Ferrets are big sleepers. It’s not uncommon for a kit (baby ferret) to sleep between 20 to 22 hours a day and for an adult to sleep around 16 hours a day. This is because their bodies are adjusted to only be awake during dusk and down. But it’s also because they’re incredibly active creatures when they’re awake. You’ve probably heard many people call their ferrets “mischievous” but don’t worry, they definitely won that title. They can be a handful when they are awake and can cause all sorts of messes. But after all that work they need a comfortable place to sleep as well. In this article, we’ll talk about the best ferret hammocks and how to choose one that your ferret will love.
Top 3 Best Hammocks For Ferrets
Below, we have three very good hammocks for ferrets. These are some of the best hammocks/tents/hanging cages that you’re going to find online, and they’re all quite accessible price wise.
1. VEDEM Triple Bunkbed Hanging Hammock Bed Hideout
Our choice, and the favorite ferret hammock for thousands of happy customers, is this triple hanging hammock and bunkbed from VEDEM. It works equally well for a lot of other small animals, it’s made out of plush fabric that’s incredibly cozy, and it will give them a place where they can feel safe and warm. It has clips (they’re included), which you can use to attach the hammock to the interior of a cage. It’s machine washable, super soft, and it has lots of room inside.
2. Niteangel Hanging Hammock
Another very popular hanging hammock, a simpler alternative, but equally comfortable. You can actually see the ferret as he’s taking a nap in this one, he can’t hide inside as easily. It has enough room for up to two ferrets on it. It will be attached to the cage easily, using spring clips that are included.
3. Barley Ears Ferret Hammock/Tent
The third option, but not that much worse than the other two, the Barley Ears hammock can be transformed into a hanging tent, if needed, which is great. It’s soft, yet durable, it looks great, and it works well for any small pet.
How to pick a ferret hammock
Ferret hammocks are incredibly popular and there are countless models and types on the market. Finding one that your ferret will sleep comfortably in but that will also last a long time can be a bit difficult. There are countless things to take into consideration when looking for a hammock and it’s important to make sure you get the right one.
You’ll need to start by looking at what needs your ferret has. If you avoid this step, you might get an expensive hammock that your ferret won’t even go close to. This is because while ferrets can sleep almost anywhere, their instincts tell them to start looking for a dark and comfy place to snuggle and sleep into. They also tend to sleep in packs so make sure the hammock is big enough
Ferrets sleep in mainly two different ways, they either snuggle or stretch out during a nap. And the way your ferret sleeps plays a very important role in the type of hammock you should get for them. For ferrets that love snuggling, there are typical hammocks that can be found anywhere. But if your ferret sleeps stretched out, you should look for a box-shaped hammock that gives the ferret the needed space to stretch.
One thing you might have a bit of a problem with is finding a hammock that all the ferrets will like. Many ferrets love snuggling and they would prefer a hanging hammock. But others might prefer sleeping alone in an attached box-shaped bed. It all depends on what personalities they have and you shouldn’t force them to sleep in the same hammock if some want their space. But typically they’re all big snugglers.
You will also have to take into consideration your ferret’s health issues and special needs. If your ferret has a broken leg, is missing a leg, or experiences continuous pain in one or more legs, then you need to get a hammock that he can easily climb into. There are various health issues that can make climbing into a hammock a bit difficult and you need to find the right type for your ferret.
If your ferret suffers from arthritis or sore joints, you can invest in an orthopedic hammock. These special hammocks are specifically made for ill ferrets and lots of professionals work on each design to ensure the hammock won’t worsen their condition. An orthopedic hammock can make sleeping a lot more comfortable for your ferret and you will quickly notice that he stopped squirming so much while sleeping.
The temperature of the room you keep your ferrets in also plays a big role in picking a good hammock. If it’s too hot, you should invest in a hammock that has a cooling pad. But if it can get a bit chilly, you should look for a hammock that has a heating pad instead. Or you can prepare the room they stay in and make sure the temperature remains constant throughout the day and night.
Besides your ferret’s needs, you also need to take into consideration your needs and how easy is the hammock to maintain. A ferret’s bed needs to be continuously cleaned to control odors, dirt, and fleas And the outer cover should be washed around once a week or so.
Size
Finding a hammock that’s the perfect size for your ferret can be a bit tricky if you don’t have all the information you need. This is why you should try and catch your ferret sleeping (should be very easy) and gently stretch it in a straight position. Then you can easily measure him from its nose to its tail and see how big it is. But when you’re ordering the hammock, make sure it’s 6-7 inches larger to ensure your ferret’s comfort.
Measuring your ferret can also be tricky and you can easily get fooled if the ferret is not an adult yet. Even if they’re from the same litter, some ferrets end up growing a bit bigger than others. This means that it’s very easy to get a hammock that you think it’s the perfect size than to have to replace it in a few months.
It’s very important to get creative until the kits become adults or simply get hammocks that are adult-sized. This is only if you’re on a budget and you’d like to avoid having to change the hammock after a very short amount of time. Measure the bigger parent of the kit to find the approximate size or simply assume and get what you can find.
You don’t have to worry if you get a hammock that’s too big for the ferret. All you have to do is add some padding or blankets to it and solve the problem. This way, you will make your ferret feel more secure and you won’t have to worry about changing the hammock anytime soon.
Along with the size of the hammock, you also need to look at the quality of the hooks they come with. The better the attaching hooks are, the more weight they’ll be able to hold.
Materials of the best ferret hammocks
Another very important thing to take into consideration is the material these hammocks are made of. This will play a very big part in whether your ferret will be able to sleep comfy or not. No matter how good and comfy they might look to you, your ferret might hate it and have a hard time sleeping in it simply because it’s not made from good materials.
If your ferret suffers from joint pain, you should make sure the hammock is made of a high-density memory foam that can easily mold to the shape of the ferret. This will offer it all the support it needs to ease some of the pain and ache.
Ferrets can overheat very easily and it’s important to make sure they’re not too hot while they nap. If they seem like they have a hard time breathing and they drink a lot more water than usual, then they might need a cooler environment to sleep in. They prefer dark places, which is why you might occasionally find them napping in a drawer or under the bed.
Hammocks made from mesh or any other breathable material are highly recommended for ferrets that get too hot while they sleep. And if you can get one that also has a cooling pad then it would be perfect. But if the ferret is too cold while it sleeps, you should get a fluffier hammock with a heating pad instead.
Besides comfort, many materials can help you deal with your ferret’s odor, incontinence, and even hair allergies. And if your ferret is very old now or it simply wets its bed from time to time, a waterproof hammock would be highly recommended. Or you can get a normal hammock and simply add a waterproof sheet over it.
Hypo-allergic covers are an excellent choice for people that have sensitive ferrets. And if you just can’t stand their typical musky smell, a hammock that’s filled with aspen might be what you’re looking for. They’re capable of both repelling the bad odors and transferring the pleasant ones to your pet. And the more the ferret rolls in the hammock, the better it will smell after each nap.
If you care a lot about our planet and you’re trying your best to go as environmentally-friendly as possible, you can also get an eco-friendly hammock. These hammocks are 100% made from recycled material and they can last a pretty long time.
Features and durability
As mentioned before, ferrets like to sleep in dark places. This is why it’s important to make sure the hammock you pick has a cover. And if you can’t find one, make sure you cover the whole cage with a blanket that’s made of breathable material.
Any hammock should come with a very good set of hooks as well. These hooks are the ones that help you attach the hammock to the cage. If the hooks are of poor quality, the hammock might not be able to hold the ferret’s weight. And the hooks should be good enough to support more than 2 ferrets as they often like to snuggle in the same hammock.
Ferrets are also known to chew anything they see in their path. And sadly, this also includes their hammocks. Invest in a hammock that is durable and that won’t get shredded to pieces within a few weeks. Don’t even get a hammock that’s easy to shred as the ferrets should not accidentally eat any of the fabric.
Whether the hammock should feature a heating or a cooling pad depends on the situation but it’s ideal to find one that’s as comfy as possible. And as soon as you notice that your little mischievous pet starts to shred the hammock apart it’s time to look for a new one.
Prices
Before buying anything, you should start getting to know your budget and how much you can actually spend on a product. And if the product will inevitably get destroyed with time, you should make sure you have the budget to keep replacing the hammock when you need to.
Hammocks are prone to get damaged and you need to prepare a replacement cost as well. Shopping without a budget can easily cause you to go overboard with everything and end up buying the wrong stuff. And when it comes to comparing prices, you should look at small pet shops, big box retailers, and even online stores.
A good ferret hammock can cost anywhere between $20 and $100, and some are even pricier. Make sure the one you get is worth replacing multiple times throughout the ferret’s life.
Do ferrets like hammocks?
Ferrets absolutely love hammocks as they are big snugglers and love to sleep in packs. Their bodies are also very flexible and a hammock makes sleeping a lot more comfortable than any bed. And since these beds are suspended in the air, they’re also far away from their litter box, which is something they highly prefer.
Another reason why ferrets like hammocks is that they’re covered and they can sleep peacefully during the day as well. The only ferrets that might not like hammocks are the ones that prefer sleeping stretched out as a hammock doesn’t really allow that.
If you’re looking for other types of ferret beds, you should look for small, fluffy blankets they can sleep and burrow into.
How do you make a ferret hammock?
If you just can’t seem to find the right type of hammock, you can easily make your own one. They’re pretty easy to make if you have the materials and they’re a lot more affordable than just buying them.
You’ll need to start by cutting scrap fabric pieces into rectangles that measure around 40 by 16in. This is the recommended size but you can make them any size you want. Place the fabric and fleece right sides together and cut straight edges. It’s important for the long side of the rectangle to be 2.5 times the short side for the design to work.
The second step is to sew the right edges together and leave a small opening. Then you need to flip it inside out and stitch the opening close as well. You can hand sew or machine sew it, whatever works for you. And you can either use a straight or zig-zag stitch.
Now you also need to insert the hanging loops. You can do this by overlapping the short ends of the rectangle in the middle with the fleece facing up. Ribbons, shoelaces, braided fabric pieces, and other types of materials can be easily used for making hanging loops. There need to be four loops inside the folded corners with the ends hanging out.
The last step is to pin the two open sides of the folded over rectangle and sew them as well. You just have to pay attention to the corners and check if the loops are secure. Then all you have to do is turn the hammock inside out and it’s ready to be placed inside the cage.
