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Post by RedSky on Mar 21, 2015 7:38:55 GMT -5
So three things that I need a 'pretty' way to ferret proof. There will be plenty more but these are the three major ones for their safety.
First the banister across the landing and eventually down the stairs. At the moment we have wooden boards (that are supposed to be for my hamster cages) blocking the banister across the landing. Before we had that there I refused to let them walk out on the landing, Korra is too nosey and sticks her head straight through, Mako has no idea what heights are and Bolin itches so suddenly and rolls around he'd just fall straight through. It's not safe. Any ideas on how to fix it. My OH thinks we should just get some plexiglass sheets, drill holes through it and tie it on with cable ties. That to me cries a big hideous mess. Don't get me wrong my fuzzies safety is more important than how my house looks but something that suits both would be nice.
Eventually they will be allowed downstairs too, we're building something to keep the hamsters super safe (or if I'm not happy with it, the ferrets are going to outlive the hamsters anyway) so we need something that would work for the banisters on the stairs as well as the landing.
Secondly the doorway. I need something that will allow me to open the door without hitting them with it when they are in their room. The door opens inwards and all three are useless at getting out of the way. Mako especially when he's underfoot or something comes towards him just rolls over and tries to mouth it. I need to like build something that can't be climbed over by Korra, can be taken down when we need to use the room for guests but keeps them away from the door. I'm currently thinking of using the playpen, putting some hooks on the walls and using tunnels over the top so she can't grip the top to climb over. But I also don't want her hurting herself trying to get over. Any ideas?
The last thing, but also one of the most important ones is the cage itself. I have a ramp that goes onto the first level, nice big, low incline, perfect. But how do I stop them from climbing the cage. I'm thinking of attaching like a shelf around the outside of the second level so she can't get past it, but again it's still to dangerous she will hurt herself in the process. Then I was thinking of attaching some material to the doors (inside and out) and around the outside of the bottom of the cage so she can't grip. I have no idea what material, how to make it look nice or if it will actually work. Any thoughts on how to do this or what else might work would be great. The cage would still need to be fully useable in terms of moving (main reason we wanted one on wheels), closing the doors and housing the ferrets safely.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2015 8:53:32 GMT -5
I think the plexiglass will look best. If the seams are put behind the boards, you will barely see it from below. It is also one of the few things they can't climb.
I just open doors slowly. It won't hurt them to give a little push with the door.
Why are you worried about them climbing the outside of the cage? Many people have ferrets that climb them. Dual purpose ferret toy.
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Post by bitbyter on Mar 21, 2015 9:02:35 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2015 10:24:03 GMT -5
My best friend's ferret Leche loves to climb the cage so he ziptied plastic tubing to it so when he gets to the top, he can safely get down through the tube. He uses the tube more often than climbing now though.
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Post by Blue on Mar 21, 2015 10:38:53 GMT -5
I think the plexiglass will look nice if it's cut to be properly aligned with the banisters. Maybe also make it the same height so that there's no extra "wall". As for cage-climbing -- I don't know if this would work, but what about getting a privacy cover and fastening it tightly to the cage, so they can't get a grip? I don't think the material is easy to climb (claw-resistant!). www.ferret.com/item/privacy-cover-for-ferret-and-critter-nation/650386/Hopefully someone else with a climbing ferret will chime in and tell us if this doesn't work. The only time Maisie ever climbed anything was when she was on cage rest for surgery and desperate to get out. After that I figured being out was more restful than cage rest. |
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Post by Desiree on Mar 21, 2015 12:40:43 GMT -5
I use a three foot tall piece of plywood. It's designed for animals so in case any one chews on it (dogs mainly) won't get sick. The only problem I have is that I would like to be able to see my babies. We might modify it, but for right now the dogs are out of that area and the ferrets are kept out of the kitchen.   I also think that plexiglass is the way to go for the banister. |
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 21, 2015 13:09:34 GMT -5
I'd go with plexi, too. The issue with climbing the outside of the cage is falls. I have seen 2 incidents where a fuzz fell while climbing a FN and died. Out of how many that do it is unknown.
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 21, 2015 13:25:21 GMT -5
I'd go with plexi, too. The issue with climbing the outside of the cage is falls. I have seen 2 incidents where a fuzz fell while climbing a FN and died. Out of how many that do it is unknown. And of course that's not to say that they're immune from accidents otherwise  |
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Post by RedSky on Mar 21, 2015 17:36:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies, for the banisters it looks like plexiglass is the best (maybe only) option. I will have a look and get some ordered.
I don't want any of them climbing the cage, Korra is a master at climbing up but not so much climbing back down once she's on something, she's okay at sliding back down if she's still going up if that makes sense. I'd hate for her to be stuck up there all night or fall down and hurt herself. Mako has also followed her once while she was climbing and he just lets go and expects to be okay. Luckily I was right there when it happened so I caught him, otherwise he would have landed on his back the way he fell. He has also stepped out of the top half of the cage before, this time I had my back to him and he landed on the floor. I didn't see how me landed but he was a bit shaken up about it. I panic easily when it comes to my loved ones and called the vet, they said to keep a close eye on his and if I notice anything at all to rush him straight over. He was fine, although maybe that accounts for his recent funny episodes with his back end, although it was about a month or more ago.
I'll have a go at making a cover for the cage, I've got some cotton sheets (quilt covers) that I could use, she struggles to climb the quilt when it's hanging off the bed, but can climb fleece and towels. If she can climb it I will have to try a different material or even use some plexiglass and tubes in places to stop he getting too high, maybe on the inside of the doors and all around the bottom of the cage? I'll go with cotton sheets first, easier and cheaper and still allow for better airflow than plexi.
The problem with the doorway is Mako rolls over and I'm worried I might trap a paw under the door. It would also be easier if there was an inner part to stop them running out when ever I open the door. It would also mean I could leave the door open so they can get a bit more air and stop the room being so stuffy especially in summer. I'll try the playpen with a tunnel on top so Korra can't grip it. I think it will be the easiest to set up and quickly take down when I need to.
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Post by Desiree on Mar 21, 2015 18:09:43 GMT -5
You can also put a whole bunch of hammocks up in the cage, overload it with hammocks, that way when they fall, something will catch them.
The doorway I have is basically touching the ground. A paw can't really get stuck underneath and you can see over it to see if any fuzzers are in the way. If you aren't super short, you can reach over and pluck them up. I'm an inch over five foot and I can reach them to move them out of the way if need but the door just pushes them over and I have never had a paw stuck.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 21, 2015 19:44:32 GMT -5
Sorry, it's them climbing the outside of the cage which is the problem. Inside isn't too bad, only Korra climbs inside and she's great at going up, not too far to fall if something happens and easy for her get back down the ramps or use hammocks and other stuff.
As for the doorway the door opens into the room and I'd need to shut it when we weren't in just incase one of them managed to climb it somehow. With having rodents as pets too I need to be extra careful. Plus I'm sure my OH and I would sleep better if the door was closed on a night as we can't close our door as we have the water boiler in a cupboard in our room so it gets far too hot and the last thing we want is to hear them rustling their tubes and clanging stuff around like they do.
Sorry I should have been more specific. I'll try get pictures tomorrow if that would help.
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Post by Desiree on Mar 21, 2015 20:27:03 GMT -5
You can put it on one side of the door and still be able to shut it. If we still had a door there, we would be able to close it. I'm not saying you have to use this option, I'm just letting you know what works for us. I have tiny creatures too that I would never want my ferrets around and I leave them with just that door when I leave the house. It's three feet tall and I trust it.
Climbing outside of the cage sucks! I'm glad mine have never tried.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2015 23:52:08 GMT -5
I have heard that putting a cover on the cage will get them to stop climbing and it gives them a nice dark environment for sleeping. I have a cat bed on the top of mine and the backside is against my bed, so they fall safely against a nice cushy surface when they decide to 'slide' (I get exactly what you mean by that, hahaha) down to the bottom. I agree with your concern, but mine only climb it from the bed and not the front or the sides. As for the door problem, you can try two things. You can get one of those strange 'double' doors that have the top and the bottom half, I've heard multiple accounts of ferrants using those successfully and they aren't too hideous. There is also trying to switch the door to swing the opposite direction (if that is possible, or using a baby gate with Plexiglas surface. I seem to have been lucky and found a gate that doesn't used latices and just uses a plexi/un-climbable surface. I am extremely please with it (as it keeps my rug-rats out of the cat liter which is a must!). You could keep the door open, be able to see your ferrets, and solve the rolly-polly problem all at once! Hopefully that helps  |
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Post by RedSky on Mar 22, 2015 5:31:53 GMT -5
Brilliant, thanks for the ideas. I'll talk them all over with my OH since he's going to be the one to install them and see what we think would work best.
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lefertmama
Junior Member
Raw Feeder
6 Fuzzies, yup gotta love Ferret Math!
Posts: 231 
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Post by lefertmama on Mar 22, 2015 11:06:43 GMT -5
Cage climbing is def a tough one, I put a heavy blanket over the top of my cage that hangs about halfway down to deter climbing, but I have 2 who climb it all the time, the blanket worked as they would climb the bars then get stuck underneath and have to slide down. Plexiglas made to fit the banister is def the best bet my sister did that for her kids and it is still there, you can't even tell. As for the door, not much can be done there, maybe a dutch door so you can open the top and see were they are before you open it, or cut the middle of the door out and add in a Plexiglas window? They are pretty good we not letting themselves get hurt with an opening door, the main things is the human who opens the door to fast, causing injury.
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