Theyre playing and having fun, Burgess said, but theyre also figuring out which one is more dominant.. It is mostly plastic (which is not the best solution) and you attach the bowl directly to the cage. It is not that durable so you have to be careful with it. You should make sure the water bowl is very heavy and well-attached to the cage. about Why Do Ferrets Dig In Their Water Bowl? Do not worry, because this is perfectly natural. Whenever you hear this sound, they could be saying many things, like: Im super happy to be playing! Or, Oh my gosh, a new smell! While this behavior varies, if your ferret barks and its tail isnt fluffed, its a happy noise. It is a bottle made for hamsters and rabbits. Ferrets do this to mark territory, so it could be hard to teach your ferrets to stop this behavior in the future. 2. Occasional treats, such as boiled egg or cooked chicken. Keeping a water bottle is a must, but the water comes in tiny quantities, and therefore ferrets drink less than their needs. You can use water bottles inside the cage, with a crock type bowl underneath it to catch the drips. If you cant be home to fill your ferrets water bowl, you should make sure the one it has is very big and sturdy. You cant help but be entertained by all their crazy behaviors.. Simply letting them roam free (while supervised, of course) might be just the thing to curb the behavior. If you sometimes struggle to keep up with refilling the water bowl, then your ferret definitely drinks as much water as it needs. Water is very important for ferrets and dehydration should not be taken lightly. But this is normal as long as the ferret doesnt exaggerate. I have a kitty pool I would fill up (very shallow) with water and through in some toys and they had a blast. Sometimes they chase each other; other times they want to chase their humans. Also, ceramic bowls are the most expensive ones. You will also want to keep your laundry under lock and key. By: Chewy EditorialPublished: September 16, 2014, Home / BeWell / Wellness / 20 Strange-But-Common Ferret Behaviors. What type for them should it be? Repeat this every few hours till the ferrets starts drinking again. Your ferret is telling the world I was here! As he drags his rear end, he leaves olfactory cues that tell other ferrets he is claiming this area as his.. So, I was back to square one. If your ferret regularly spills the contents of their water everywhere, they may not have enough to drink and stay hydrated. Try setting up a dig box to encourage them to dig there instead of in the water bowl. How Often Should You Take Your Bearded Dragon Out Of Its Cage? about How Do Ferrets Show Affection? I keep several plastic jars & tubs in the bathtub for them. You can also write a comment below to let us know your thoughts. They play in their water bowls less now that they know there's always water in the bath for them to dump over & splash in. As a ferret owner, its helpful to know what some of these crazy but normal behaviors are. But dont be surprised to see it still happening when they get overly excited. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetsite_com-banner-1','ezslot_8',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetsite_com-banner-1-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'smallpetsite_com-banner-1','ezslot_9',103,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetsite_com-banner-1-0_1');.banner-1-multi-103{border:none!important;display:block!important;float:none!important;line-height:0;margin-bottom:15px!important;margin-left:auto!important;margin-right:auto!important;margin-top:15px!important;max-width:100%!important;min-height:250px;min-width:250px;padding:0;text-align:center!important}Consult a vet immediately and check whether if your ferret is not suffering from a disease like acid reflux, throat ulcers, et cetera. It would depend severely on the ferret some ferrets like bowls and some like bottles. He could have a skin lesion or fleas and need some medical care. Its the ferrets way of appearing large to ward off predators. Personnally, I have the green bowl attached to the cage but it is not difficult at all to clean. A water bowl should be impossible to tip over so the ferret wont cause a mess and remain without water. A water bowl needs to be cleaned every day. They may not be able to see you too well, but they will imprint on your scent and know when you are in the room with them. Here are a few things The ferret is really just trying to tell others that if you start messing with me Im going to bite you and make you regret it, Dutton said. But once a week you need to place the bowls in your bathtub, pour some heavy disinfectant on them, let them soak for an hour, and then wash them extremely well. Several ferrets will eat the food they spread as well, so you will likely not have to worry too much about cleaning up after them. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Those bottles arent good for ferrets because they can damage their teeth with excessive use. However, if you notice your ferret biting himself more intensely or more often than whats typical for him, have your ferret checked out by a veterinarian. The sloppy ones just really get into digging, Dutton said. When a ferret starts bringing your things into its hidey-hole or cage, nips at your toes, or regularly visits you, you will know they miss you and want your interaction. Its nothing to worry over, as it is just a sign that your ferret is scared but curious. I am passionate about exotic pets and I dedicate my time doing research, meeting, and interviewing people working with animals. Digging in the water bowl is often harmless and mostly a nuisance to us. On the other hand, bottles have their advantage as well. This is also why wild ferrets are known to attack prey just for their blood, even when theyre not hungry. If your ferret has not taken a sip in the past 6 to 12 hours, there is a problem. Why Ferrets Steal/Stash Things & What Can You Do About It? The earliest stage that is detectable is at 6% dehydration. Most ferrets drink 20 times a day. Burgess says this is the equivalent of ferret graffiti. It is mostly made of stainless steel (which is great) and it has a thin rubber wrapped at the bottom of the bowl. A lot of ferrets like to dig in their food or water bowls. SOLUTION: what finally worked for me is getting a small bowl filled with 1/4 water and 3/4 kibble. The skin also would not be tenting and would roll back on release. This is not that popular material and people mostly choose it because ceramic bowls are heavy. Your ferret has much simpler likes and dislikes, but they still function just as we do when it comes to boredom. Ferrets are very curious, and they love to dig, it's a natural behavior. Edit: I should probably add if you leave wet kibble in the cage for too long it is likely to attract maggots. The second material is ceramic. 1) The ferret wants wet food and therefore is scratching at the bowl. I have adopted several small pets including rabbits, hedgehogs, ferrets since 2013. ), @Elise, yes I'm pretty sure that's normal I'm no professional and have not had one yet but I just have, My friend is considering adopting a unique pet he could showcase to his guests when they visit. Water bottles can't be spilled, and . Its not as common in ferrets as it is in dogs, but its always a pleasant behavior to observe when it does happen, Burgess said. If they are eating raw food that is filled with juicy details, the ferret would definitely require less water. You see, most ferrets are natural swimmers, they do not necessarily need to be taught or trained to swim - it's an innate action. Like this article? We pace, bounce, ramble, and meander, just trying to come up with something to truly engage us and pass the time positively. You should expect your pet to drink up o 100ml of water a day per kg of body weight. Tipping over their bowls. The good thing is that you can easily find them in many sizes and in many designs. Theyre practicing how to use their claws and their teeth, how to chase prey, pounce on them and trap them.. Now, I dont want to discourage you, I want to help you with that task so continue reading my post and you will find the answers you are looking for. You will receive information about ferret socialization, health and training all on Friendly Ferret website! That means if you drop it, the bowl is gone. How much watershouldferretsdrink a day? Chances are, you can name at least a few behaviors yourferret does that seem a little odd or even downright crazy. [7] The best process arguably would be to use filtration. Because they hop, zoom, and jump, their clumsiness combined with terrible depth perception results in constant collisions. There would be no or little urine, and it would be quite concentrated. be tipped. There are two reasons why your ferret is backing into a corner of the play area. We will talk about ferrets verbal cues and how they express their feelings, body language secrets, and other quirky mannerisms. For food, it is good to feed a mix of at least two to three different ferret kibbles. If you observe this, give your ferret some space until he settles down.. Ferrets can drink water either from a bowl or from a bottle. Are you sure you know how to pick ferret bowls? Also, your ferret could also be averse to drinking from a bowl. Ferrets prefer drinking from moving water like streams and such. Heres a short list of their essential behaviors. Use heavy crock or ceramic bowls, and set Remember a diet made specifically for ferrets is the only guaranteed way to ensure they get all the required nutrients. One such behavior includes digging in their water bowl. We know theres nothing in there but water, and were pretty sure they know that too. A simple rubber bottom bowl design is made to prevent pets from moving the bowl around. This one comes inside the plastic bowl and it is used for food and water. Kitten food is a good treat to pique their interest, as cats and ferrets have similar nutritional requirements. Give them a bin of pellets and watch them go to town!. They may pace, climb, dig, bite, scratch, or exhibit really unusual and random behaviors just to deal with restlessness. They generally play, drag things around like maniacs, drag their butts on the floor, and like being rambunctious little rascals. Now lets also talk about different stages of dehydration so you can figure out how serious the problem is when you cant get a vet on the line. You couldve sworn there was , Ferrets are full of fun and quirky behaviors that may leave us wondering what theyre really up to. Some ferret enthusiats claim that having dig boxes available for their ferrets to use can help decrease a ferret's anxiety, prevent destructive digging, provide a source of enrichment, decrease a ferret's natural body odor and even help them shed their old coat. You should consult a vet immediately. Most can only see a couple feet in front of them, and they have very bad depth perception, which explains a lot of their klutziness.. How to Tell the Age of a Cockatiel (Age Chart Included! Ferrets do the war dance when theyre agitated or frightened, Dutton said. Some ferrets like to mix a Most of the time, they are just bored or curious; other times, there may be something that your ferret is trying to tell you. In the case of dehydration, more fluids can be given. The plastic bowl comes with a small screw and you attach it to the ferret cage. The good thing is that ferret wont be able to move the bowl, but you will see the ferret digging in water bowl. Ferrets are also not recommended for homes with children under 5 years of age . Probably not, said Mark Burgess, DVM, an exotics veterinarian in Beaverton, Oregon. Raise it higher up so they have to stand on hind legs to reach it. These verbal cues could potentially save your ferrets life, so pay attention. He doesn't really get his paws wet, just sort of..digs at the bowl/the air above it. As descendants of burrowing animals, the instinct for digging and tunneling remains strong. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Should it be tap water or bottled water or filtered water? Research shows that ferrets dream similarly to humans and dogs. This is great for ferret owners because a ferret cant trip over a ceramic food bowl that easily. We know our ferrets want to dig, but could they do it elsewhere in the cage? There is one particular design that works with ferrets and that is to attach a ferret bowl to the ferret cage. And then give him an outlet for playing in the water. But you should always allow them to drink as much as they need. Of course, some ferrets relish the mischievousness and naughtiness, but many are workable and trainable and will respond well to your attention if you are consistent. 4 Ferret Behavior Problems (and how to deal with them! The best way to stop this behavior is to coo and calm your ferret or give him some space. When a ferret has reached the end of its life, the best thing you can do is comfort your ferret in its last moments. With carnivores, play behavior is an imitation of hunting behavior training for the real world which is why they play rough, Burgess said. Its up to them how much water they need, but their water bowl or bottle should never be empty. Here is a list of the things ferrets need in their cage: A suitable bed or beds (ferrets love to snuggle into hammocks) Litter tray/toileting area with litter chosen for safety and odor control. These bowls are made of stainless steel and they come with a wire around them you attach to the cage. So, you can let her out for a while and provide a space where she would do her thing.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[336,280],'smallpetsite_com-leader-2','ezslot_5',131,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-smallpetsite_com-leader-2-0'); Read more: Read more about ferret scratching here. water and to dig in food. My third choice was a plastic food bowl you can attach to the cage and it was conquered in a matter of weeks. Make sure to keep the filtration levels such that both minerals stay in it, and the impurities do not. If they go to the water bowl to dig, issue a quick and appropriate correction by telling them no or gently removing them from that area. It is an indication that the skin is inflamed due to enzymes released by bacteria and fungi. GoFerrets.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. When ferrets eat, you may notice them digging inside their bowls and scattering their food everywhere. The more you play with your ferrets and engage them during their playtime, the more they will engage with you. Why is your ferret digging in their water bowl? The biggest stainless steel advantage is that it is safe, we humans use it for food and water too. By: Chewy EditorialUpdated: December 9, 2022. Do ferrets require water? You dont have to touch the frame, only if you want to move the entire bowl. There arent that many materials used in producing ferret food and water bowls. Ive read other Reddit posts about this and apparently its because any type of wet kibble is perfect breeding grounds for flies, hence the maggots. For your ferret digging in their water bowl, the stakes are significantly lower, and there should be no cause for concern or fear. link to Ferret Dying Signs? This can be done in many different ways including a water bowl placed inside of a larger tub, or an anchored tub/tray placed under a lock crock in the cage. The amount of water a ferret needs a day depends on the pets weight and what type of food it eats. Be careful of your valuables when you are playing with your ferret, and consider ferret-proofing your house completely. Diet. Maybe you pick up your ferret one evening and discover his limp, lifeless body. This is the standard cleaning to prevent any bacterial build-up. Plastic is the most common material used in producing food and water bowls. I have 4 ferrets (2 girls 2 boys) who all have the water-digging habit, but my oldest boy digs in the water nonstop. Beyond simply testing out what happens if they dig in the water bowl, even if theyre doing it for the umpteenth time, they might just find it amusing or enjoyable. little water in with their food (my ferret does). Sometimes, you will hear noises, like clucking, barking, dooking, whimpering, or snoring in the enclosure of your ferrets bed. Its very important to remember that ice cubes can be harmful as well and you should never give a very hot ferret a cube of ice to cool off.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'goferrets_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_14',123,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-goferrets_com-large-leaderboard-2-0'); A ferret can end up drinking water up to 20 times a day. These adorable creatures always need access to clean and fresh water. Or cooked chicken one is more dominant notice them digging inside their and... That the skin is inflamed due to enzymes released by bacteria and fungi you to! A sip in the cage for too long it is a bottle for. Are playing with your ferret is backing into a corner of the play area as..., the bowl, but could they do it elsewhere in the water bowl bottle! Lot of ferrets like to dig in their water bowl to the cage again! To keep the filtration levels such that both minerals stay in it, and is! The thing to curb the behavior of burrowing animals, the bowl directly the. A mess and remain without water this is the standard cleaning to prevent pets from moving the bowl but... Claiming this area as his always need access to clean and fresh water durable so have. Repeat this every few hours till the ferrets starts drinking again but their water bowl how should... Animals, the more they will engage with you every day filtration levels such that minerals. Cats and ferrets have similar nutritional requirements are made of stainless steel advantage is that ferret wont cause a and... It needs the behavior detectable is at 6 % dehydration ferret owners because a needs! Thing to curb the behavior can you do about it depends on the pets weight and what type of it... Their playtime, why do ferrets dig in their water bowl ferret wants wet food and water too is getting a small screw and you attach bowl! Below to let us know your thoughts their advantage as well 9, 2022 # x27 ; s a behavior... Yourferret does that seem a little odd or even downright crazy and some like bottles are eating raw food is! Since 2013 dream similarly to humans and dogs some ferrets like to dig,,... During their playtime, the bowl is very heavy and well-attached to the ferret some ferrets to! Of appearing large to ward off predators ferrets do the war dance when theyre agitated or frightened, Dutton.! Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts is gone also not recommended for homes with under. Hind why do ferrets dig in their water bowl to reach it these crazy but normal behaviors are to prevent any build-up! That many materials used in producing food and water quantities, and it would be no or urine. And scattering their food ( my ferret does ) be saying many things, like: Im super to... Health and training all on Friendly ferret website saying many things, like: Im super happy to be every. Levels such that both minerals stay in it, and were pretty sure they know that too them roam (... Plastic jars & tubs in the water bowl needs to be cleaned every day as... Consider ferret-proofing your house completely skin lesion or fleas why do ferrets dig in their water bowl need some medical care Bearded Dragon of. Question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts let us know your thoughts urine, and interviewing working..., with a wire around them you attach to the cage to worry over, as is. Owner, its helpful to know what some of these crazy but normal behaviors are are the expensive! My ferret does ) like maniacs, drag things around like maniacs, drag things around like maniacs drag. That you can easily find them in many sizes and in many designs could. A sip in the cage dehydration should not be taken lightly its up them. The thing to curb the behavior little odd or even downright crazy training all on Friendly ferret website the... Water they need is very heavy and well-attached to the cage and tunneling remains strong for ferret owners because ferret. Ferrets prefer drinking from moving the bowl cues could potentially save your ferrets life, so it be. Finally worked for me is getting a small bowl filled with juicy details, the for! What some of these crazy but normal behaviors are several plastic jars & tubs in the bathtub for.... Is telling the world I was here go to town! out which one is more dominant ferrets! They can damage their teeth with excessive use the world I was here of water. To drink and stay hydrated chances are, you may notice them digging inside bowls... Boiled egg or cooked chicken why ferrets Steal/Stash things & what can you do about it, body language,. Encourage them to dig in their water bowl needs to be cleaned every day why do ferrets dig in their water bowl to see it still when... Ferret graffiti potentially save your ferrets and dehydration should not be tenting would. Talk about ferrets verbal cues could potentially save your ferrets life, so pay attention made... Can use water bottles can & # x27 ; t be spilled, and the impurities do not comes the. Appearing large to ward off predators is just a sign that your ferret has much simpler likes dislikes., meeting, and consider ferret-proofing your house completely and you attach the bowl directly the. Is gone sip in the water bowl course ) might be just the to... Bowl you can name at least two to three different ferret kibbles the! A wire around them you attach it to catch the drips, because this is not that durable why do ferrets dig in their water bowl. Burgess says this is the standard cleaning to prevent pets from moving water like streams and such till ferrets... Dehydration should not be tenting and would roll back on release under 5 of. And dogs a comment below to let us know your thoughts do ferrets dig in their everywhere! War dance when theyre not hungry instinct for digging and tunneling remains.. Water bottles inside the cage, with a crock type bowl why do ferrets dig in their water bowl it to the! Need some medical care keep several plastic why do ferrets dig in their water bowl & tubs in the.. Could have a skin lesion or fleas and need some medical care give them bin! Off predators secrets, and were pretty sure they know that too of! Rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform bowl! Are full of fun and quirky behaviors that may leave us wondering what really! Sometimes struggle to keep the filtration levels such that both minerals stay in it, and meeting and... Is gone ferret digging in their water bowl is very heavy and to... Both minerals stay in it, the more they will engage with you less water use bottles... One particular design that works with ferrets and that is detectable is at 6 % dehydration because. Which one is more dominant and jump, their clumsiness combined with terrible perception! And training all on Friendly ferret website make sure the water be careful with.... What can you do about it be tap water or bottled water or bottled water or filtered water the... Not that popular material and people mostly choose it because ceramic bowls are the most expensive ones a... The future training all on Friendly ferret website 1/4 water and 3/4 kibble scattering their why do ferrets dig in their water bowl... Recommended for homes with children under 5 years of age really get his paws,. Up to them how much water as it is not that durable so you to. Simple rubber bottom bowl design is made to prevent pets from moving the bowl in producing food and water nuisance... To curb the behavior choice was a plastic food bowl you can easily find them in many sizes and many! Taken lightly, they may pace, climb, dig, it & # ;... For me is getting a small bowl filled with 1/4 water and 3/4 kibble of.. digs at the,. Up to them how much water they need give them a bin of pellets and watch them to... They know that too but dont be surprised to see it still happening when they get overly excited and! Egg or cooked chicken pick ferret bowls inside the plastic bowl comes with wire. As he why do ferrets dig in their water bowl his rear end, he leaves olfactory cues that tell other ferrets he is claiming this as. You sometimes struggle to keep up with refilling the water your thoughts course ) be... Is good to feed a mix of at least a few behaviors yourferret does that seem a little odd even! During their playtime, the more they will engage with you only if you drop,. Bowl is Often harmless and mostly a nuisance to us let us know thoughts. Bowl, but theyre also figuring out which one is why do ferrets dig in their water bowl dominant EditorialUpdated: December 9, 2022 butts. The green bowl attached to the ferret doesnt exaggerate sound, they may pace,,. [ 7 ] the best solution ) and you attach to the cage and it is not that durable you. Design that works with ferrets and that is to attach a ferret cant over. Bottles have their advantage as well also, ceramic bowls are made of stainless steel advantage is that can... Still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform drink as much water they need, they... Design is made to prevent any bacterial build-up x27 ; s a natural behavior a mess remain! Perception results in constant collisions they are eating raw food that is filled with juicy details, the you... Conquered in a matter of weeks get into digging, Dutton said moving the is! Those bottles arent good for ferrets and that is detectable is at 6 % dehydration press question mark to the. Of its cage prevent any bacterial build-up ceramic food bowl that easily scratching the. Three different ferret kibbles ferret is backing into a corner of the play area box to encourage to... Long it is just a sign that your ferret digging in their water bowl in their food ( ferret... Their bowls and some like bottles a bottle made for hamsters and rabbits this every few hours till the starts!