Ferret toys are absolutely essential for these incredibly curious pets. Because ferrets are energetic and very smart, they become bored easily. Boredom can lead to destructive behavior and bad habits. To prevent this, you’ll want to provide a number of good toys.
Toy Safety
When looking for a ferret toy among pet accessories at the store, steer clear of anything that may break into pieces. A broken piece of a toy can get stuck in a ferret’s mouth, or kill your pet if swallowed, so soft rubber toys or anything that can be chewed apart is dangerous. Some cat toys, such as plastic or hard rubber balls with bells inside, are okay for ferrets, but be careful if the plastic is very thin and might shatter if your pet bites down too hard. Squeaky toys are a lot of fun for ferrets, but if your pet starts to tear it apart, get rid of the toy.
Cheap Ferret Toys
A great ferret toy doesn’t have to be expensive. In fact, many of the best toys can be made quickly, for very little money. Paper bags can provide hours of chasing and hiding fun, as well as being a place for a nap when your pet wears itself out. Golf balls can stand up to ferret teeth and are large enough to not get stuck in their mouths. To entertain a group of ferrets, try attaching several cardboard boxes together, with door-holes cut in different sides. Just make sure none of your pets are inclined to eat the cardboard.
Tunnels
Tunnels of any kind are the ultimate in ferret toy technology. Just about anything large enough for a ferret to crawl through will make a good tunnel, including lengths of dryer hose, concrete form tubes, or the plastic drain tubes for landscaping. If you can find a clear tube, it’s easier to enjoy watching your pet play. With a long tunnel, add to your ferret’s fun by draping the tube over or under furniture to create different levels of fun.
Digging Boxes
Ferrets love to dig, so a wonderful ferret toy is a digging box. Get a large box, a small children’s wading pool or some other container, fill it with sand, set it on a tarp or hard floor that’s easily swept up, then watch the fun.
You will probably develop quite a collection of ferret toys as you go along. One way to keep your pet entertained without constantly buying or creating new toys is to put some of its playthings away for a month or so. By the time you bring these old toys back out, your ferret will have forgotten about them. It will be like getting a bunch of new toys without any expense or effort!
Other Ferret Articles
