Ferrets and chinchillas are small mammals that need plenty of daily exercise. Most ferret owners recognize this and give their pets daily playtime outside of their cage. The fact is, however, that most of these animals still spend a large amount of time in their cages when you are at work, sleeping, or out of the house. A large, well designed enclosure is a necessity for any ferret or chinchilla owner.
You can always build your own if you are handy, but when I tried to do that several years ago, I found that it was actually cheaper in the long run to simply buy one of the ready-made cages available.
Some features to look for are sturdy floors and shelves – you don’t want your pet to take an unexpcted fall! Solid floors are also nice since wire mesh can be hard on your pet’s feet. (However you can always add pieces of hardboard or even heavy cardboard). Ladders as well as ramps give your animals a variety of ways to climb. Multi-level ferret homes are better than sprawling ones. Not only do they take up less of a footprint in your home or apartment, but they also give your pet the ability to climb and jump. Chinchillas especially enjoy a lot of jumping. One caveat is that with multi-story cages, falls are possible. For that reason you will want to get extra shelves or use hammocks to make your cage safer. the hammocks and shelves will break a fall and give your pet enough time to regain its balance.
Cleaning is also a big concern with any cage, so look for either a built in litter tray or with a door large enough to insert your own litter box. Black wire cages tend to be the best material for hiding some of the mess your ferret can make, but still be sure to wipe it down from the inside occasionally (while you are giving your pet some out-of-cage time).
Unless you let your ferret or chinchilla roam free in your house all day long (who could afford the cleanup!) you need to have some kind of enclosure that is large enough and high enough to give your furry friends the exercise they need and also to keep them from becoming bored or depressed.
The ferret cage that I settled on was the Marshall Ferret Mansion. It has almost all the features I was looking for, plus it has a removable (but locking) try at the bottom to make cleaning much easier. Although the list price is over $200, I found mine under $180. Whether you get this one or some other ferret cage, be sure to get the biggest one you can afford and have space for. Your ferret or chinchilla will love you for it!
