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World-Class
Snoozers Need Top-Notch Nap Spots
© Erika Matulich, Ph.D.
Ferrets love to sleep, and they're
experts at it! Adult ferrets may sleep 15 hours a day (kits are more
active). Of course, they'll wake up any time of the day or night to play
with you, but between play sessions, ferrets need comfortable beds.
Ferrets need two types of beds: sleep sacks and hammocks. Having a
choice allows them to regulate their body temperature. If they're
chilly, they can snuggle up in a sleep sack to keep warm. And if they're
warm (ferrets are very sensitive to heat), they can snooze comfortably
in a hammock.
Sleep sacks (also called nap sacks) are typically cloth bags with fleece
lining. They come in various sizes, from sacks that fit a single ferret
to ones that hold a pile of four or more. You'll find unlined versions
as well as variations like tubes and tunnels (longer sleep sacks with
two open ends). You'll also see ferret sacks with a “crinkle” liner
that makes noise, but these are more of a toy than a sleep sack.
Hammocks are designed to be suspended from the cage, forming a “dimple”
that the ferret curls up in. Ferrets love hammocks—this is the
preferred sleep place of my fuzzies. And hammocks are great because they
add more usable space to a cage. They also can be strategically hung to
provide “steps” to a higher level and prevent long falls in a
multistory cage. Like sleep sacks, hammocks may be lined with fleece or
other soft material, or unlined.
There are also clever “pocket” designs that allow the ferret to
either sleep on the outside or tunnel into the interior of the hammock.
These sleep sack–hammock combinations are quite versatile.
How did
humans figure out that ferrets needed these accessories? Sleep sacks are
a natural deduction. The critters that domesticated ferrets descended
from are burrowing animals, and a sleep sack provides a warm, dark,
comfortable, protected place to hide. In the days before sleep sacks,
people would give their ferrets old T-shirts, towels, or pant legs, and
the ferrets would happily burrow down in the cloth. However, old clothes
can be dangerous, as snags and frays can catch toenails or tangle a
ferret. A sleep sack provides the advantages of safety and comfort, with
strategically placed seams and limited ability to twist and tangle.
The history of hammocks is less clear, as no wild ferret cousin would
dream of climbing up a tree and sleeping out in the open! Rumor has it
that a female ferret owner of ample proportions suspended her old bras
in her ferret cage and the ferrets loved to sleep in the cups.
Improvements on this early experiment, the story goes, led to today's
hammocks.
As for why ferrets like hammocks, I have some (unsubstantiated)
theories of my own:
- The hammock naturally puts the ferret
in his favorite sleeping position: the “doughnut.”
- Being suspended reduces the pressure
on points (like joints and bones) that otherwise would have contact
with a harder surface.
- Ferrets are naturally clean animals
and like to sleep as far away as possible from their food and
litter-box areas.
So how many hammocks and sleep sacks does a
ferret need to be happy? The rule of thumb I use for hammocks and sleep
sacks is to take the number of ferrets, multiply by 1.5, and round up to
the nearest whole number. The result is the minimum number of sleeping
areas your ferret needs (a combination hammocks and sleep sacks). For
example, one ferret should have one sleep sack and one hammock (1 x 1.5
= 1.5; round up to 2). Two ferrets need three sleeping places to choose
from, such as one sleep sack and two hammocks. Three ferrets could use
two sleep sacks and three hammocks.
Remember, this is the minimum number of sleep areas, and your ferrets
will appreciate additional choices. Some ferrets like to share sacks
(they often sleep in a pile, unless they're too hot), but some are
territorial. At my house, nobody shares a sack with Flower, and
Lizzie once took over a 5-foot-long tube designed to hold about six
ferrets!
After the basics of hammocks and sleep sacks, there are also tunnels,
tubes, tents, cubes, futons, playhouses, and other varieties of sleeping
areas that will delight your ferrets!
When shopping for hammocks and sleep sacks
(and other cage accessories), keep these things in mind. First, make
sure that anything you purchase is machine-washable. (For odor control
and to prevent potential spread of disease, wash hammocks and sleep
sacks every week or two.) The fabric should not have “loops” (like
terry cloth does) that could catch a toenail. A tightly woven fabric is
preferred, because there is less chance of fraying or seam separation. A
final fabric consideration is colorfastness: Some of my ferrets' bedding
is now pink after I washed a red sleep sack with the rest.
My ferrets prefer lined (or double-layered) hammocks and sleep sacks to
unlined ones, perhaps because they are more cozy. And even in Florida,
where it is quite warm, my ferrets prefer fleece lining to summer
fabrics. I'm guessing that the fleece provides more cushioning and
allows for air circulation.
Consider ferret comfort over color. Ferrets have limited color vision
(they see only some reds), so they really won't care how you choose to
decorate their cage. Still, there are a variety of fabrics, patterns,
materials, and colors on the market, so you'll have lots of choices to
suit your personal tastes. Select hammocks and sleep sacks that are safe
and soft, and then see what colors you can get.
Hardware is another important consideration for hammocks, because they
have to be hung. Some hammocks have grommet holes in the corners, and
you supply your own hardware. You can suspend these hammocks with
shoelaces, small bungee cords, or shower-curtain clips. Because you have
to take hammocks down for laundering, use something you can easily
remove and reattach. Some hammocks come with spring hooks or clips for
hanging. Whatever type of hanging hardware you use, make sure a ferret
can't get a foot caught in the metal parts.
A high-quality sleeping accessory has sturdy fabric, safe hardware, the
ability to withstand many washings, and double stitching at the wear
points and hardware-attachment areas. Even so, it is up to you to be
vigilant and check for worn fabric, holes, frays, separated seams, and
other dangerous conditions that inevitably develop over time. If you
can't repair the problem, replace the item before your ferret gets hurt,
and remember: When in doubt, throw it out.
Happy snoozin' to your ferrets! |
