An Explanation to Strange but Common Ferret Behaviors

As a first-time ferret owner, you might find your pet’s behaviour strange and difficult to understand. Ferrets are quirky and full of unique traits that can be both amusing and perplexing.

This blog is designed to help you decode your ferret’s funny behaviours, providing insights into why they do what they do. From deep sleeping to tail wagging and playful wrestling, understanding these behaviours will help you build a stronger, more fulfilling relationship with your furry friend. By learning about your ferret’s actions, you’ll be better equipped to ensure their happiness and well-being.

My Ferret Looks Dead

It’s not uncommon for ferret owners to panic when they see their pet looking lifeless.

Ferrets sometimes enter a very deep sleep where it is difficult to wake them. They become completely relaxed and floppy, giving the impression that they are unresponsive or even dead. This behaviour is entirely normal and nothing to worry about.

However, if you’re ever unsure, gently try to rouse your ferret by calling its name or offering a favourite treat. Typically, they’ll wake up groggy but perfectly healthy.

My Ferret is Digging in Its Food Bowl

Ferrets are natural-born burrowers with an innate love for digging. This instinctive behaviour often extends to their food bowls, where they enthusiastically dig and scatter food everywhere. While it can be messy and frustrating for owners, this behaviour is completely normal and poses no real harm to your ferret. It’s a way for them to engage their natural instincts and stay mentally stimulated.

Despite the mess, it’s nearly impossible to stop this behaviour completely. Instead, try to accommodate their digging tendencies by providing a designated digging box filled with safe materials like shredded paper.

My Ferret is Hoarding Things

Ferrets have a natural instinct to collect and hide objects, a behaviour known as hoarding. They love to stash their treasures in their cage or favourite hiding spots around the house. This behaviour is perfectly normal and part of their playful and curious nature.

Owners should be mindful not to leave small valuable objects, such as jewellery or keys, lying around where a ferret can access them. Ferrets will often take anything that catches their interest, leading to lost items.

Providing them with toys and safe objects to hoard can help satisfy this instinct without any inconvenience.

My Ferret is Wagging its Tail

When ferrets are excited or happy, they wag their tails. Their tail flicks around energetically, similar to a rattlesnake’s rattle. This playful and animated behaviour is a normal and positive sign of their mood.

Just like dogs, ferret tail wagging can occur during playtime, when they’re exploring new environments, or when they’re interacting with their favourite humans or toys. It’s a delightful behaviour to witness and indicates that your ferret is content and enjoying themselves.

My Ferret is Wrestling Another Ferret

If you have two ferrets, you’ll often see them wrestling with each other. This playful behaviour is a normal and healthy way for ferrets to get exercise and burn off energy. Wrestling also helps them establish social hierarchy, determining who is dominant.

It may look rough, but it’s usually harmless fun. There’s no need to intervene unless the play becomes too aggressive and blood is drawn. Monitor their interactions to ensure they remain friendly and safe.

Providing plenty of toys and supervised playtime can further help them expend their energy in positive ways.

My Ferret is Slamming into Walls and Furniture

When ferrets get excited, they experience a burst of energy known as “zoomies.” They run around frantically like puppies, often slamming into walls and furniture due to their poor vision and clumsiness. This behaviour is generally harmless and is a natural way for them to burn off excess energy.

Watching your ferret zoom around can be amusing and is a good indicator of their playful and energetic nature. Just make sure their play space is safe to prevent any potential accidents. To ensure their safety, remove any sharp objects from the area where your ferret exercises.