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
Do ferrets need a hide or a house in their cage?
Yes. The RSPCA says ferrets need a secure, safe resting place and sleep or rest for up to 20 hours a day, and it lists an old T-shirt, a hammock or a sleeping box as options. VCA describes the ideal as a dark, enclosed sleeping area, such as a hammock on an upper level, a towel, a blanket, a cloth bag or a ferret tent.
Hides are about more than sleep. The RSPCA lists tunnels and closed hammocks as hiding places, and RSPCA Australia adds tubes, pipes and a hiding hut. Ferrets also like to stash things, so a good hide often becomes a store for stolen socks and toys.
How to choose a ferret hide
Pick the hide your ferret will actually use, and that you can clean. The American Ferret Association suggests trying several styles, shapes and sizes in the cage to see which your ferrets prefer. Here is what to look at:
| Type | Good for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Hanging sleep sack | Ferrets that like to burrow and hide | Strong clips, no loose threads, washable |
| Open hammock | Lounging and sleeping in a pile | Holds the weight of all your ferrets; hang it low |
| Floor bed or bolster bed | Older or less agile ferrets | No loose stuffing; clamp it so it is not tipped |
| Hard plastic house | A dark den on a shelf or floor | Big enough to turn round in; no chewed edges |
| Fabric or plastic tunnel | Hiding, play and short naps | Wide enough that a big ferret cannot get stuck |
- Soft and enclosed, so the ferret can burrow out of sight
- Washable, or easy to wipe clean
- No rubber, foam or soft plastic parts
- No loose stuffing, frayed threads or holes a head could get stuck in
- Clips that fix firmly to the bars, not string ties
- Hung low, as ferrets see poorly and can fall
Burgess warns that shelves and platforms set too high are a fall risk, so hang hammocks and sacks where a slip only means a short drop. For the full layout, see our guide to ferret cage setup.
How many hides does a ferret need?
Fleece or cotton: what should ferret beds be made of?
Both, depending on the season. The American Ferret Association says fleece sleepers are a ferret favourite, especially in winter, and suggests switching to cooler cotton in summer. Woodgreen recommends soft fleece blankets, old towels or old jumpers. Burgess suggests fleece blankets and a nesting box with dust-free bedding.
The MSD Veterinary Manual adds one caution: fabric must not unravel or be eaten. Fleece is good here, because it does not fray. Our ferret bedding guide covers what goes on the cage floor and what to avoid. In hot weather, the right bed matters more than you might think, as our ferret temperature guide explains.
DIY ferret hides that cost nothing
Some of the best ferret hides come from around the house. These ideas come from Woodgreen and the American Ferret Association:
- A cardboard box with a fleece blanket or an old jumper inside
- A cardboard box full of old socks to snuggle into
- A large paper sack filled with shredded paper, which they love for the rustle
- A hammock cut from an old bed sheet or jumper
- A cat or dog bed lined with fleece
- A car tyre filled with blankets or shredded paper, for a big ferret room
Check boxes for staples and sticky tape first, as the American Ferret Association advises, and replace them once they are soggy or chewed. For more homemade ideas, see our guide to ferret toys and playpens.
The best ferret hides and houses to buy
We don't make pieces for ferrets yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at.
Marshall Hanging Nap Sack
A fleece sleep sack, 39 x 33 cm (15.5 x 13 in), with a covered hiding pocket. It clips onto the cage with adjustable straps. A good first buy for a ferret that likes to burrow out of sight.
Marshall Fleece Leisure Lounge
A large open fleece hammock, 41 x 56 cm (16 x 22 in), that holds up to three adult ferrets. Best for groups that sleep in a pile. It is open on top, so pair it with a covered bed.
Marshall 2-in-1 Ferret Bed
A fleece bed for one or two ferrets that clips to the cage or sits on the floor. Useful for older ferrets that find climbing into hanging beds harder.
Marshall Ferret Banana Hammock
A soft fleece hangout that clips to most cages and fits more than one ferret. A cosier, curved alternative to a flat hammock. Check the clips every week.
Hammock Relax de Luxe Fake Fur
An enclosed, washable hanging bed sold in the UK for rats and ferrets. At 33 x 17 x 14 cm (13 x 7 x 5.5 in) it is small, so it suits one small ferret or a kit; measure your ferret first.
Savic Sputnik XL House
A hard plastic den, 29 x 26 x 19 cm (11.5 x 10 x 7.5 in), that hangs from the cage roof or sits on the floor, and comes apart for cleaning. Listed for small ferrets, so it suits jills and kits better than big hobs. Line it with fleece.
SnuggleSafe Bunny Warren
A flexible tunnel, 21 cm (8 in) across and up to 76 cm (30 in) long, sold for rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets. Ferrets use it to hide and nap in as well as to run through. Washable and fine indoors or out.
Keeping ferret hides clean
Burgess says to wash fleece bedding every week and to remove, wash and change all bedding and hammocks once a month. Ferrets hide food, so shake out every bed daily for stashed scraps. Our guide to cleaning a ferret cage has the full routine, and our ferret care guide covers everything else a ferret needs. If you are still choosing the cage itself, start with the best ferret cages.
Ferret hide questions
Do ferrets need a hide in their cage?
Yes. The RSPCA says ferrets need a secure, safe place to rest, and they sleep or rest for up to 20 hours a day. Ferrets like to sleep somewhere dark and enclosed, so give at least one covered bed per ferret, such as a sleep sack, closed hammock or fleece-lined box.
Can ferrets sleep in a cat bed?
Yes. Woodgreen suggests cat and dog beds lined with fleece, old towels or old jumpers, and the American Ferret Association says many ferrets like a bolster-style bed with a small blanket inside to hide under. Choose one with no loose stuffing that a ferret could pull out and swallow.
Are plastic hides safe for ferrets?
Hard plastic hides are fine for most ferrets, and the American Ferret Association recommends hard plastic toys over soft ones. Avoid anything soft, rubbery or foam, which ferrets chew and can swallow, causing a blockage. Check plastic hides for chewed edges each week and throw out any that are damaged.
How often should I wash ferret beds?
Wash fleece beds, sleep sacks and hammocks every week, says Burgess, and give all bedding and hammocks a full wash and change once a month. Keep a second set so the cage is never bare while one set is drying, and use an unscented detergent.
What is a ferret house?
It can mean two things. A ferret house is a covered bed or hide that goes inside the cage, which this page covers. It can also mean the whole home, such as a shed with a run or a ferret room, which our guide to the best ferret cages covers.
Can I use an old T-shirt as a ferret bed?
Yes. The RSPCA lists an old T-shirt alongside hammocks and sleeping boxes, and VCA suggests T-shirts, towels, blankets and cloth bags. Cut off any loose threads, check for holes a ferret could get its head stuck in, and replace it when it starts to fray.
Sources
- RSPCA: Ferrets, company
- RSPCA: Ferret environment
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Ferrets, housing
- Woodgreen: How to make your ferrets feel at home
- American Ferret Association: Your ferret's cage
- Burgess Pet Care: Ferret housing guide
- RSPCA Australia: Where should I keep my ferrets?
- MSD Veterinary Manual: Providing a home for a ferret
