Ferrets are funny, energetic and funny animals that will not leave anyone indifferent. They are great as pets, as they have a good disposition and can be very attached to a person. In addition, ferrets are very cute and beautiful animals. However, before deciding to purchase this animal, it is necessary to find out everything about its home maintenance, care and feeding.
Why do people choose ferrets?
When deciding to purchase a pet, many choose between a dog, cat or ferret. All these pets are very friendly, love to play and as often as possible to contact their master. Small rodents and rabbits will never treat all family members as warmly as ferrets or dogs. Cats prefer a more secluded lifestyle. Dogs need constant attention and walking, and the modern rhythm of life rarely gives the opportunity to perform these duties in an adequate manner.
Therefore, the choice of many people is quite obvious. Making a ferret is the best idea for those who have a modest living space, but dream of a fun and energetic little friend. In addition to the good nature, ferrets have another important plus - during the absence of the owner, the animal will not be very bored, as it will sleep. Considering how many ferrets sleep, we can conclude that this animal will become the best pet for a busy person.
Ferret sleep duration
These cute little animals love to relax. Thinking about how many hours a ferret sleeps, one should remember that in this they surpass even cats. This process takes about 18 hours a day. The remaining 6 hours they prefer to play and have fun. Most often, the peak of their activity occurs in the evening, just when all family members return home.
All owners of domestic ferrets note that sleep can destroy these fluffy tomboys even on the go. A sleeping ferret can be seen in the gap between the sofa and the wall, under the table or on the floor of the room. This interesting fact makes animals even more cute and attractive. Before reaching the intended goal, the animal can fall asleep with half-open eyes and a loose tongue.
Each owner of a little friend should know how many ferrets sleep. With this information, you can immediately notice changes in the health of the animal. The sick ferret sleeps a lot, occasionally waking up to drink water or eat a little. In this case, you must immediately take the pet to the veterinary clinic, so that the doctor determines the cause of too sleepy state.
Features of keeping at home
Ferrets feel great both in a city apartment and in a private house. They do not need a lot of space or any special living conditions. Nevertheless, each responsible owner, worrying about the health of a little friend, must observe the following precautions:
- All slots and small openings in the room must be closed. Therefore, before launching the ferret into the house, you need to carefully examine all the furniture, household appliances, as well as the floors. The animal shows great interest in all the cracks and can easily get stuck there or get hurt. In addition, the ferret is constantly sleeping and may be lost behind a sofa or bed for a long time.
- They really like to stock up on goodies, as well as hide toys. Therefore, you need to separate for them the most secluded corner in the room. It should be separate from the cage and tray. Other places that may serve as a cache must be closed. Following this recommendation, you can save all family members from the eternal search for food hidden by the beast.
- When releasing a ferret for a walk around the apartment, make sure that the doors to the kitchen and bathroom are locked. Otherwise, the ferret can get there and arrange a strong pogrom in the cabinets. Having penetrated the bathroom, he can not only swallow shampoo or shower gel, but also arrange a real flood, opening all the taps.
- Flowers and other plants should be kept out of reach of the ferret. By nature, he cannot resist digging in the ground. Therefore, it is better to protect domestic vegetation.
What should be a ferret cage
Although the animal can live in an apartment or house in a free way, the cage is still a necessity. Especially when you consider how many ferrets sleep. Moreover, leaving a ferret alone is not safe. Without a cage, a permanent mess in the room can not be avoided. Even the safest room contains sockets, electrical appliances, sharp corners and other dangerous things for the animal. Therefore, the ferret should have its own cage.
The ideal choice is a large, tall and spacious house that will accommodate a tray, bowls for food and drink, as well as bedding for sleeping. In addition to the necessary items, a hammock can be hung in a cage. The animals just love to ride on it.
Ferret feeding
The nutrition of these energetic animals must be taken seriously. Despite the cute appearance, they are still predators. Therefore, their diet should always contain meat. The daily ferret menu includes:
- Special dry food.
- Fresh raw meat.
- Porridge mixed with pieces of meat.
- Fruits and vegetables (except potatoes, citrus and bitter vegetables).
Knowing how much the ferret sleeps per day, you need to correctly distribute meals, adjusting them to the period of wakefulness. Ferrets at a young age need to be fed at least 3 times a day, adult animals - 2 times, and small animals - 4 times. Ferrets should not be spicy, salty, sweet, fried, or smoked. Every day you should change the water in a bowl.
Ferret breeding
Not every owner will cope with the breeding of these animals. Therefore, if it is not planned, it is better to castrate or sterilize ferrets. Mature animals can breed up to two times a year. The race lasts from May to September. Males during these periods intensively mark the territory. Therefore, the room where the ferret lives will invariably emit an unpleasant odor. Females begin to get nervous and become very aggressive.
If nevertheless it was decided to breed these animals, it is necessary to select a pair of the same color. Ferrets are ready for breeding at the age of 5-7 months. Each owner of this animal should be prepared for the fact that the mating process in animals is very noisy and aggressive. The couple will constantly fight, scream and scream. Pregnancy itself continues in females up to 45 days. During this period, the animal needs to be fed twice as much, and also take care of creating an additional secluded place where the female can safely give birth.
Ferret Care Features
Thinking about why ferrets sleep soundly, one should not forget that their activity during wakefulness exceeds the energy of many other animals. That is why by sound sleep their body compensates for the energy spent.
Choosing this animal as a pet, many are surprised that caring for these animals is not so difficult. It is enough to adhere to the following recommendations:
- Clean the tray every day.
- Change the litter in the cage once a week.
- Every 2 weeks, cut the ferret claws with a special clipper with a limiter.
- Once every 2-3 weeks you need to clean the ears of the animals with a cotton swab. It is better to carry out the procedure during their sleep. Given how many ferrets sleep, this can be done at any convenient time.
- Once a month you need to bathe your pet with a special shampoo.
The ferret care features end there. The animal is quite unpretentious and does not require huge financial investments. All he needs is delicious food, water, a tray and a host who will play with him most of his wakefulness.