Ferrets make a fun pet for anyone looking for a furry companion that’s adorable and social, yet not quite as high maintenance as a dog or a cat. These relatives of otters, weasels, and badgers are playful and clever—keep in mind that their name is derived from furonem, the Latin word for “thief.” That’s one of the reasons why if you do decide to adopt a ferret, you’ll want to invest in the right type of cage.
Even though ferrets do sleep a lot and are happy to spend the bulk of the day in their crate, vets recommend they get at least four hours of supervised playtime outside of it, so you’ll still want to ferret proof your home. Ferrets are also notorious chewers and escape artists, so selecting the right type of cage for your furball is essential.
Read on for the best ferret cages available.
Best Overall
Prevue Hendryx Black Feisty Ferret Cage
Ferrets are lightweight bundles of energy—females weigh anywhere from 0.75 pounds to 2.5 pounds and neutered males clock in at 2 to 3.5 pounds. This top-rated cage offers four levels of living/play space, including two plastic platforms and three plastic ramps for your critter to climb in between them. The door on the mid-level floor can be closed off to create two separate cages, should the need arise, though female ferrets and neutered male ferrets tend to get along with each other in same or mid-sex couplings.
The two doors to the outside open on one-side only and feature brushed nickel, escape-proof locks. Another top feature is the high-quality wrought iron construction that’s powder-coated. You will have to assemble this one once it arrives—plan on spending anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes to do so.
Best for One
Ferplast Two-Story Tower Ferret Cage
If you’re only adopting one ferret, make sure you get a cage that’s decked out with everything they’ll need to keep themselves entertained between playtimes with you. This Ferplast Ferret Tower is a large, metal cage that comes with two ramps, three adjustable platforms, two play tubes, and a hanging hammock that’s made for cozy naps once the ferret has finally worn themselves out.
You’ll like that this crate has two latched doors on each level, plus a roof-top door for easy access and two 6-inch deep pans to hold their litter. Though it’s a little more expensive than other options, the price does include a large water bottle, litter pan, and food dish.
Best for a Pair
MidWest Homes for Pets Deluxe Ferret Nation Small Animal Cages
This large, two-story crate has ample room for your duo of furry fun—ferrets are social and do love to have a partner (or two!) if you’re up for bringing more than one home. This Ferret Nation cage has bars spaced one-inch apart, plus secure ferret-proof latches so even if they work together, they won’t be able to pull a disappearing act.
The cage comes with two adjustable shelves, three plastic ramps along with ramp covers, and two leak-proof pans. The sturdy metal cage has full-width double doors that make cleaning easy and it has places where you can attach accessories like hammocks, tubes, and toys, all sold separately.
Best Extra Large
Yaheetech 6-Tier Rolling Ferret Cage
With overall dimensions of 25 x 17 x 52 inches, this six-tiered cage has more than enough room for your ferret to play, roam, and sleep. It has three doors placed at different levels, it's easy to toss in a treat or let your ferret out to play in your home.
The cage is constructed of durable, yet gentle-to-the-touch powder-coated metal and the corners are rounded with smooth seams to the cage’s aesthetics. It comes with three ramps, a water bottle, food bowl, plus a slide out tray for litter. It also has smooth-rolling casters so you can easily move it from room to room.
Best for Travel
Kaytee My First Home Multi-Level Ferret Cage
When you’re hitting the road and want to take your ferret with you, this My First Home from Kaytee is a dependable option. The 15-pound cage is one of the lighter ones available and the powder-coated metal crate snaps together, which means you can assemble it or disassemble it in a matter of minutes. That feature comes in handy, too, when it’s time to clean—simply detach the base and clean.
This cage has four levels and three ramps for your pet to climb and it comes with a food dish. It's too small to use as your ferret's main habitat, so you’ll want to reserve this one for your travels only and be sure to give your pet plenty of supervised playtime outside of the cage whenever possible.
Best Foldable
Marshall Pet Products Folding Ferret Mansion
At nearly 4.5 feet high, this ferret cage is spacious, but if you need to reclaim the space in your living room for any reason, it folds flat for easy storage. (As always, be sure your ferret is in a safe place when you take them out.)
The black powder-coated cage has three metal mesh platforms connected by three metal mesh ramps; there are also three access doors. While the size is ideal, determined ferrets may be able to escape from the bottom of this pick. As a workaround, consider using zip ties to better secure the tray in place.
Best Cage Cleaner
Nature's Miracle Cage Cleaner 24 oz, Small Animal Formula
The challenge with a cage cleaner spray is that you want something that will be strong enough to cut through odors, yet gentle enough that it won’t irritate your ferret’s respiratory system. This Nature’s Miracle Small Animal Cage Cleaner Spray delivers on both counts.
The enzymatic formula helps to remove the odors, rather than cover them up with fragrances—and it doesn't leave behind a strong scent. Remember when you’re cleaning to take not only your pet out from the cage, but also its food, water bottle, and any toys.
Prevue Hendryx Feisty Ferret Home with Stand (view at Amazon) won our top pick for its quality and value. Its locks are chew-proof and escape-proof and it comes with a bonus hammock. If you’re bringing home a pair of ferrets, the MidWest Homes for Pets Deluxe Ferret Nation Double Story Unit (view at Amazon) offers ample room on four floors for your pets to roam.
What to Look for in a Ferret Cage
Size
Though ferrets don’t weigh much, they can grow to be as much as 16-inches in length—and even ferrets on the smaller size need plenty of room to exercise. That’s why for everyday use, you’ll want a cage that measures at least 24 x 24 x 18 inches. Whatever size cage you get, remember to take them out for playtime in a ferret-proofed space for at least four hours a day.
A Secure Lock
Ferrets are known to be escape artists, so a cage with a secure lock is an absolute must. Not only could they get lost if they do manage to break free, they might gnaw furniture in your home or chew through wires or a screen door and make their way into the outdoors. Ferrets are known to swallow anything they can get their mouths on, which can make them sick. Examine the lock on your cage closely and if you do notice your pet trying to open it, consider a backup lock.
Accessories
Ferrets are playful animals and will thrive in a cage with different levels for them to run up and down. Look for a cage that comes with a hammock for sleepy time and a place to attach toys.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This piece was written by Anne Fritz, who has been researching pet products for The Spruce for more than two years. Before writing this article, she gathered information from customer reviews, third-party articles, and brand websites' details. She also reviewed veterinary websites to learn about the healthiest habitats for ferrets.