Here's a quick checklist to help you choose a suitable cage for your fuzzies!
- At least 2ft by 2ft by 3ft
- No wire floors or shelves
- Large doors that a litter box can easily fit through
- Lots of space/hooks to hang hammocks and beds
- Lots of floor space for playing
- Ferret-proof doors
- Sturdy construction
- Bonus! Wheels for easy movement
For fun, here's a comparison of some common ferret cages.
Ferret Nation
Pros
-secure locking doors that open up completely
-lots of places to hang hammocks
-full second level
-shelves are redesigned so as not to catch feet
-can be split into 2 cages
-can easily add on a 3rd level, or even 2 doubles side-by-side
-has option to move shelves to different height
-has wheels and a storage shelf
Cons
-heavy
-can be tricky to put together
- in my experience, the 182 (new) model isn't as sturdy as the 142, it kind of wobbles when you wheel it.
Marshall Mansion
Pros
-Large size
-lots of places to hang hammocks
-easy to put together, I did it myself in about 30 minutes
-Folds up for storage
-plastic pan in bottom is removeable
-has wheels
Cons:
-wire mesh shelves and ramps- very unsafe for ferret toes
-the shelves are small, not much room except to climb to the next shelf
-can't really change the position of the shelves too much
-with the shelves in the "proper" (as stated in the directions) places, the ramps are quite steep.
-since the shelves are small, and the cage is tall, a ferret could fall straight from the top all the way down
-the doors aren't very sturdy, they operate with a bar that slides over a drop down door, I feel like a ferret could figure out how to open it.
Pros
-Large size
-lots of places to hang hammocks
-easy to put together, I did it myself in about 30 minutes
-Folds up for storage
-plastic pan in bottom is removeable
-has wheels
Cons:
-wire mesh shelves and ramps- very unsafe for ferret toes
-the shelves are small, not much room except to climb to the next shelf
-can't really change the position of the shelves too much
-with the shelves in the "proper" (as stated in the directions) places, the ramps are quite steep.
-since the shelves are small, and the cage is tall, a ferret could fall straight from the top all the way down
-the doors aren't very sturdy, they operate with a bar that slides over a drop down door, I feel like a ferret could figure out how to open it.
Feisty Ferret
Pros
-large size
-plenty of room to hang hammocks
-secure bars
-plastic pan in bottom is removable
-has wheels and storage shelf
Cons:
-the second floor is wire mesh, unsafe for ferret feet.
-the hole for the ramp is in the middle, which limits moving room
-shelves are small, only good for going from level to level
-only one side opens up
-the latch is a simple bar latch, which a clever ferret may be able to open
Pros
-large size
-plenty of room to hang hammocks
-secure bars
-plastic pan in bottom is removable
-has wheels and storage shelf
Cons:
-the second floor is wire mesh, unsafe for ferret feet.
-the hole for the ramp is in the middle, which limits moving room
-shelves are small, only good for going from level to level
-only one side opens up
-the latch is a simple bar latch, which a clever ferret may be able to open