Choosing the right hutch or cage for your ferret

Your ferret's cage is his home, sweet, home – and it's up to you to make sure it is as comfortable and clean, spacious and sturdy as possible. A well-made, multi-level cage can be expensive, but it's one of the most important investments you'll make for your pet.

Ferret cages should have plenty of room for play

Always buy the largest, most well-constructed cage you can afford. There should be enough room in the enclosure for your ferret to play and sleep, with ample space for a litter box, toys and food dishes. A typical cage for a single ferret should be at least 3 feet wide, 2 feet high and 2 feet from front to back; if you've got a multi-ferret household, get a larger one. Most experts recommend a cage of sturdy vinyl-coated wire; many of these have multi-levels that are great for their inquisitive, active inhabitants. Do make sure the enclosure you opt for has a door you can fasten securely or your master escape artist will definitely escape!

Avoid cages made of wood, which will readily soak up urine and other liquids, and glass aquariums, which do not provide adequate ventilation.

Selecting the right spot for your ferret cage

Ready to set up your pet's digs? Location is everything. Select a cozy place that's relatively quiet but not too far away from the action in the home. Avoid drafts and basements, and take care that the cage is not in direct sunlight. Super-sensitive ferrets can suffer from heatstroke or heat exhaustion if kept in a sunny, hot location. It's also smart to place the cage about half a foot away from the wall – you'll be glad you did when it comes to cleaning time!

Once you've found a prime location, you'll need to make your ferret's house feel like a home. If the cage has a wire bottom, cover as much surface area as possible with linoleum squares, a cloth pad, or pieces of carpeting – and never use wood shavings, please. For your little guy's bedroom, you can buy a small cat bed, line a box or basket with old t-shirt, and cover the floor with old towels, pillowcases or other comfy bedding. You can even snip the legs off an old pair of jeans to make a fun ferret sleeping bag.

Ferret hutch and food placement

The food dishes should be as sturdy and possible. Ferrets love to throw and dig their food out of the bowl; unfortunately, this is normal behavior. Weighted, heavy ceramic bowls may work, but most experienced caretakers find that attachable bowls are the way to go. Same for the water bottle, but just make sure it's easily reachable and can be mounted on the outside of the cage. You'll also need a litter box – or two, depending on the size of the cage and number of ferrets.

To be a good ferret housekeeper, you'll need to wash your pet's bedding once a week, and scoop out waste from the litter box as often as you need. You should dump the litter and wash the box at least every week, but you'll probably need to wipe the sides (ferrets don't have the best aim) on a more frequent basis. If you have a backyard or other area where you can hose the entire cage down at least once a month, that's great. If not, you'll need to regularly remove particles of food and litter from the cage floor, remove all gunk from the sides of the cage and wipe the surfaces with a safe disinfectant. Just make sure everything's dry before your ferret returns to his castle.