Enrichment and Play in Domestic Ferrets

Enrichment, play, and time out of the cage are important for the welfare of pet ferrets. Photo: grynold / Shutterstock By Zazie Todd, PhD Ferrets are popular pets because they are curious, playful and engaging. A new study by Sarah Talbot et al (Charles Stuart University, Australia) looks at play, behaviour problems and enrichment in domestic ferrets. Despite a reputation for aggression, it seems that ferrets rarely bite – and they love toys. According to the American Ferret Association, ferrets “ are independent, yet enjoy being with people. Their mischievous and playful nature, retained well into old age, makes them entertaining companions. ” It is estimated that there are 334 ferrets per 1000 households in the US, and many owners have multiple ferrets. According to the UK's National Ferret Census , most ferrets are kept as companion animals, but about 20% are both working and companion ferrets. This page contains affiliate links. The study invo