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 is the best bedding for ferrets?
Soft fabric, because ferrets burrow into a pile of cloth to sleep. Wood Green recommends fleece blankets, old towels and old jumpers, tucked into boxes, cat beds or homemade hammocks. The RSPCA suggests an old T-shirt, a hammock or a sleeping box with dust-free bedding. Ferrets sleep 18 to 20 hours a day, so this is where most of their life happens.
Fabric has two rules. First, check it every day: RSPCA Australia says towels and blankets are fine as long as they are not being chewed and have no hanging threads. Second, wash it: fabric holds musk and urine, and clean bedding is one of the main things that keeps a ferret home from smelling. Our page on whether ferrets smell covers the rest.
Ferret bedding types compared
| Bedding | Safe? | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fleece blankets and sleep sacks | Yes | Everyday beds, winter warmth | Chewed holes and loose threads |
| Old towels and T-shirts | Yes | Cheap spare sets, summer beds | Loops and threads that catch claws |
| Hammocks | Yes | Sleeping and lounging | Hang low; ferrets see poorly and can fall |
| Recycled paper bedding, 2 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 in) deep | Yes | Lining a floor or dig box | Dyed or scented types |
| Shredded paper | Yes | Dig boxes and nests | Glossy or inked paper |
| Hay or straw | Sometimes | Extra warmth outdoors | Dust, damp and seeds; change often |
| Pine or cedar shavings | No | Nothing | Aromatic oils that irritate the airways |
Sources do not all agree. Burgess still lists wood shavings for lining the floor and the litter tray. RSPCA Australia advises against them, and the Merck Veterinary Manual warns that cedar oil may be toxic. We follow the more careful advice: fabric and paper do everything shavings do, without the risk.
What bedding is bad for ferrets?
- Pine and cedar shavings or chips
- Clumping clay cat litter, which swells when wet and can block a ferret's bottom
- Silica crystal litter, dusty and a risk to the lungs
- Sand and sand-based litters
- Corncob litter, which is dusty, can go off and can cause blockages
- Scented litters, sprays and fabric softeners, which can make ferrets sneeze
- Fabric with holes big enough for a head, or loose threads
- Cotton wool and fluffy nesting material that pulls apart into strands
What is the best litter for ferrets?
Unscented paper pellets. RSPCA Australia suggests half filling each tray with paper pellets, and UK guides list paper pellets, wheat litter and corn-based cat litter as the low-dust choices. Ferrets dig in litter and sometimes eat a little, so it has to be something that will not swell or clump inside them. Wood Green adds that litter should be non-synthetic for the same reason.
Ferrets need to toilet within about 15 minutes of waking, according to Burgess, and they back into corners to do it. That is why the tray matters as much as the litter. Our guide to litter training a ferret shows how to get them using it.
Best ferret litter box: what to look for
A high-backed corner tray that locks onto the cage. Look for:
- A tall back. Ferrets reverse right into the corner and lift their tail. A tall back catches what a flat tray misses; the lock-on pan in our picks stands about 23 cm (9 in) high.
- A low front. A low step-in edge lets small, old or poorly ferrets climb in easily.
- A lock or clamp. Ferrets dig and tip trays. One that bolts to the bars stays put.
- Hard plastic. Easy to scrub and disinfect every week.
- Enough of them. At least one per level, and more trays as you add ferrets. Outside the cage, Wood Green suggests three to four high-edged corner trays in a ferret room.
Ferret bedding and litter picks
We don't make pieces for ferrets yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at.
Marshall Lock-On Litter Pan
A ferret corner tray with extra-high back corners that clamps to the side of the cage, about 36 x 33 x 23 cm (14 x 13 x 9 in). Suits most large ferret cages. Measure your cage corner first, as it is a big tray.
ExquisiCat Naturals Paper Pellet Litter, unscented
Unscented pellets of recycled paper for the litter tray, sold in the US. Suits households with several ferrets and trays. Check you have the unscented version, as a scented one is sold alongside it.
Back-2-Nature Small Animal Bedding
Pellets of 99% recycled paper, low in dust, sold in the UK in 10 and 30 litre bags. Works as tray litter or as a floor layer of 2 to 4 cm (1 to 1.5 in). Remove soiled pellets daily.
Marshall Hanging Nap Sack
An enclosed fleece sack, about 39 x 33 cm (15.5 x 13 in), that clips to the bars with adjustable straps. Suits ferrets that like to sleep hidden. Hang it low and check the seams weekly.
Marshall Fleece Leisure Lounge
A large fleece hammock, about 41 x 56 cm (16 x 22 in), that the maker says holds up to three adult ferrets. Suits pairs and trios that pile in together. Keep a second one for wash days.
Hammock Relax de Luxe Fake Fur
A soft, washable hammock for rats and ferrets, about 33 x 17 x 14 cm, sold in the UK. Suits a single ferret or a small jill. Check it for chewing, as fake fur can pull apart.
For enclosed beds and boxes, see our guide to the best ferret hides.
How often should you change ferret bedding?
Spot clean every day and wash everything at least weekly. Burgess and the RSPCA both set the same rhythm: empty the litter tray and remove stashed food daily, wash fleece and change other bedding weekly, and do a deep clean with a pet-safe disinfectant about once a month. Exotic Direct recommends unscented detergent and no fabric conditioner. Keep two full sets of bedding so the cage is never bare while one set dries. The full routine is in our guide to cleaning a ferret cage, and our ferret cage setup guide shows where each bed and tray goes. Back to the ferret care guide.
Ferret bedding questions
What is the best bedding for ferrets?
Soft, washable fabric: fleece blankets, old towels, old jumpers and T-shirts, placed in hammocks, sleep sacks and boxes. Ferrets burrow into fabric to sleep rather than lying on loose material. Check it often and remove anything your ferret chews holes in, because swallowed fabric can block the gut.
Can ferrets use wood shavings?
We would not use them. RSPCA Australia advises against wood shavings because they can harm the airways, and the Merck Veterinary Manual warns that cedar gives off aromatic oils that may be toxic. Some UK guides still list shavings, but paper pellets and fabric do the same jobs without the risk.
Can I use cat litter for ferrets?
Only paper or plant-based pellet cat litter, and unscented. Avoid clumping clay, silica crystal, sand and corncob litters. Clumping clay swells when wet and can block a ferret's bottom, silica dust is a risk to the lungs, and ferrets dig in and sometimes eat litter, so it must be safe to swallow in small amounts.
How often should ferret bedding be washed?
Shake out and spot clean daily, removing soiled pieces and stashed food, and wash all fabric bedding at least weekly, according to Burgess and the RSPCA. Keep two full sets so one is always clean. Use unscented laundry products, as strong scents can make ferrets sneeze.
Do ferrets need straw or hay?
Indoors, no. Fabric is easier to wash and less dusty. Burgess lists good-quality hay and shredded paper as options, and outdoor UK ferrets are often given extra bedding in winter, but whatever you use must be dust-free, dry and changed often.
What is the best ferret litter box?
A high-backed corner tray that locks onto the cage bars. Ferrets reverse into corners to toilet, so a tall back and sides catch what a low tray misses, and a lock stops them tipping it. Use at least one per level, and more as the group grows.
