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Cleaning the ferret cage regularly is a religious duty of the ferret owner. Ferrets are cute pets, but they are also quite smelly very often. So, cleaning the ferret cage becomes very important to manage the smell. Cleaning includes a deep thorough makeover of the cage from wiping away the litter to dusting, polishing, and scrubbing the cage. You need not worry about how to clean a ferret cage as the homes of these small animals do not take a huge amount of your time.
Keeping the cage clean will also ensure the health and happiness of your pet. To make the home of your ferret a haven, here are some useful tips you can follow:
Get the Right Products to Clean
The degree of the cleanliness of the cage will be proportional to the health of your ferret and thus you must learn how to clean a ferret cage. As a pet owner, you must be well aware that the ferrets use the litter box quite often throughout the day. When the litter box becomes full, they find other spots to litter which may be their water or food bowls. If the litter is not cleaned on a regular basis, then it results in the build up of harmful bacteria that may result into the sickness of the ferret.
Considering the necessity of keeping the ferret’s cage clean on a regular basis, you should ensure that you are choosing the best cleaning products for the cage. Double check that the cleaning product you are using is safe for your ferret. You must follow the cleaning instructions carefully. Keeping an eye on the product quality will keep you assured of quality and quick cleaning of the cage. Don’t use harsh detergents or disinfectants as it may wreak a havoc on your pet’s health if ingested. Like other pets, ferrets are curious and may drink the disinfectant out of curiosity!
Do not opt for cheap cleaning items or products on sale as they may turn out to be less effective or harmful to the ferret. Quality check is very crucial. Cleaning products of poor quality will make you pay more in the long run.
Choose Cleaning Tools Wisely
Keeping a cleaning kit handy since the beginning will enable you to make the cleaning task quick and effortless. The cleaning kit for the ferret should not be mixed with other household items to keep your ferret away from the chances of contamination.
Here is a list of cleaning tools that you will need:
1. Extra Cage or Playpen
A playpen or extra ferret cage is very helpful when you need to relocate your ferret. While you clean the cage, the playpen serves as a temporary house for the ferret. In case you own more ferrets, then it is best to buy more litter boxes and playpens to keep the cleaning task easy-breezy.
For optimum cleaning, it is best to clean the cage when your ferret is not in it. You must buy ad extra cage or playpen for your ferret.
2. Paper Towels and Cleaning Cloths
Paper towels and cleaning cloths are useful to wipe out the dirt and absorb the excess moisture. This will help in drying up the cage quickly and making your ferret’s home live-able quite quickly.
3. Brushes
The shape and size of the brush you will need to clean the ferret’s cage depends on the size of the cage your ferret lives in. Toothbrushes are a compulsory tool for cage cleaning as the corners of the cage can only be accessed and cleaned with the help of the brushes.
4. Rubber Gloves
A pair of rubber gloves is a must while cleaning the cage. This will protect your hands from the toxic materials you will be laying your hands on. Also, they act as barrier that protects you from harmful viruses and bacteria.
Make a Cleaning Routine
Cleaning your ferret’s cage should become a part of your routine and should not be something done on a random basis. You must clean the cage at least once in a week to prevent build up of litter and germs. Weekly maintenance of the cage will keep your ferret always in happy spirits.
Here are few guidelines to follow to maintain a daily or weekly cleaning routine of the ferret’s cage and to learn properly how to clean a ferret cage:
1. Cleaning Daily
Daily cleaning involves scooping out all the waste that has built up in the litter pan of your ferret. After this, you need to empty the feeding and water bowls. Rinse the bowls thoroughly with good quality soap and water. Brushing will be best to ensure deep cleaning of the containers. Last but not the least, replace the bedding with a clean one. Using warm water to clean the dishes on a daily basis is the best choice to keep them squeaky clean along with eliminating the chances of contamination.
2. Cleaning Weekly
In weekly cleaning of how to clean a ferret cage, the first step is to scoop out the litter box as it was in the case of daily cleaning. Taking the cage apart will be ideal to clean the cage properly. This will let you deep clean the hidden places that are otherwise not easy to clean on a daily basis. There are some cracks in the cage that have build up of feces, urine, and debris since a very long time.
Next step involves disinfecting the cage by mixing 2 quarts (1.89 l) of water with 1/4 cup (0.95 l) of bleach. After this step, rinse the cage thoroughly with water. It will be best if you do this step outside in open area with a hose or power-washer. Make sure to wear goggles and gloves while doing this step. After this, wipe out the cage with paper towels or a cleaning cloth and let the cage dry.
Apart from cage, bedding and toys of your lovely ferret also demand cleaning. Make sure you hand clean the items that are not machine washable. Also, clean out any residue left in the accessories. Once the cage becomes dry, put all the clean containers and accessories back in the cage along with the ferret.
One thing to always keep in mind is that you should never wash the cage on a rainy or cold day. Otherwise, the cage will not dry up quickly, forcing your pet to be away from its abode for a long time! Sometimes, there are few wires inside the cage that may be a nuisance to the ferret. These wires should be covered with cloth or bedding which must be washed on a regular basis.
Keep Cleaning Hygiene in Mind
While cleaning is an essential routine to ensure health of your ferret, it is equally crucial you keep the cleaning hygiene in mind while doing so. For example, kitchen sink is not the place to clean your ferret’s cage! The ideal place to decide where and how to clean a ferret cage is the laundry room or garage. In case your house does not have these assigned places, then you can take resort in the bathroom sink as the last option. Avoid washing the cage in the kitchen sink at all costs as it may lead to contamination.
Keep the ferret completely away while cleaning the cage. Don’t let them be near the sponges used for cleaning. Ingestion of sponge by the ferret can lead to an emergency and may also result in the death of your precious pet! Also, don’t let the ferret drink the soapy water. Soapy water may make the ferret throw up. As soon as you are done with the cleaning, don’t let the debris remain scattered on the floor lest your ferret ingests it. Use a vacuum to clean the dirt and debris from the cage. To clean minor messes quickly, attach a small vacuum in form of an attachment to the large vacuum cleaner.
Ferret-proofing a room will be a great idea to make your cleaning task hassle free. This will also avoid any accidents with your ferret when you are busy cleaning the cage. For this, you must cover any electrical outlets, wires, narrow gaps, and remove any tiny objects that may result into a choking hazard. You must also disinfect the area or sink that you use to wash the cage or the accessories. This also includes disinfecting the washing machine on a regular basis to keep the germs at bay.
Apart from using the right products and following the cleaning routine regularly regarding how to clean a ferret cage, the degree of cleanliness of the cage also depends on other factors too. The ferret breed, number of ferrets you own, and the behavior pattern of your pet also affects the cleaning schedule. If you own more ferrets then you will need to clean the cage more often. If you love your pet and raising them is a part of your life, then including this cleaning routine in your schedule will not be a burden. Cleaning your ferret cage will be very beneficial for you and your ferret’s health and happiness in the long run. Your ferret will be more active and will welcome you gleefully each time you come home!
