Hides and houses
Shelves and ledges
Foraging and toys
Cage accessories
Kits and bundles
Fairy forest
Spooky mischief
Sweetie stash
Game mode
Forest floor
Castles and cathedrals
What makes a good ferret cage?
A good ferret cage is tall, wide, safe to climb and easy to clean. The American Ferret Association says ferrets should not live in a cage full time, but when nobody is supervising them they need "a large and well-ventilated cage" for their protection. It also says they need at least 4 hours a day out of it, at least 2 of them with people. Choose the cage with that in mind: a safe, roomy bedroom with a play area somewhere else.
Here is what to check before you buy, and why it matters:
| Check | What to look for | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Bar spacing | 2.5 cm (1 in) or less; closer for young kits | Ferrets squeeze through surprisingly small gaps |
| Floor area | As much as you can fit; a Ferret Nation level is 91 x 64 cm (36 x 25 in) | Room for a bed, litter tray and food corner well apart |
| Height | Two or three levels | Ferrets love to climb, and levels add space |
| Floors and ramps | Solid plastic or metal, not bare wire | Wire hurts feet, says the MSD Veterinary Manual |
| Shelves | Set low, with short drops | Burgess warns ferrets see poorly and can fall |
| Doors | Wide, with locking latches | You need to reach every corner to clean daily |
| Base pans | Deep and pull-out | Catches litter and spilled food, and slides out to wash |
For how much space a pair actually needs, and why charities ask for a whole room, see our guide to ferret cage size.
What do ferrets need in their cages?
The American Ferret Association lists soft bedding, safe toys, a water bottle, a food bowl and a litter tray filled with paper or wood pellet litter. The RSPCA adds that the toilet should be separate from where ferrets eat, sleep and play.
- A hammock or sleeping sack, plus a covered bed to burrow into
- A high-backed litter tray clipped or clamped in a corner, as ferrets push them about
- A food bowl that locks onto the bars, so it cannot be tipped
- A water bottle, with a bowl under it for drips; change the water at least every two days
- Fleece bedding in winter, swapped for cooler cotton in summer
- A tube or two and a few toys that cannot be chewed apart
Our guide to ferret cage setup shows what goes on each level, and our picks of ferret hides and hammocks cover the beds.
Big ferret cages compared
These are the large cages we looked at, side by side. Floor area is one level only; shelves add climbing room, not running room.
| Cage | Size (L x W x H) | Bar spacing | Floor per level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferplast Vital 3-Tier 120 | 120 x 60 x 167 cm (47 x 24 x 66 in) | 2.2 cm (7/8 in) | 0.68 m² (7.4 sq ft) |
| Midwest Ferret Nation double | 91 x 64 x 159 cm (36 x 25 x 62.5 in) | 2.5 cm (1 in) | 0.58 m² (6.25 sq ft) |
| Savic Zeno 3 Empire | 100 x 50 x 116 cm (39 x 20 x 46 in) | 0.95 cm (3/8 in) | 0.5 m² (5.4 sq ft) |
| Prevue Feisty Ferret Home 485 | 79 x 51 x 137 cm (31 x 20 x 54 in) | 2.2 cm (7/8 in) | 0.4 m² (4.3 sq ft) |
| Prevue Ferret Stack Two Story | 79 x 51 x 137 cm (31 x 20 x 54 in) | 2.2 cm (7/8 in) | 0.4 m² (4.3 sq ft) |
| TIAKI Villa set | 79 x 52 x 142 cm (31 x 20.5 x 56 in) | 2.3 cm (0.9 in) | 0.41 m² (4.4 sq ft) |
Is the Ferret Nation cage worth it?
For most owners in the US, yes. The American Ferret Association says "many ferret lovers prefer this cage", mainly because it is so easy to clean: the floor pans pull all the way out and the double doors open the full width of the cage. The double unit (Model 182) measures 91 x 64 x 159 cm (36 x 25 x 62.5 in), with 2.5 cm (1 in) bars, and some owners add a third level on top.
Each level has a full-width plastic pan floor, which also catches a ferret that slips off a shelf. The ramps come with grip covers, the door latches lock and open with one hand, and it stands on locking wheels. The single unit (Model 181) has the same footprint at 98 cm (38.5 in) tall, and parts for the newer models do not fit the older 141, 142 and 143 versions, so check the model if you buy second-hand.
The catch in the UK is that it can be hard to find, so we have included two big UK-sold cages in our picks that match or beat its floor space.
The best ferret cages to buy
We don't make pieces for ferrets yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at.
Midwest Ferret Nation double
The classic ferret cage: 91 x 64 x 159 cm (36 x 25 x 62.5 in), two removable base pans, three ramps with grip covers, two shelves and full-width double doors. Suits a pair or trio as a bedroom. Check that you are buying the current model if you plan to add parts later.
Ferplast Vital 3-Tier Small Pet Cage 120
The most floor space of any cage here: three full levels, each about 118 x 58 cm (46 x 23 in) inside, with 2.2 cm (7/8 in) bars and 18 cm (7 in) deep trays that keep litter in. Sold for guinea pigs and rabbits, but the bar spacing suits adult ferrets. Check the doors: the lower two levels have small sliding doors of 25 x 18.5 cm (10 x 7 in), and you need 193 cm (76 in) of headroom to open the top.
Prevue Feisty Ferret Home 485
A sturdier, cheaper alternative to the Ferret Nation, says the American Ferret Association. It is 79 x 51 x 137 cm (31 x 20 x 54 in) with 2.2 cm (7/8 in) bars, four levels, a pull-out tray and two large front doors with escape-proof locks. The top level has a wire floor, so cover it.
Prevue Ferret Stack Two Story
A two-storey cage that grows with you: an add-on unit stacks on top. It is 79 x 51 x 137 cm (31 x 20 x 54 in) with 2.2 cm (7/8 in) bars, a roof door, two plastic platforms, three plastic ramps and a hammock, and a mid-floor door that can split it into two cages for introductions.
Savic Zeno 3 Empire
A long UK-sold cage, 100 x 50 x 116 cm (39 x 20 x 46 in), with very close 0.95 cm (3/8 in) bars, so it suits young kits as well as adults. It has three platforms and two front doors with snap locks. It comes with ladders rather than ramps, so swap them for solid ramps or add fabric covers for a ferret's feet.
TIAKI Villa set
A tall, budget-friendly UK option: the main cage plus add-on stands 79 x 52 x 142 cm (31 x 20.5 x 56 in) on wheels, with two floors, two platforms and 2.3 cm (0.9 in) bars. Listed for ferrets and chinchillas. The levels are linked by ladders, so cover them, and the floor is small for more than two ferrets.
Ferret cages to skip
The American Ferret Association is blunt about small single-level pet shop cages: they are "truly just too small for a ferret to live in". Skip any cage that has:
- Only one level, or a smaller footprint than the cages in our table
- Bars wider than 2.5 cm (1 in)
- Bare wire floors or wire ladders you cannot cover
- Small doors that stop you reaching the corners
- Thin shelves: the American Ferret Association warns that some starter cages' shelves may not hold ferrets over 1.4 kg (3 lb)
- Wooden floors, which soak up urine; VCA prefers plastic
Ferret hutch or large outdoor enclosure?
A hutch can work outdoors, but only as part of a much bigger set-up. Woodgreen's ideal is a converted garden shed with an aviary run, or a large wooden walk-in dog kennel and run, at about 2.4 x 2 x 2 m (8 x 6.5 x 6.5 ft) for a pair. Burgess asks for 3 x 2 x 2 m (10 x 6.5 x 6.5 ft) and wants any hutch raised off the ground with a solid base, and a run whose wire goes into the ground so ferrets cannot dig out.
If you build your own large ferret enclosure, Woodgreen says to use small-gauge welded mesh, not chicken wire, bolts rather than swivel latches, and a double door or a 60 cm (2 ft) barrier inside the entrance. Plan for shade too: ferrets cannot cope with heat, and our ferret temperature guide explains where the danger starts. Our ferret care guide covers the rest.
Ferret cage questions
What are the Ferret Nation cage dimensions?
The Ferret Nation double unit is 91 x 64 x 159 cm (36 x 25 x 62.5 in) with 2.5 cm (1 in) bar spacing, two removable base pans, three ramps and two shelves. The single unit has the same footprint and stands 98 cm (38.5 in) tall. The double is the one most ferret owners choose.
Can ferrets live in a rabbit hutch?
Only a very large one, and only as a bedroom. An ordinary shop hutch is far too small. If you keep ferrets outdoors, Burgess wants a hutch raised off the ground with a solid base and a run whose wire goes into the ground, and Woodgreen prefers a converted shed with an aviary run.
What bar spacing does a ferret cage need?
No wider than 2.5 cm (1 in). That is the spacing on the Ferret Nation, and several ferret cages use slightly closer bars of about 2.2 cm (7/8 in). For young kits, choose closer bars still, as small ferrets can squeeze through gaps an adult cannot.
Are wire floors bad for ferrets?
Yes. Bare wire floors and wire ramps can hurt a ferret's feet, says the MSD Veterinary Manual, so choose solid floors and ramps or cover the wire. The American Ferret Association suggests cutting a clear plastic runner to fit a wire level and covering it with fabric.
What is the minimum cage size for a ferret?
Sources vary. VCA gives a bare minimum of 60 x 60 x 45 cm (24 x 24 x 18 in), the MSD Veterinary Manual asks for 91 x 91 x 61 cm (3 x 3 x 2 ft), and UK charities want a room-sized space for a pair. We would treat a large multi-level cage as the starting point, never a small single-level one.
Where can I find ferret cages for sale in the UK?
Few UK shops sell cages labelled for ferrets, so look at large multi-level rat, chinchilla and small animal cages too, and check the bar spacing and floors yourself. Zooplus carries several that fit the bill, including the Ferplast Vital 3-Tier and the Savic Zeno 3 Empire.
