Choosing Ferret Toys
Ferrets are very intelligent, playful animals, and toys play a big part in keeping them occupied and stimulating their natural behaviors and capabilities. However, choosing the right toys for your ferret can be somewhat difficult. Any ferret owner can tell you how they bring home fun toys and their ferrets would rather play in the bag the toys came in! The most popular toys are those that appeal to their natural instincts.
Hunting
Ferrets are carnivores, and as such, they like to hunt. Toys that "interact" with them in some way are always going to be popular. These include toys that move and toys that make a noise in response to their actions.
Tunneling
Ferrets' bodies are built to run through tunnels, and it's something they enjoy doing. With their long, flexible spines, they're right at home in a long, narrow tunnel. It's also great fun to watch two ferrets battle for control of a tunnel, and you may actually see some tails wagging!
Digging
Ferrets love to dig, as anyone who has lost a plant to a ferret's persistant efforts can tell you! One of the best toys that ferrets love is a ferret dig box. You can purchase one or make one yourself by filling a box or a rubber tub with biodegradable starch peanuts, long grain rice, sand, ping-pong balls, or any other ferret safe material.
Problem Solving
Ferrets are very intelligent, and toys that challenge them to solve a puzzle, such as the Kyjen Junior I-Qube, serve a dual purpose of entertaining them as well as exercising their minds. Some of the more popular puzzle toys require them to figure out how to get a treat.
Chewing
Though ferrets don't need to gnaw on things to wear down their teeth like small pets do, they still like to chew. It's important to provide ferret safe chew toys to give them an outlet for this behavior. Ferrets with safe chew toys could start chewing on things in your home that could cause an intestinal blockage.
No matter which toys you choose, be sure to always check them for signs of wear and tear, and replace them promptly if they are no longer safe.
For more choices, view our full selection of fun ferret toys.
