have a cage measuring at least 3 feet wide x 2 feet deep x 2 feet high. For more than one ferret, most owners recommend investing in a multi-level cage to double the available space.
Good Ventilation
It may make sense to keep a snake or a lizard in a glass tank, but keeping a ferret in such an enclosure can cause serious health problems. Glass tanks have very poor ventilation (air circulation) and with the amount of pooping and peeing your ferret will be doing in there, your ferret could become exposed to unhealthy amounts of bacteria. Not to mention, their urine (pee) will eventually transform into ammonia which could seriously harm your ferret.
Instead, we recommend investing in a wire ferret cage.
Narrow Bars
Now that you know to stay away from glass tanks, what kind of wire cage should you get for your ferret? We recommend choosing a cage with no more than a 1 inch gap between the bars. People joke that ferrets are ‘liquid’ because they can transform and squeeze their body into just about anywhere. For this reason, we advise against using kennels made for dogs or cats -their bar spacing is usually way too wide!
Solid Floor
A good ferret cage has a solid floor for your ferret to walk on. Cages with wire bottoms are not ideal because your ferret can get their foot caught and injure themselves. Even if they don’t get their feet stuck between the bars, wire flooring can irritate their paw pads.
Escape Proof
Ferrets are master escape artists. They love to problem-solve, so when you present them with a cage that has a weak door, they will take it upon themselves to figure out how to escape.
If your ferret cage does not have a door that locks, you can use a ‘snap bolt’.
However, we recommend investing in a cage that has complete locking mechanisms.
Easy to Clean
Some ferret cages are much easier to clean than others. This includes cleaning the litter box on a daily basis, as well as cleaning the entire cage every few weeks. The best ferret cages have entire panels that open up to access the inside of the cage.
Picture reaching into your ferret’s cage and pulling out a litter box or a litter tray. Big doors make it x10 easier!
Safe Materials
As you learned in The Ultimate Guide to Ferrets, ferrets are not in fact rodents. They are not especially known for gnawing on wood like a rabbit or mouse. However, some ferrets will chew on wood. This can cause them to ingest material that can cause obstructions. For this reason, we strongly suggest against buying a cage made out of wood.
Another reason to avoid wood: it cannot be fully sterilized like metal
Where Should I Put My Ferret Cage?
Beyond the cage you buy, ferrets also have very specific needs that will determine where you put their cage:
Away From Loud Noises
You should place your ferret cage in a quiet area away from loud noises and potential stressers. Ideally, your ferret cage is far away from the television or speaker system.
Away From Air Vents
It is important to place your ferret cage away from central air vents. This is because constant cold air can make your ferret sick (just like people!). If you place your ferret’s cage next to a heater, they could potentially suffer from heat stroke.
We also recommend making sure all vents in your home are secure to prevent your ferret from getting inside your home air system.
On an Easy to Clean Floor
Unfortunately, ferrets often miss their cage litter box and poop can end up either on the wall behind the cage or on the floor. Poop and pee are very hard to clean out of carpet. We recommend placing your cage on a floor that is easy to clean (tile or laminate floor).
In a Loving Environment
Please don’t place your ferret cage in an area you never visit! While it is important to find a quiet space for them to sleep, that doesn’t mean you should isolate them from the rest of your home.
Example: When we adopted Newt and Albert (our two white ferrets), they were living in their previous owner’s garage. He tried his best to spend time with them, but he could only manage about one hour per day. Besides that, our two future-ferrets were left alone in the dark. Not to mention -they were surrounded by harmful chemicals like spray paint and bleach! If you want to get a ferret, you need to find a space for them in your home, and in your life.
We put our ferret’s cage in the corner of our living room. It is out of the way without being isolated.
Best Ferret Cage
Now that you know what makes the best ferret cage and where to put it, take a look at our top recommendations. These reviews are based on our own personal experience as ferret owners (we’ve purchased multiple types of cages) and the opinions of ferret owners around the world that reached out to us to give their two cents!
Ferret Nation
Pros:
Cons:
***Even though we have affiliate links, we are not paid by Ferret Nation. They genuinely have a solid cage design that is by far the most popular in the ferret community.***
Real Reviews for our Facebook Page Community Members:
“I love the ferret nation cages because you can make them as big as you like and they are safe and very easy to clean.” – Desiree
“Pull out trays, no wire floors or ramps and doors big enough to fit big litter boxes through!” – Valerie
“Ferret Nation by Midwest all. The. Way. Big doors for easy cleaning, vertical bars to deter climbing, wide shelves to prevent injury!” -May
“The only cage I recommend is a ferret nation. It’s easy to clean, easy to upgrade/make bigger and the best cage I’ve found so far. I tried the feisty ferret before, a cheaper option but hated it. Only one side opens, making it hard to clean. It has wire floors which are bad and can injure ferret feet and legs, and no way of upgrading it/making it bigger. I wished I had spent the extra money and just started with the ferret nation. ” -Catherine
Alternative Cages
We do not recommend the Prevue Hendryx Feisty Ferret Cage for two main reasons: the bars are flimsier and a determined ferret can bend them; also the cage has a wire floor which can injure your ferret’s feet. If you choose to buy this cage, cover the wire bottom with a tray.
We do not recommend the Kaytee My First Home Deluxe Cage. This is because it is very flimsy and the wire doors are easy for a ferret to open on their own. It is also very difficult to clean because the doors are so small. This is the cage we had before we bought a Ferret Nation.
“Kaytee I would say isn’t a good choice. The plastic doesn’t hold up, and there isn’t enough room for them in my personal opinion.” -Kaylee
Conclusion
While there are many ferret cages to choose from, the majority of experienced ferret owners end up investing in a Ferret Nation cage. We recommend skipping the cheaper ‘starter kit’ and going straight for a cage that will cost a little more but make you much happier in the long run.
If there are other ferret cage brands we did not mention that offer unique advantages, please comment below and we can add them to our list. Thank you!
Are you new to ferrets? Check out our Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to teach you everything you need to know about these incredible pets.
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