Ferret Hammocks
Ferrets are chock full of energy, running around 24/7, right? Well, that’s not actually how it is. If you have a ferret you may have noticed that he or she sleeps… a lot! On average, ferrets will sleep 18-20 hours per day or roughly 3/4ths of their life.
If you were going to spend that much of your life sleeping, wouldn’t you want to have a comfortable bed? I know I would. In fact, as is, many of us toss and turn if our bed is uncomfortable, not feeling refreshed upon waking and low on energy. The same will hold true if your ferret finds his or her sleeping arrangements unpleasant. You have a broad spectrum of choices in bedding for your ferret, but today we’re going to discuss ferret hammocks.
Have you ever noticed that a hammock has roughly the same shape as the body of your ferret? That makes it a rather perfect device for them to curl up in and catch some z’s. The hammock wraps around their body, cutting off most of the light (they are always looking for dark places to sleep), giving the feeling of safety, and still allowing them some cool air. Additionally, it places them in their natural sleeping position. The fleece ferret hammock is most common because of its softness.
They also find ferret hammocks fun to play in, so you should be careful how you hang it up if you’re getting one. If your ferret hammock is too close to the edge of the cage he or she may get hurt swinging in it. Also be sure to conduct proper maintenance on it as they will get dirty or worn out. I’d recommend throwing the hammock in the wash whenever you do your own clothes (about weekly or biweekly hopefully). From time to time also take a look at the material to make sure it isn’t beginning to fray and the seems aren’t separating. If either of these occur, it becomes a hazard to your ferret’s sleep/play.
Ferret hammocks run on average between $5 and $20. You can make your own, if you’re good with that sort of thing, but make sure that two things are satisfied-safety and comfort. If your ferret isn’t sleeping well it may compromise the quality or length of his or her life. Normally you’ll be able to tell just by looking if your ferret is happy with it or not.
