Ferret Proofing - the bedroom

If you plan on letting your ferret into the bedroom - and let's face it, who can resist taking a quick nap with their warm and fuzzy friend - then there are a few things that you need to do to make your room safe for your ferret. The biggest bedroom threat to your ferret is the boxspring. Like the bottom of the couch, the bottom of the boxspring is covered in a thin, easily ripped fabric, and in a battle between ferret and springs, whether in a couch or in a boxspring, the springs always win. Ferrets can be kept out of boxsprings the same way that they can be kept out of couches - either by stapling sheets to the bottom of the boxsping, or by placing the boxspring on the floor. If you have a foam mattress, you may not have to worry about a boxspring, but you do have to worry about your ferret shredding and possibly even eating the foam. In order to keep your foam mattress in one piece, you may wish to invest in a foam mattress cover or make sure that you keep your sheets tucked snugly around the mattress, leaving no part of it exposed to fuzzy claws. If you have children, or are a child at heart, make sure that all toys are stored out of fuzzy reach - rubber tires and rubbery toys are easily pulled apart and eaten by a ferret. A couple of bedroom reminders: Check all blankets for ferrets before sitting on your bed and if you use your floor as a horizontal closet, check your clothing for ferrets before stepping on it.

Ferret Proofing - the bathroom

Foamy, soapy, spongy, rubbery - those are the key words to keep in mind when ferret proofing the bathroom. Anything that is foamy, soapy, spongy or rubbery is a ferret magnet. Plugs, soap, plungers, toilet brushes (ok, they don't quite fit, but they do attract ferrets), razors with rubber grips, tooth and hairbrushes (again - rubbery grips) are all fair game in the world of the ferret. The trouble is that much of the stuff found in the bathroom is not ferret friendly. Plugs are easily chewed apart and ingested, soaps may make ferrets sick, etc. So how do you make the bathroom ferret-friendly? Well, in some cases you simply cannot successfuly do so and should just keep the door closed when ferret is about, but if you want to try or have a bathroom that can be ferret-proofed then here are some tips... if you have shower doors, keep them firmly closed. This will make the bathtub and its contents out of reach for fuzzy. If you do not have a shower door, store all soaps, shampoos, plugs, razors etc. high up and out of ferret reach. Make sure that rubbery anti-slip mats are moved out of ferret reach either by sticking them high on the wall or by closing shower doors - ferrets love to chew off and swallow the suction cups. Store the plunger under the sink(if your ferret cannot get under the sink) or, if string it under the sink is not an option, store it in a margarine or ice cream container with a small hole pocked through the top for the handle, but keep in mind that some ferrets will be able to figure out how to remove the lid. Do the same with the toilet brush - the chemicles on it can make fuzzy rather sick and maybe even kill him - its best not to take that chance. Keep the garbage out of reach along with feminine hygiene products (some ferrets love to steal them and rip them apart), and be sure to always keep the toilet covered - toilets are filled with fascinating smells and pose a big drowning risk to over curious ferrets.

Ferret Proofing - the kitchen

The kitchen can pose many hidden risks to a mischievous ferret. Gaps that allow fuzzies to get behind or underneath stoves, refrigerators and dishwashers MUST be blocked off - these appliances often have moving components underneath and can seriously injure or kill your ferret. If the grate of the bottom of your refrigerator pulls off easily, your ferret may be able to pull it off and get underneath - fasten it down as a precaution. One thing that I never thought of before getting my first ferret were cupboards. Some ferrets are excellent at getting into cupboards and though there may not be anything harmful to them in the cupboard, having ferrets climb through previously clean dishes is not something that most people enjoy. Magnetic child locks or locking cupboards are ideal for keeping pots and pans ferret-free.Other types of locks such as the ones that fasten on to the top corner of the cupboard will not keep fuzzy out of the cupboards (they will be able to pull the door open wide enough to fit in), but they will make the task of cupboard entry more difficult and noisey for the ferret, allowing you to hear what your pet is up to and catching him in the act. Now a final couple of thoughts about the kitchen... first - get a locking garbage can. Garbage is interesting to most pets, and ferrets are no exception. Your pet, at best, will pull garbage out of the can and stash it around your house (and it is NOT fun to play 'where is the smell coming from' as you search for the hidden garbage) and at worst eat something out of the garbage can, causing intestinal blockage or accidentally get thrown out with the trash. Second - make sure that your ferret stay OUT of the fridge. Odds are that your pet will want to explore the interior of the refrigerator and will attempt to climb in, if you are not careful you could wind up shutting him in - it wouldn't be fun to open the fridge to get an apple and finding a hypothermic ferret.

Ferret Proofing - the living room

Probably one of the biggest, if not THE biggest, living room hazard is the couch. Recliners and rocking chairs pose obvious risks and should be either disabled or placed in ferret-free zones. A less obvious and often overlooked hazard is the standard living room sofa. Though these pieces of furniture are stationary, they are not necessarily any safer than recliners or rocking chairs. The underside of couches, loveseats and chairs are often covered by a thin and easily torn piece of cloth. If a ferret manages to tear this cloth (of if the cloth is already torn), the dark, soft interior of the couch makes an irresistible bed for him or her. I have heard many tragic stories about ferrets being crushed between springs when their owner sat on the couch or of ferrets becoming stuck in loose materials and wires in the couch and strangling themselves. If you don't want your ferret ownership to end in tragedy, then make sure that you take steps to prevent your ferret from getting in to the couch; doing so is relatively simple. If the underside of your couch is in decent shape, then simply nail or stable a sheet to the bottom, covering up the thin material. Another option if to simply remove the feet of the couch. If the ferret can't get underneath, he can't rip the cloth to get in! Also be aware of holes IN your couch such as ones that may develop at the back corner by the arms. If your couch is holey, consider covering it with a couch cover or sew sheets over any openings that would allow your pet to gain access to the much sought after warm and soft interior of the couch.
With television sets and stereos, living rooms are often wire central. Though many ferrets show no real interest in chewing wires, the odd ferret may decide to take a nibble - with potentially deadly results. Preventing ferrets from chewing wires is not as tough as it sounds. You can invest in a platic wire cover such as those found at Ikea, London Drugs or Home Hardware, or you can cover the wires with aluminun foil (shiney side in) - most ferrets do not like to chew on the foil. If you don't think that your ferret chews wires but just want to deter him if he ever tries, you can try spraying them (the wires, not the ferrets) with bitter apple. This bitter tasting spray is non-toxic and leaves a bad taste in your ferret's mouth, discouraging him from trying out the wires again!*
*bitter apple does not work for all ferrets, and I recommend using the stronger dog formula for effectiveness

Ferret Proofing - the basics

These are basic ferret proofing tips that can apply to any room of the house.

To begin ferret-proofing, you need to lie on your stomach and look around. No, I'm not joking. This will give you a 'ferret's eye view' of the world and permit you to see many hazards that you may otherwise miss. Any space that is an inch big or more is, or can be made ferret accessible by determined fuzzies. Cover any spaces that lead to hazardous areas such as your heating system, you wall, the neighbour's apartment or the great outdoors with sturdy cardboard or duct tape. If you own the building in which you live and don't feel like reapplying tape and cardboard feel free to board the holes up. Don't forget to check for gaps between or under your baseboards and under your cabinets! If you have doors that are difficult to shut or have a tendency to swing open, you may want to consider ferret-proofing the rooms behind the doors because, after all, ferrets are excellent at prying open doors and have an uncanny ability to tell when a door is not securely shut. If the door that won't stay closed leads to the great outdoors, consider keeping it locked when the ferret is out and about to ensure that it does not swing open.
Screens are another big concern when it comes to ferrets. If the screens are loose fitting, they are easily pushed or pulled out of place by a roaming ferret. If they are secure, the screen can be torn by fuzzy ferret laws. When it comes to screens, there are two options: either keep your playing ferret away from them or, if that is not possible, consider having your existing screen replaced with some new-on-the-market 'catproof' screen*
*I have not tested this stuff yet myself, so I am not sure how well it works. If it as good as is claimed, great, but keep an eye on Bandit until you are certain that he cannot rip it.
If you are a green thumb, you'll want to pay special attention to this part... PLANTS ARE FERRET MAGNETS! The damp potting soil is absolutely irresistable to ferrets so unless you want the soil spread throughout your house and all your plants uprooted, consider placing them well out of reach or suspending them from the ceiling. If the plants is a large one which cannot be moved then remove about 2 inches or more of dirt from the top of the plant and cover it with wire and lots of large heavy rocks (though smaller ones can go on top for decoration).