How to Ferret Proof Your Kitchen

In this article you will learn where and how to ferret proof your kitchen. Want to learn about the most likely causes of danger to your ferret? Check out What is Ferret Proofing?

If you’d like to learn how to ferret proof a different section of your home, click one of the links below:

• Kitchen
• Bathroom
• Bedroom
• Around the House

Your kitchen is chalked full of potentially harmful substances and places for your ferret to hurt themselves. That is why it is crucial to spend time preparing your kitchen for your new pet.

Ferret Proof Your Appliances

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Refrigerators: Just like this kitten, ferrets can easily fit under the fridge, behind it, and inside the appliance itself. Sadly, ferrets have been known to crawl into the back of a refrigerator, fall asleep, and get seriously injured when the nearby fan turns on. We recommend you block off all access to your refrigerator.

Underneath Your Oven: Ferrets can also easily fit under the oven. This is something we have experienced on several occasions. If you are not careful, your ferret can burn themselves on the pilot light. Also, if you do not realize your ferret is in the oven, you could turn it on. We lowered the front feet of our stove to their shortest height possible (about ¼ inch above the ground) to close the gap. ALWAYS locate your ferret(s) before you turn on your oven. It’s not worth the risk.

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Fiberglass Insulation: This material is often used as insulation for ovens and dishwashers. If a ferret gains access to the inside of an appliance and ingests fiberglass, they could die from an impaction. Make sure there are no access holes on your appliances that your ferret could slip into.

Dishwashers: Ferrets are curious to a fault. Whenever we open our dishwasher to place dirty dishes or empty clean ones, our ferrets are always jumping to get inside. Unfortunately, we know of horrible situations where an owner didn’t notice their ferret climb inside -they closed the dishwasher, started it, and their ferret drowned. It’s so incredibly sad but it happens. The best thing you can do is locate your ferret before using your dishwasher to guarantee they are out of harms way.

Ferret Proof Your Cleaning Supplies

Just like toddlers and household pets, your ferret will be drawn to investigate strange substances under the kitchen sink. In order to keep your ferret safe, relocate all cleaning products (including basic soaps, rubber gloves and sponges!) to somewhere out of reach. You can also buy magnetic child locks to keep your ferret out of dangerous cabinets.

Ferret Proof Your Trash

Trash Bags and Trash Cans: Ferrets like to fall asleep in the strangest places. More than once, we have heard of a ferret falling asleep in a trash bag and almost getting thrown away. Can you imagine? Never leave full trash bags out in the open and make sure to invest in a locking trash can. Before taking out the trash, locate your ferret.

Ferret Proof Your Cabinets

Toe Kicks: One of the most common places in the kitchen for a ferret to discover is the ‘toe kick’ under the kitchen cabinets. Often, there are holes underneath left by contractors that are perfectly ferret-sized! These holes lead to spaces between the cabinets that you cannot access. You will need to cover these openings securely before your ferret finds them first.

Kitchen Drawers: If you do not install locks on your kitchen cabinets, your ferret will figure out a way to climb into drawers. It is important that these drawers do not contain sharp objects or poisonous substances.

We had to relocate our knife drawer when our oldest ferret kept climbing inside there to sleep!

Do you know the biggest dangers hiding in your bathroom? Check out How to Ferret Proof Your Bathroom.

Do you have any other suggestions for how to make your kitchen ferret proof? Leave a comment below!