Tubing
by Margaret Merchant
Ferrets are very intelligent and have a great sense of humor. Because of this they need lots of mental stimulation and interaction with their people. One of the best ways to do this is to play with them! There is only one requirement for playtime, that is to make it as safe as possible.
One of the most loved toys of ferrets is tubing. As a creature who is built for running through underground dens, running through a length of tubing is a natural for them. And believe it or not, there are lots of ways for you to make tunnels for them.
Of course, probably the easiest way is to buy the clear tubing made for ferrets. It is like dryer hose but is much sturdier and meant to take the punishment a ferret can give it. You can wrap it into various knots to give them courses that run up and down and around. The great thing about these tubes is that you can see your ferret run through them, often wagging their tale in joy. The downside? They can be quite pricey. Online, you can find these at The Ferret Store. A cheaper alternative to these are the flexible tubing sold for dryer venting, however these do not stand up nearly as well. Plus they have the disadvantage of not being clear.
One really great playtime activity is to get a ferret in the clear tubing, and stretch it out between two people and sway it back and forth. They do love this. Also, I will take an end of the tube and let them climb up part of the way and “shake” them back down. Trust me, if they don’t want to go, they can stop themselves. But they love to climb and many of mine love this activity.
Also some folks use hvac tubing ( air condition duct tube). These tubes come in various sizes and extra long lengths. These tubes are very sturdy and are not clear of course, but they work well. They come in insulated and uninsulated, be sure to get the uninsulated. You can find them at a hvac supply house.
One free way to create tunnels for ferrets is by getting boxes and taping them together. I found a great box for the ferrets at my local fireplace store dumpster, chimney flue boxes. They are square, long and sturdy.
A very versatile way to create a very sturdy maze can be found at your local home improvement store such as Home Depot or DYI. French drain tubing, also known as perforated drainage tubing comes in lengths up to 100 feet and can be combined with various pre made joints including “elbows” and “t’s” that can make a maze that goes around furniture or under beds. You can shape circles, straight aways and right angles with this tubing. Since it has ridges in it, it also makes it easier to climb for your ferret so you can use it to attach to cages also. The main draw back is that you can’t see your ferret playing in it, but you can hear their tails wagging as they “drum” against the sides of the tube or hear them slide down as their toes rub against the walls. Since the tubing is only about 6 inches round, it can easily fit between a wall and furniture, while being barely noticeable.
And remember, while all these things are great fun for your ferret, the best way to stimulate their playtime is with your presence.