Do You Need a Ferret Hammock?
Ferrets love sleeping. An adult ferret sleeps on average 18-20 hours a day. They also love hiding in soft dark areas. This being said, a ferret should have a comfortable area to sleep and hide in. When we sleep if it is hot in the room we use a light blanket, if the room is cold we use a heavier blanket, this helps us to regulate our body temper while we sleep so we are comfortable. The same holds true for ferrets.
Therefore, a ferret should have two types of beds available to them in their cage. This way they can choose the place more comfortable for them to sleep in. Ferrets beds are essential for healthy sleeping patterns. If a ferret is uncomfortable while sleeping it disturbs his sleep and your ferret will not live a healthy life.
One bed choice is sleep sacks, also known as a nap sack, which provides extra warmth when necessary. The Sleep sack lies on the ground of the cage. It has one opening for the ferret to crawl into; some sleep sacks have openings at both ends. Once the ferret is in the sleep sack it is surrounded by warmth. Some sleep sacks have a crinkling effect to them, making it suitable for play.
The second bed choice is a hammock. A hammock is suspended in mid air and provides a pocketed space, which allows walled security with a partially open space. Because a ferret is sensitive to heat ,the hammock provides an open space that can be used for cooling comfort. Store bought fleece hammocks come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some are lined, others are not. Some hammocks are larger so that they sleep multiple ferrets at the same time, because they love snuggling together while sleeping. Some hammocks are flat looking, others are boot shaped; other hammocks have a zip front to provide adjustability of the size of the opening. Hammocks provide more area for a ferret to utilize. Hammocks can also be used as a safety feature; hammocks can be stepped for the ferret to gain access to a higher level of the cage, and prevent long falls.
It is important to make sure that any hammock or sleep sack purchased is machine washable to prevent the spread of disease. A tightly woven fabric is more durable and safe. If a hammock or sleep sock begins to fray or seams separate, you should remove it from the cage. Once a sleep sack or hammock is damaged it becomes a hazard to the ferret. When purchasing a hammock make sure the hardware provided is safe for your ferret. If the hammock come without hardware, make sure any hardware used will not harm your ferret.
It is a great idea to purchase a hammock for you ferret, because hammocks provide a safer environment, it put less pressure on the ferret’s body, it places them in their natural sleeping position, and it gives them a separate area to utilize for play.