Five Easy Steps to Keeping a Clean Ferret Cage

Ferrets can sometimes be a constant 3 year old child that never knows how to keep a food bowl standing upright or a blanket clean. It's what makes them loveable, but it's also what makes their home so unbelievably difficult to keep sanitized. Here are a few quick tips to follow that will help make the cleaning process a bit easier.

Photo credit to the Ferret Rescue Society of Ottawa. 

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Change Food and Water Every Day: This one seems like a no brainer. But by changing the water you prevent food bits from rotting in it. And by changing the food (even uneaten food) you prevent the chances for molding and stinking.

Remove Wet Bedding: Remove any wet bedding from the bottom of your ferrets cage. This can avoid mold and rot. Wet bedding also has a tendency to soak up that 'musky' ferret smell and cause your cage to smell worse. So by quickly removing spills- you also remove potential odor.

Change Litter Every Other Day: Some people choose to change their ferret litter once or twice a week. We suggest every other day. Ferrets have to live beside their bathroom- unlike cats that can visit it as they please. So it's really important that it's changed regurally. Not only will this prevent messes from spilling out, but it will keep your ferret cleaner.

Clean Blankets Weekly: Throw your ferret blankets into the wash weekly. This helps keep the musky smell from becoming a permanent part of your ferrets habitat. We suggest using an eco-friendly detergent (7th Generation and hypoallergenic brands work well). It's quick and easy, just throw them in with your clothes, pull them out and set them back in the cage when you're finished- no folding required.

Wash Food and Water Bowls Weekly: Simply dip your food and water bowls into some boiling water and whipe them off with a wash cloth. No need to use soap, but simply boiling them will keep germs down and help keep your food and water fresh much longer than dirty bowls would.

Ferret All Meat Diet Q & A

Feeding ferrets really isn't that hard. For the most part they are meat eaters- and meat eaters they should be. But to ensure you always 'hit the spot' with your little ferret's meals, here are a few tips to help you keep them eating healthy.

Photo credit to the Fuzzy Dozen Ferret Rescue.

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Can I feed my ferret raw meat? Absolutely! In fact we highly recommend it. Any store bought fresh or frozen meat is perfectly okay to feed your ferret raw. On the other hand, wild game should be cooked to kill any worms or bacteria that that animal may have been carrying.

How should I cook my ferret's meats? You can cook the meats anywhere between rare and well-done. A quick way is to bring water to a boil, add a few chunks of your chosen meat to the pan, and then boil for two minutes to sterilize. You can also cook them in a pan with light vegetable oil, or in the oven. Make sure the meat is completely cooled before feeding it to your ferret. Also squeeze out any excess fat or water from the meats- this makes them a bit easier for ferrets to digest.

How should I cook eggs for my ferret? You can pretty much cook them however you like. Do not use salt, and if you need to use butter use a very light amount. Poached eggs and soft boiled are the healthiest and seem to be a big hit.

Where can I find affordable fish scraps? Visit your local grocer's seafood section and ask if they have any scraps (heads, tails, bones, etc) that they would be willing to sell. Most would be happy to give it away or sell it for a great steal. And yes- ferrets love fish scraps, including the heads (just simply boil the scraps, heads, and fins, in a pan for 15 to 20 minutes and let cool).

Where can I find affordable wild game scraps? You can look in your local newspaper or online for trappers or hunters in your area. Some will put ads selling things like beaver meat, raccoon meat, and lynx meat. You can also put an ad in your newspaper calling all trappers or hunters. You could buy the 'trapped meats' or ask if anyone has deer, moose, or waterfowl scraps they would like to get rid of. If you live anywhere near the country you'll probably get a few calls.

Where can I find affordable farm scraps? Contact a few local farmers in your area. And this may seem a bit sad, but ask if they will sell any of their still-birth or baby animals that passed away. Most farmers would be happy to sell them very cheap instead of waste them, and as long as they are fresh (no less than 48 hours old) you can take them to a game processor and have them butcher it for you- or if you're talented you could do it yourself.

Tips And Tricks For Feeding Your Ferret Meat

Feeding your ferret a meat-based diet can be extremely rewarding. Not only is it nutritious and healthy for your pet, it also allows your ferret to have the mental stimulation of different tastes and textures in their diet. Here are a few simple tips to encourage your ferret to enjoy all kinds of meat-based foods.

Photo credit to the Ferret Rescue Society of Ottawa. 

Click their name to learn more about this great rescue!

Cut it into small slices: Cut or tear apart meat into small pieces so your ferret doesn't overeat and possibly choke on the large pieces. Serve pieces that are no larger than your thumb to avoid possible choking. Softer meats like chicken and turkey are okay to serve in bigger pieces. But tough meats like beef steak should be served in pieces about the size of your thumbnail.

Dry it out: All-natural, unseasoned jerky is a great way to feed meat. Not only does it remove any chances of bacterial growth, it can help kill worms and contaminants that wild game holds. The tough texture makes a great snack for ferrets too. It will keep them busy gnawing for hours!

Avoid super fatty pieces: Don't feed your ferret pieces of meat that have a lot of fat. Remove the fat from ham, steak, and lamb pieces before serving. Lots of fat can upset their stomach and leave them in the litter box for a few hours- which isn't fun for anyone.

Freeze it: In the summertime feed your ferret bits of frozen meat! It's a creative way to help keep them cool and to give them a different sort of texture to try and chew on.

Remove oils and water: Once you've finished cooking your meat, take your hand and squeeze out any oils and water left in the meat. This will help your ferret digest it a bit easier. Things like salmon and fatty pieces of meat should have extra precautions taken to make sure as much oil as possible is removed.