Hammock and bed for ferrets: sleeping quarters worthy of a champion napper
Published by Planète Pets · managing editor: Clément Lacaille · how our guides are written
The ferret is a sleep champion: 14 to 18 hours a day, in cycles so deep it sometimes surfaces so limply you would swear it had fainted. Suffice to say its sleeping quarters are no small detail. Hammock, sleeping bag, plush hideaway: here is how to put together the perfect sleeping corner.
Contents · 4 sections
Why ferrets adore hammocks
Suspended, enveloping, gently swaying: a hammock recreates the feel of a snug burrow while freeing up floor space in the cage. Most ferrets adopt one instantly, alone or piled two or three deep in an improbable tangle. Hang it at mid-height at first, until the animal has learned to climb in, then raise it gradually.
The different types of beds
- Flat hammock (€6 to €12): a simple suspended rectangle, perfect for summer;
- Pocket hammock or hanging igloo (€10 to €20): closed on top, it satisfies the need to sleep under cover, ideal in winter;
- Sleeping bag (€8 to €18): placed on the floor or a platform, a big hit with burrowing ferrets;
- Fabric hideaway or teepee (€12 to €25): a proper bedroom, best reserved for large cages.
Ideally, offer two beds with different feels — one open, one enclosed — and let your ferret vote with its paws.
Fabrics and safety
Favour fleece and tightly woven cottons: they do not fray into long threads that could trap a toe or a claw. Rule out loose-weave fabrics, straw and wood shavings as nesting material — dusty and irritating. Check the seams and hanging straps every week: a hammock that drops from a height can cause injury. Spare carabiner clips cost under €2, so it is worth keeping a few on hand.
Keeping the sleeping corner clean
Bedding soaks up a ferret's natural skin oils: a machine wash at 30-40°C every one to two weeks, with a fragrance-free mild detergent, goes a long way towards keeping odours in check without stressing its skin. Keep two sets of hammocks so you can rotate on laundry days. Finally, place the sleeping corner away from the litter box and out of draughts: a well-settled ferret sleeps better, plays better, lives better. Find our favourite models in the ferret bedding and habitat category.
See it in the Planète Pets shop: Double-layer plush hammock for rats, squirrels or ferrets (€18.90) · the whole shop
See it in the Planète Pets shop: Rolling 4-level ferret and chinchilla cage with hammock ($159.90, ships from the US) · the US shop
This guide is part of Planète Pets’s Ferrets universe. Our advice is general in nature: for any health concern, your veterinarian remains the only reference.
