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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 4:40:53 GMT -5
Hello, my ferret currently lives in an adapted dog kennel outside. I will be moving into a flat soon and he will become an Indoor ferret, and I want to get him the best cage possible. I feel like he needs lots of floor space as that is what he's used to, and I don't want him to feel too enclosed. ive narrowed it down to the below cages, though if anyone has more ideas I'd love to hear them! I'm in the UK, so something easily available would be great. Sorry for the links, I can't seem to post photos properly! www.petplanet.co.uk/product.asp?dept_id=456&pf_id=66329&utm_source=ShoppingFeed&utm_medium=cpc&gclid=COnI8eqYzMQCFYIfwwodUSQAZgLooks sturdy, has shelf, no scary gaps. Expensive www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Ferret_and_Chinchilla_High_Rise_Cage.htm2 levels no shelf on bottom, not a huge amount of floor space, worried about gaps between sections. Cheaper than above www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Chinchilla_or_Ferret_3_level_Cage.htmSimilar to above but 3 levels, same worries about gap. Also worried it would be too big for a small flat. And lastly, the wild card! t.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/hutches_cages/ferret_cage/95926I like it has holes instead as this gives more floor space and less options to fall. I do worry that the shelves are plastic though the reviews say it's great for ferrets and sturdy. Dismissing height, because of legs etc, it's only a little smaller around than the 3 tier cage, plus the price is amazing. Is it too good to be true? I'm not worried about the metal wire flooring on anything as I'm used to covering these things due to having pet rats before ferrets, so it really is size, practicality and which would make the transition from out door to indoor easier. Being inside he will get more outdoor time as I plan to let him free roam when I'm in, but he will be alone all day while I'm working so want to make sure he gets the best for him. He's boystrous, a bit of a hoarder and knows exactly what time he gets to come out and play; if I'm late he messes up his pen! Any ideas? Does anyone have experience of these cages, especially the last one? All opinions valued and appreciated! Thanks in advance! Andi
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Post by Heather on Mar 29, 2015 11:19:57 GMT -5
Ok...the last one though it looks like fun is a pain in the a**. You don't want to go there. The plastic floors don't hold up to a rough and ready ferret, it's hard to clean and set up....been there done that. My hobs who were just sleeping in the cage (door was left open, they came and went) broke the floor in the one level and took great pleasure in dismantling the ramp) I have the exact same one sitting in the basement, I've just not had the time to send it to the dump....Yah I like it that much. The first one is a FN it's the one that is most commonly used here. I've got complaints about it but it is one of the best and the safest on the market. I don't like it for large hobs 5lbs+. I keep my hobs on a single level (but I've got the space to keep the boys on a horizontal playing field). My jills like the cage though. It makes maximum use of limited space. I'm not familiar with the other two but I would be very concerned about the gap between the upper and lower level. If the ferret has access to that I would be terribly afraid of escape or worse a ferret getting stuck and dying. Just my thought on it ciao
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Post by Desiree on Mar 29, 2015 11:21:41 GMT -5
Something that a lot people don't take into a account is getting in the cage and cleaning it. That last one looks like it would be a huge pain. I did not have that exact one but with my first four ferrets, I had something very similar and I hated it. The plastic was flimsy and didn't secure onto the cage properly. I've had the plastic floors collapse under the ferrets weight. Thankfully none of my crew was hurt. Again, it was very hard to get into and clean as well.
I own three of the ferret(critter) nations now. Two for my hedgehogs, one for my ferrets. I love them! They are super easy to clean and get into, I love that I can remove the plastic bottoms, clean them and put them back. The shelves are much sturdier as well. I put up hammocks in as many places as possible to avoid falls and I even have a tunnel in my ferret nation. They are big.
I haven't heard anything about the other two but they look a lot like the ferret nations and seem sturdy and big, my only concern would be if the doors open up all the way.
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Post by crazylady on Mar 29, 2015 12:12:59 GMT -5
Hi I cannot comment on indoor cages but can I just point out bringing a ferret who has lived his whole life outside will be a big shock on the body you will go through some major shed patterns and please consider lighting even one extra hour light indoors can cause chaos to a ferrets body clock so try to factor lighting into his life style eg if its dark outside put him to bed via curtains lol if its light outside let him go crazy lol have fun and good luck take care bye for now Bev
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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 12:31:31 GMT -5
I'm in the UK and at the time I couldn't find a ferret nation anywhere, petplanet didn't even have them listed at the time. I managed to find a critter nation (basically the same cage but different mesh/bars) so bought that while it was still available. My female loves it, she can dash around half of the time she uses the bars or jumps on to the shelves rather than uses the ramps and leaps around like a monkey. I don't have the best examples of males, both of mine seem to have health problems making this cage not so ideal at the moment, but they aren't so great on the ramps, one falls off the shelves and so I have to make sure we have plenty of hammocks in the right place. But if your male is more agile and mobile it will probably be a great cage unless he's pretty big and hefty! hehe
We're planning on doing the opposite and once everyone is feeling better moving them outside, maybe bringing them in overnight or if we are out all day for their safety.
Can I ask where abouts in the UK you are? I'm on the West Yorkshire/Lancashire boarder.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 12:33:53 GMT -5
Im moving to a flat where I can't keep him out doors so he has to come inside. He spends most his play time indoors roaming the house, and I'll be doing it gradually, Ie, I'll start him off on my days off, and see how he goes and work days he will stay with my folks until he's more used to it. My plan is for him to free roam when I'm at home. Thanks for the advice on the cages, I thought that last one was too good to be true lol! And I am worried about those gaps on the other two. I found this one www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Liberta_2nd_Edition_Explorer_Rat%2C_Ferret_and_Chinchilla_Cage.htm which looks like a nation to me, I just wish they did it as a 3 tier. I do only have the one ferret and even though he's in a shed right now there's a lot of wasted space It because it's only 1 level. With hammocks and toys he'd probably have more to keep him busy than in the shed, I just worry he might feel closed in
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 12:39:06 GMT -5
I found this which looks similar to a nation. Didymus does a lot of climbing up the wire mesh on his shed and jumping on the sofas when he's inside or climbing on whatever he can find so he'd probably be ok with the different levels...I hope! im in Staffordshire, just outside Birmingham. No where seems to sell these type of cages locally so I can go and actually see them in real life! www.cagesworld.co.uk/p/Liberta_2nd_Edition_Explorer_Rat%2C_Ferret_and_Chinchilla_Cage.htmI'm in the UK and at the time I couldn't find a ferret nation anywhere, petplanet didn't even have them listed at the time. I managed to find a critter nation (basically the same cage but different mesh/bars) so bought that while it was still available. My female loves it, she can dash around half of the time she uses the bars or jumps on to the shelves rather than uses the ramps and leaps around like a monkey. I don't have the best examples of males, both of mine seem to have health problems making this cage not so ideal at the moment, but they aren't so great on the ramps, one falls off the shelves and so I have to make sure we have plenty of hammocks in the right place. But if your male is more agile and mobile it will probably be a great cage unless he's pretty big and hefty! hehe We're planning on doing the opposite and once everyone is feeling better moving them outside, maybe bringing them in overnight or if we are out all day for their safety. Can I ask where abouts in the UK you are? I'm on the West Yorkshire/Lancashire boarder.
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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 13:00:15 GMT -5
Yeah, that's the same sort of problem I had, I went to see what they had at pets at home and jollies as the smaller pet shops didn't have anything at all. I wasn't impressed with the size of most of them and wasn't sure they would last long with 3 ferrets in. I did see a really big rabbit cage that I was tempted to buy, but I was concerned our female would get stuck between the bars. In the end I went with the crowd and bought a critter nation. In my personal opinion I think they need more room. My hamster cage has a similar sized footprint so I was sort of expecting a ferrer (never mind 3) to need more. We are planning on putting them outside and it's what the rescue we got them from recommends too. Still looking for a nice solid shed or dog kennel and run. What do you use?
The Liberta looks good, but I like how with the CN and FN the locking mechanisms hold at the top and bottom of each door so you can open them separately and if the ferrets try to dig or push at the bottom (which is most likely where they would try it) it's not going to budge. I'm not sure how that door works. It looks like a sturdy cage though and £80 less. I had a look on youtube at their video and he had to use 2 hands to open it and he opened both doors at the same time. I have a daft ferret who walks off (not jumps) the upper part of the cage and shelves so that would be a negative for us. The pan at the bottom looks deeper so might be better to keep litter in, but the shelf looks very thin. I also worry about the steepness of the ramp that leads into the second half of the cage, it also looks close to the edge of the shelf. I'm sure my female would manage but don't think my clumsy males would get up or down easily.
Might also be worth having a look at the Savic range, I think it's they are called 'royal' but there might be some others too. I think that cage is more similar to a FN. Similar price range too though.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 14:28:44 GMT -5
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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 16:09:12 GMT -5
Thanks for the link to the picture. Did you have to do much to it to make it safe? I don't want to put mine out until I know what is going on with one of them but once he gets the all clear I need to get a move on and get them out before Summer.
With the price difference I think not having the latches is perfectly reasonable, and if you only have one ferret and he's not that clumsy and daft (like mine!) then it will be a great cage for him. I think with more ferrets having a hand free is quite important, but then again I'm thinking about blocking mine in or having to hold onto one of them or trying to put bowls in while Mako is about to fall, Bolin is hovering near the edge and Korra is attempting to give them that extra push... And possibly trying to bite me.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 29, 2015 16:54:16 GMT -5
All I had to do to ,ake it ferret safe was put a smaller mesh of chicken wire over the wire there as it's quite widely spaced. My current boy wouldn't be able to fit through I don't think, but I had 2 teeny weenie ferts that could well have got stuck. The inside part has an enclosed floor, but the run part had no floor so it's on slabs and I just reinforced the corners and edges with an extra piece Of wood, more because of my own paranoia than anything!
It's a bit tired now, i repainted it all last year, but it really needs some pieces replacing...I'm not very diy savvy though!
I looked into the Savic cage, but the bases are plastic, so I think the liberta still has the edge. I wish I could see them side by side!
Didy is forever climbing the mesh on his pen and sliding down, he's not too clumsy, just boystrous, and a scratcher. If there's a corner you don't want him in or a dor that he's not meant to go through he will scratch until he gets through! So I think metal trays would be sturdier. Shane though,as the door latches on the savic are better! And it's a few inches wider
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Post by RedSky on Mar 29, 2015 17:03:24 GMT -5
The trays in my critter nation are plastic too. At the moment I can't open the doors fully as the cage is next to a wall so it helps that I can bend them ever so slightly. I have managed to crack the bottom pan trying to push it too hard getting it back in. Now I don't take them out, just use a bucket and sponge to clean, a towel to dry then throw a clean fleece in the cage. Once I get the cage moved I will be happy pulling the trays out and cleaning them in the shower or outside, leaving them to dry and putting proper covers (homemade) on them.
Thanks for the answers, that's really helpful and makes sense.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2015 14:23:33 GMT -5
I think you've definitely helped me decide on which to go for, I can always add another catch to the doors but I'll be stumped if I cracked the bases!
Thanks for your help Xx
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Post by RedSky on Mar 31, 2015 9:31:50 GMT -5
Yeah, the crack in mine is tiny and they can't get to it. It's still a worry every time I change bedding though. And I can't seem to find any replacement parts in the UK, loads for the US, but none for over here. I think you are best going for a UK cage, that you can find parts of, it you want them. I'm on the look out for some extra shelves to make it more Mako friendly for the next couple of months until I get him outside (if the vet says he's well enough).
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Post by Deleted on Apr 1, 2015 3:19:18 GMT -5
You may or may not have already selected your cage. If not I have the Blenhirm your last choice which has the plastic levels with holes. I have been using said cage for nearly six months and have since bought two more. With such a great price you don't expect the solid structure of the SAVIC or Liberta Explorer type cages; however I have found it to be of a solid construction, the levels make a very satisfying click when attached. I have found it too be a very safe adaptable option which is easy to clean. We aren't useing a litter box just newspaper in there corners of preference, I take the newspaper out each day and wipe down the levels with a 50/50 white vinegar, water solution. An pop all the levels out and put them in the bath tub with washing up liquid and a scrubbing brush once every four weeks.
I currently have two joined together for my larger group, we are going too add a third soon. I have also used a SAVIC for eight months and utterly prefer the Blenhiem. I think the life span may only be 5-6,years possible longer certainly less in comparison to a SAVIC which is absolutely solid. But I would happily replace a Blenhiem time and time again whilst they are available,they are my preference in a one bedroom flat.
If your on the facebook page I can send you a video of my lot playing in their cage. Just pop me a PM
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