Ferrets are a lot like toddlers. They’re active, playful little creatures that need plenty of toys and playtime to stay happy and healthy. If you’re looking for some creative ideas for do-it-yourself ferret toys, here are seven great options.
The Top 7 DIY Ferret Toys
- DIY Ferret Tunnel Tower
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Materials: PVC pipe, ventilation tubing, wood block, glue
Tools: Scissors
Difficulty Level: Easy
Ferrets love a tunnel! This DIY Ferret Tunnel Tower is made out of a PVC pipe tower wrapped with a length of ventilation tubing. It’s a great way to give your ferret plenty of space to play in a small space. Just make sure that you choose tubing that is large enough for your ferret to fit through and long enough to navigate safely.
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Materials: PVC pipe, ventilation tubing, wood block, glue
Tools: Scissors
Difficulty Level: Easy
- DIY Ferret Play Dresser
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Materials: Plastic drawer unit, plastic Easter eggs, sand, treats, ferret tube
Tools: Drill
Difficulty Level: Easy
This Ferret Play Dresser is a great way to keep your ferret entertained. Simply fill the bottom drawer with sand and the top drawer with Easter eggs. Attach a ferret tube between the two drawers. You can even fill some plastic Easter eggs with treats before placing them in the drawers. Your ferret will have a blast trying to get the eggs and treats out!
Materials: Plastic drawer unit, plastic Easter eggs, sand, treats, ferret tube
Tools: Drill
Difficulty Level: Easy
- DIY Ferret Tube See-Saw
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Materials: Cardboard tubes, wood framing pieces
Tools: Saw, drill, metal braces, screws and nuts
Difficulty Level: Medium
This Ferret Tube See-Saw is a great way to keep your ferret entertained and active. It’s made out of a cardboard tube with wood framing pieces. Your ferret walks into the tube on one side, climbs upward, and when she gets past the middle of the tube, it will tip downward, and she will climb downward to get to the other side. It’s a stimulating and fun activity for adventurous ferrets.
Materials: Cardboard tubes, wood framing pieces
Tools: Saw, drill, metal braces, screws and nuts
Difficulty Level: Medium
- DIY Ferret Crinkle Sack
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Materials: Fabric scraps, crinkle paper
Tools: Scissors, sewing machine
Difficulty Level: Medium
This Ferret Crinkle Sack can be made with commercial crinkle paper, or you can use bubble wrap, an old shipping envelope, or any material that crinkles. If you have sewing experience, you can sew a few fabric scraps together to make a small sack, line with crinkle paper, and voila! Instant ferret fun.
Materials: Fabric scraps, crinkle paper
Tools: Scissors, sewing machine
Difficulty Level: Medium
- DIY Tied Fabric Scraps Cube Hide with Ladder
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Materials: Fabric scraps, cardboard box
Tools: Scissors, glue
Difficulty Level: Easy
This Fabric Scraps Cube Hide is a great way to provide your ferret with a cozy hiding spot. If you can cut shapes and tie knots, you can make this. Not only is it a cozy place to hide or nap, but the ladder entrance gives a little bit of enrichment and excitement to your ferret. For a little extra support, you can glue the fabric to a cardboard box cut into a small cube shape if you choose.
Materials: Fabric scraps, cardboard box
Tools: Scissors, glue
Difficulty Level: Easy
- Wiffle Ball Snack Foraging Toy
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Materials: Wiffle ball, dry food or treats
Tools: None
Difficulty Level: Easy
This Wiffle Ball Snack Foraging Toy is a great way to provide your ferret with some mental stimulation. Simply put some dry food, treats, or other ferret-safe snacks inside the wiffle ball and let your ferret figure out how to get to them. This is a great way to keep your ferret’s mind active and engaged. You can leave them on the floor or hang them from the top of their enclosure to make it more challenging.
Materials: Wiffle ball, dry food or treats
Tools: None
Difficulty Level: Easy
- Soda Box Tunnels
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Materials: Cardboard soda boxes, duct tape
Tools: Scissors
Difficulty Level: Easy
Tunnels are another favorite activity for ferrets. These Soda Box Tunnels are made out of cardboard soda boxes and duct tape. They’re easy to make and your ferret will love crawling through them. You can make them into any shape you want, and it’s a great way to recycle some materials.
Materials: Cardboard soda boxes, duct tape
Tools: Scissors
Difficulty Level: Easy
About Ferret Stimulation and Play Needs
Ferrets are very active and playful creatures, so it’s important to provide them with plenty of stimulation and enrichment. Toys are a great way to do this, as they can provide both mental and physical stimulation for your ferret. Foraging toys, in particular, are a great way to keep your ferret’s mind active, as they have to figure out how to get to the food or treats inside. Climbing toys are also a great way to provide your ferret with some exercise, as they will need to use their muscles to climb and jump.
Without enough stimulation, ferrets can become bored, which can lead to them developing some unhealthy behaviors, such as eating furniture or walls, pacing back and forth, or sleeping more than usual. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to switch up your ferret’s toys.
What are some good materials to use for ferret toys?
Cardboard, fabric, fleece, wiffle balls, and sticks are all great materials to use for ferret toys.
What are some good foods to put inside foraging toys?
Dry food, treats, or even fruits and vegetables can be good foods to put inside foraging toys.
How can I make my ferret toys more challenging?
You can make your ferret toys more challenging by adding obstacles, such as hanging them from the top of the enclosure or making them more difficult to open or climb on.
How often should I change out my ferret’s toys?
It’s a good idea to change out your ferret’s toys every few weeks to keep them from getting bored. You can also rotate their toys, so they have something new to play with every day.
What are some signs that my ferret is bored with their toys?
Some signs that your ferret is bored with their toys include chewing on furniture or walls, pacing back and forth, or sleeping more than usual. If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to switch up your ferret’s toys.
Conclusion
Ferrets are playful creatures that need plenty of enrichment and stimulation. Luckily, there are many easy and fun toys that you can make for your ferret at home with minimal materials or money involved. These toys will provide your ferret with mental and physical stimulation, as well as a way to express their natural behaviors. So, get creative and have fun making toys for your furry friend!
Featured Image Credit: Olga Pysarenko, Shutterstock
