As your ferret ages
there are a few things you can do to help them gain comfort in their elderly
years. Unfortunately, ferrets life spans are much shorter than ours, as humans,
and if you adopt a ferret it’s very likely that you will see them well into
their old age. Making them comfortable as they get older can help them live out
their life in the healthiest and happiest way possible. Here are a few ways you
can help an elderly ferret stay comfy in their old age.
One level cage
Most ferrets will lose strength in their legs and develop an inadequate balance as they get older, which means they can no longer climb to different stories in a multi-level cage. When you begin noticing that your ferret struggles to get to a second story of their cage, it’s a good idea to transition them to a one level cage. This prevents them from falling and accidentally hurting themselves, or having to struggle to get to where they want to go.
Comfy blankets
Comfy blankets should be a staple in any ferrets cage, but as they get older it’s even more important to provide your ferret with some fluffy comfy things to snuggle into. The more plush and thick the blanket, the more cushion it will provide for your older ferrets bones and joints.
A kitty heat pad or terrarium heater
As ferrets get older then tend to lose body heat quicker. If you notice your ferret is always sleeping tightly curled into a ball, it may mean that they are struggling to stay warm. You can provide your ferret with a kitty heating pad, or attach a terrarium heater to the bottom of their cage. This is a simple and easy way to help your ferret safely stay warm.
Shallow food bowls
Deep food bowls are great for preventing messes, but aren’t ideal for older ferrets. You want your older ferret to easily be able to access food, even if they are very weak. A very shallow tupperware bowl, or even a dessert plate are great ways to feed your ferret because they do not require your ferret to stand all the way upright in order to eat.
Shallow water bowls or low-hanging water bottle
Just as with the food dishes, you want water to also be easily accessible to your ferret. Using a very shallow water bowl or a low-hanging water bottle are ideal ways to make sure your ferret can reach water as they need to. If you do use a water bottle, you should also have a water dish available which will be easier for them to access.
High calorie supplements
As your ferret gets older they will begin to naturally lose weight and eat less. It’s really important that you offer high calorie supplements to your ferrets as they age to help them maintain their weight. You can purchase these supplements at most pet stores.
High fat and protein food
Another thing to focus a lot of energy on as your ferret ages is getting them on a very high protein and high fat diet. Not all ferret foods are created equal and many are not very high in protein or fat. In fact, many commercial cat foods (such as Diamond Naturals) are a better alternative because they are very high in protein and fat.
Flat litter box area
Climbing in and out of a high-sided litter box can be difficult for an elderly ferret. You can make it easier for them to neatly use the bathroom by getting them a very low-sided litter box. Large shallow tupperware containers work very well for this purpose, but low-sided litter boxes can also be found at any pet stores.
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One level cage
Most ferrets will lose strength in their legs and develop an inadequate balance as they get older, which means they can no longer climb to different stories in a multi-level cage. When you begin noticing that your ferret struggles to get to a second story of their cage, it’s a good idea to transition them to a one level cage. This prevents them from falling and accidentally hurting themselves, or having to struggle to get to where they want to go.
Comfy blankets
Comfy blankets should be a staple in any ferrets cage, but as they get older it’s even more important to provide your ferret with some fluffy comfy things to snuggle into. The more plush and thick the blanket, the more cushion it will provide for your older ferrets bones and joints.
A kitty heat pad or terrarium heater
As ferrets get older then tend to lose body heat quicker. If you notice your ferret is always sleeping tightly curled into a ball, it may mean that they are struggling to stay warm. You can provide your ferret with a kitty heating pad, or attach a terrarium heater to the bottom of their cage. This is a simple and easy way to help your ferret safely stay warm.
Shallow food bowls
Deep food bowls are great for preventing messes, but aren’t ideal for older ferrets. You want your older ferret to easily be able to access food, even if they are very weak. A very shallow tupperware bowl, or even a dessert plate are great ways to feed your ferret because they do not require your ferret to stand all the way upright in order to eat.
Shallow water bowls or low-hanging water bottle
Just as with the food dishes, you want water to also be easily accessible to your ferret. Using a very shallow water bowl or a low-hanging water bottle are ideal ways to make sure your ferret can reach water as they need to. If you do use a water bottle, you should also have a water dish available which will be easier for them to access.
High calorie supplements
As your ferret gets older they will begin to naturally lose weight and eat less. It’s really important that you offer high calorie supplements to your ferrets as they age to help them maintain their weight. You can purchase these supplements at most pet stores.
High fat and protein food
Another thing to focus a lot of energy on as your ferret ages is getting them on a very high protein and high fat diet. Not all ferret foods are created equal and many are not very high in protein or fat. In fact, many commercial cat foods (such as Diamond Naturals) are a better alternative because they are very high in protein and fat.
Flat litter box area
Climbing in and out of a high-sided litter box can be difficult for an elderly ferret. You can make it easier for them to neatly use the bathroom by getting them a very low-sided litter box. Large shallow tupperware containers work very well for this purpose, but low-sided litter boxes can also be found at any pet stores.
