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Post by bitbyter on Jun 1, 2011 20:56:41 GMT -5
Hello all,
I have a question about hardwood floors and ferret traction. I'm not sure if this qualifies as enrichment or a possible medical issue / question.
My ferret room has hardwood floors and I've never really seen my fuzz(ies) run, they just kind of shuffle quickly. Yesterday I took her over to my parents place and let her loose in their basement which is carpeted. WOW what a treat for her. She was in traction heaven, I don't think she stopped galloping around the room for a good 30 minutes. After that all hoooman interactions involved super active war dancing that for sure would cause wipeouts on the hardwood.
My question is, given the obvious lack of traction on hardwood that they have, is the better choice for their enrichment carpet? I also wonder if the modified gait they have to use so they don't slip on hardwood might hinder their leg muscles over time?
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Post by Sherry on Jun 1, 2011 21:48:53 GMT -5
I don't think anyone here has seen any long term problems with not using carpet.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 1, 2011 22:17:41 GMT -5
Carpet is surely fun though! Great times
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Post by Sherry on Jun 1, 2011 22:19:03 GMT -5
at least until it's potty time ;D
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Post by Heather on Jun 1, 2011 22:24:24 GMT -5
My guys developed a funny gait for awhile while they learned to use the ceramics, after using nothing but hardwood. They've now got over it and have decided like a kid who learns how to "drift" the car that corners are fantastic and usually results in major crashes with the wall or missing your opponent altogether ciao
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Post by joclyn on Jun 1, 2011 22:40:47 GMT -5
i have hardwood. it helps to make sure the claws are always pretty short so that their paw pads make full/complete contact with the floor (the claw tips slip/slide even more than pads).
i usually have a sheet down so they can really let loose without having to worry about sliding into things and thus curtailing their natural exhuberance! i use playpens and i tuck the ends of the sheet under the pens so that they stay in place (to a point, lol). you can also use furniture or boxes or even piles of books to hold the sheet down.
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Post by goingpostal on Jun 1, 2011 22:51:50 GMT -5
I have hardwoods as well, with plastic sheeting over it and had thought about getting another large cheap rug to put in the middle for that reason, I had that originally but had a ferret who pottied everywhere and it was impossible to keep clean with him so I got rid of it. I do have several spots with blankets and such down and the rest of the upstairs has carpet and shag in the one room which they love it's old and ugly so they can scratch it to their hearts desire.
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Post by bitbyter on Jun 2, 2011 8:41:46 GMT -5
Thanks for the input everyone. I was initially glad of hardwood when litter training but now that everyone has well adjusted habits I think I may purchase a cheap area rug or get a section of carpet for the room. War Dancing and galloping with the proper traction is just to much fun to miss out on.
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Post by sherik on Jun 2, 2011 15:15:33 GMT -5
That is why my ferrets all LOVE to play upstairs in my house. It is carpeted and they get good traction. Plus it is a huge empty room, well with tubes and toys.
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