Safety
CLAY CAT LITTER
Clay-based clumping cat litters are not recommended, as they expand when mixed with liquid. They can cause blockages when swallowed, or when ferrets drag their rear ends across the litter. The fine dust can also cause respiratory problems. Newspaper, or paper based litters are a much better alternative.
BATHS
If you have ferrets living inside your home, always remember to pull the plug out following a bath as a ferret will always manage to get into the bath full of water but has no way to get out and can only stay afloat for a very short time.
TOILETS
Toilets need to be off-limits to ferrets, as they can drown in the toilet bowl.
Try printing this sign and putting it on the inside of the toilet door, above the door handle.
| PUT THE LID DOWN SO THE FERRETS CAN'T DROWN THEN PLEASE SHUT THE DOOR TO BE EXTRA SURE YOU COULD SAVE THE LIFE OF A FERRET! |
Toilet Rolls
The inner cardboard section of a toilet roll can be fatal for a small ferret should it manage, as some do, to get its head stuck in the end. If you have house ferrets, please remember to flatten the cylinder of an empty toilet roll before throwing it into the wastepaper bin.
RECLINERS ROCKERS/SOFA BEDS:
Please be very sure your ferrets are safely put away when either recliner rockers or sofa beds are being used. Numerous ferret deaths have occurred because the family pet has gone to sleep inside and has been crushed in the folding actions of these pieces of furniture.
WASHING MACHINES:
Please keep the lid down on top loaders and the door closed on front loaders and shake out your washing before putting it into the machine .... this will save the life of an inquisitive or adventurous ferret. Also be sure to block any holes bigger than 3cm across, on the side or bottom of the machine to prevent your ferret from getting stuck.
DISH WASHERS:
Be sure to block any gaps between the bench and your built-in dishwasher as there is a very small hole in the back of the cabinet and the heat can be fatal should your ferret manage to get inside the casing.
OVENS / STOVES:
Ferrets can crawl up and into many ovens / stoves, some of which contain gas pilot flames. Always keep the doors closed, and block any holes on the sides or bottom where a ferret may be able to get through.
UNDER KITCHEN CABINETS:
In many kitchens, there are panels which can be removed to gain access to underneath kitchen cabinets. In houses not built on concrete pads, there is sometimes a gap where the piping comes through the floor, which may be big enough for a ferret to squeeze through.
PLUG HOLES & DRAINS:
It is a wise move when owing a ferret/ferrets to secure any loose drain or plug hole covers, e.g. bath, shower,outside the laundry, pool area, etc. to prevent another "disaster waiting to happen". Covers can be screwed or bolted into position or merely set into place with silastic which can be cut away if access is needed at a later date.
LAWN MOWERS:
Be sure to check the grass catcher before starting the mower as you can never be too sure where your ferret may be taking his/her nap.
FRINGES & LOOPS:
As ferret owners we often relegate various items from our linen cupboards for use as bedding for our pets. Bedspreads with looped fringes can become nooses around necks or chests with fatal consequences. Towels, etc. with "stringy" sides can result in your ferret getting quite tangled up and, at the very least, losing claws before you are able to cut them free. Please check that your ferret's bedding is free from these potential threats to his/her well-being by the judicious use of scissors or dustbin.