Do You Need a Ferret Hammock?
Ferrets love sleeping. Adult ferrets sleep on average 18-20 hours a day. They also love to hide in soft dark places. A ferret should have a comfortable area to sleep and hide in. When we sleep, if it is cold in the room we use a heavy blanket, if the room is hot we use a light blanket. This helps us to regulate our body temperature so we are comfortable.
The same is true for ferrets. Therefore, a ferret should have two bed types in their cage to choose from. This way they can sleep in the place more comfortable for them. Ferrets beds are necessary for healthy sleeping patterns. Your ferret will not live a healthy life if it is not comfortable while sleeping.
One choice for a ferret bed is a sleep sack, also called a nap sack, that provides extra warmth. Sleep sacks lie on the ground of the cage. It has an opening for the ferret to crawl into, and some sleep sacks are open at both ends. The ferret is surrounded by warmed air when it is in the sleep sack.
A hammock is another bed choice. A hammock provides a pocketed space that is suspended in mid-air which has a partially open space with walled security. Since a ferret is sensitive to heat the hammock provides an open space that can be utilized for cooling comfort. Fleece hammocks come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Some are lined, others are not.
Ferrets love snuggling together while sleeping, so some hammocks are bigger to sleep multiple ferrets at the same time. Some hammocks are boot-shaped, some are flat-looking, and some have a zipper in front to allow adjustment of the opening. Hammocks have more room for a ferret to make use of. Hammocks can provide additional safety; they can be stepped to help the ferret access the higher levels of the cage, and prevent long falls
It is important to prevent the spread of disease by making sure that the hammock or sleep sack you buy is machine washable. Tightly woven and heavier fabrics are safer and more durable. If a hammock or sleep sock begins to fray or the seams separate, you should remove it from the cage.
Once a sleep sack or hammock is damaged it becomes a hazard to the ferret. When buying a hammock be sure the metal parts included are safe for your ferret. If the hammock comes without hardware, make sure any hardware used will not harm your ferret.
It is a great idea to purchase a hammock for your ferret, because hammocks provide a safer environment, it puts less pressure on the ferret’s body, it places them in their natural sleeping position, and it gives them a separate area to utilize for play.
