How to Clean a Ferret Cage, Litter Tray and Hammocks

Ferrets have a reputation for smelling strong, but much of that smell comes from their home rather than the ferret. A ferret cage collects a busy litter corner, food stashed in odd places, splashed water, and a pile of hammocks and blankets that soak up scent. Keep those clean and the smell stays mild. This guide covers the daily spot clean, the litter tray, bedding and hammocks, the full clean, and which litters and cleaners to avoid.

It follows the ferret care advice of the RSPCA in Australia and the PDSA in the UK. Ask a veterinarian who treats ferrets about anything specific to your ferrets.

How often to clean

The PDSA’s routine is a daily spot clean and a weekly (or more) full clean. It says keeping your ferrets clean will minimise their smell and keep them healthy.

• Every day: the PDSA lists cleaning litter trays, washing and replacing any wet or soiled bedding, cleaning food and water bowls and bottles, and removing any uneaten fresh food.
• Every week: it says to wash all bedding and hammocks, and to strip out the enclosure and scrub it with a pet-safe cleaner.

The more ferrets share a cage, the more often the litter and bedding will need doing.

The daily spot clean

1. Scoop the litter tray (see below).
2. Swap out wet or dirty bedding. Towels and blankets near the litter corner or the water bowl are the first to need it.
3. Wash the food and water bowls and bottles. The RSPCA notes that ferrets often like to play in their water and can soil it, so cleaning the water bowls and giving fresh water regularly is important.
4. Hunt for hidden food. The PDSA warns that ferrets love hiding food, so check for stashes in hammocks, tunnels and corners, and take out uneaten fresh food before it spoils.
5. Wipe the walls behind the litter tray. Ferrets back into a corner to toilet, so the wall or splashback there gets dirty fast. A damp cloth with a little mild soap, then a clean damp cloth, does the job.

The litter tray

The RSPCA’s litter training advice covers how to keep the tray clean:

• Check it every day and use a litter scoop to pick up waste. It says your ferret may stop using a tray that gets too full.
• Leave a few droppings behind. The RSPCA says to leave some droppings in the tray so your ferret does not dig or play in it, and the smell reminds them where to go.
• Change it completely every 2 days. It says the tray should be washed with hot water and unscented soap and the litter changed completely every 2 days, or every day if several ferrets share the same tray.
• Use a splashback. Because ferrets back into a corner to toilet, the RSPCA suggests a splashback on the enclosure or the litter tray to help keep things clean. The PDSA says high sided corner trays tend to be best, as ferrets squirt their soft droppings upwards.
• Protect the floor around it. If your ferret digs in the tray, the RSPCA suggests lining around the outside of it with puppy pads.

Which litter to use

The RSPCA advises a dust-free, unscented litter such as recycled paper pellets or compressed wood pellets, filled to at least 5 cm. It says to avoid clay or clumping cat litter, which is too dusty and could damage your ferret’s respiratory system, and cedar and pine shavings, which can irritate the nose and lungs. The PDSA also says never to use a clumping cat litter, as ferrets may eat it.

Bedding, hammocks and blankets

• Wash them every week. The PDSA says washing all bedding and hammocks matters because they are usually the source of the “ferrety” smell. It adds that if your ferrets are neutered and their bedding is kept clean, they will only have a very slight smell.
• Use an unscented detergent and rinse well. Shake out hair and litter outdoors first, so it does not end up in your washing machine. See how to clean pet hair and odor out of the washer and dryer.
• Keep a second set of hammocks and blankets to swap in while the first set washes and dries.
• Check for damage. The RSPCA says towels and blankets are fine if your ferrets do not chew them and they have no loose strings. Throw out bedding that is chewed through or fraying.
• No wood shavings. The RSPCA says not to use wood shavings as bedding, as they can be harmful to a ferret’s respiratory system.

The weekly full clean

1. Move your ferrets to a safe, ferret-proofed room or a carrier while you work.
2. Take everything out: trays, bowls, bottles, hammocks, tunnels, toys and bedding.
3. Empty the litter tray and wash it with hot water and unscented soap.
4. Scrub the cage. The PDSA says to strip out the enclosure and scrub it with a pet-safe cleaner. Pay attention to the corners, ramps and shelves, and the floor under the litter tray.
5. Rinse well so no cleaner is left behind.
6. Dry it completely. The PDSA says to only let your ferrets back into their home once everything is completely dry.
7. Put it back together with clean bedding and a fresh tray, keeping the tray in the corner your ferrets use as a toilet.

The RSPCA notes ferrets have a sensitive respiratory tract, and says the enclosure must be well ventilated and easy to clean. Skip strongly scented sprays and air fresheners in and around the cage.

Accidents outside the cage

Ferrets out for play time will sometimes go in a corner of the room. The RSPCA says to clean any accidents outside the tray with a ferret-safe enzymatic cleaner, to remove smells that might bring them back to the same place, and to ask your veterinarian about products that are safe for ferrets. It also suggests keeping a litter tray in every room where your ferrets are let out. For accidents on carpet or a wood floor, see how to get pet urine smell out of carpet and pet urine on hardwood floors.

For pet rats and mice, see how to clean a rat or mouse cage.

A simple routine

• Every day: scoop the tray, swap wet bedding, wash bowls and bottles, find hidden food, wipe the toilet corner.
• Every 2 days: wash the litter tray and change the litter completely, or daily for several ferrets, as the RSPCA advises.
• Every week: wash all hammocks and bedding, and strip, scrub and dry the cage.
• Always: wash your hands after cleaning the cage or handling the litter.

For other small pet homes, see how to clean a hamster, guinea pig or rabbit cage.

Keep cleanup supplies ready

Our Pet Cleanup Kit is made for dog and cat accidents on carpets and fabrics. If you use any cleaner on a ferret accident, check with your veterinarian that it is safe for ferrets, as the RSPCA advises, and keep cleaning products out of the cage itself.

Frequently asked questions

How often should I clean a ferret cage?

The PDSA advises a daily spot clean and a full clean at least once a week, washing all bedding and hammocks and scrubbing the enclosure with a pet-safe cleaner.

How often should I change a ferret’s litter?

Scoop it every day. The RSPCA says to wash the tray with hot water and unscented soap and change the litter completely every 2 days, or every day if several ferrets share it.

What litter is safe for ferrets?

Dust-free, unscented recycled paper pellets or compressed wood pellets, as the RSPCA advises. Avoid clay or clumping cat litter and cedar or pine shavings.

How do I stop my ferret’s cage from smelling?

Wash the bedding and hammocks every week, keep the litter tray clean, and remove hidden food. The PDSA says dirty bedding is usually the source of the “ferrety” smell.

Sources

• RSPCA Australia: Where should I keep my ferrets?
• RSPCA Australia: How do I litter train my ferret?
• PDSA: The ideal home for your ferret

This guide is general cleaning information, not veterinary advice. If your ferret’s droppings, appetite or behavior change, talk to your veterinarian.