Reddit reviews MidWest Homes for Pets 182 Ferret Nation Double Story Unit, 1-Year Manufacturer Warranty

This information could vary depending on where you live, as for the United States. Make sure you’re familiar with your local laws on ferrets and your landlords policy before you commit to anything.You’ll most likely come across Marshall ferrets if you’re getting from a pet store. You want to look for the double dot tattoo on their ear that indicates they’ve been descented and spayed/neutered. You should always have at least two ferrets because they’re social animals and get depressed alone. They’re very social and need someone to keep them company whenever you can’t. You really can’t take the place of a second ferret playmate because you cannot play like a ferret and there will be times when they are without you and you can’t cuddle up in their hammock with them lol I find females are easier to train but boys can be very sweet too. They do bite and that needs to be trained out of them. It’s a good idea to research some training techniques before hand so you’re prepared and can be consistent from the start. They relieve themselves in corners so that can be used to your advantage when potty training them. Some people use litter boxes with pellets (never kitty litter), personally I use weewee pads and secure them in place with tape. If they’re not secure they will run away with them and tear them up lol. They do poop a lot and you have to keep up with cleaning it up. They’re super smart and energetic so they need enrichment. Tunnels, ball pits, and toys are a must. They also need lots of out of the cage time (minimum of 4 hours a day but the more the better) if you can dedicate a ferret proof section of your house that is ideal, my ferrets have their own bedroom so they are never confined to a cage. If they are roaming in a non ferret proof room they need to be closely monitored because they can be seriously injured if they chew on a wire, get stepped on, knock over something glass, or get into food that would be toxic for a ferret etc. As far as cages go I recommend a ferret nation cage, the double doors makes cleaning it easier and it’s an appropriate size for a ferret. Wysong digestive support is a good food for them. Grizzly’s salmon oil too. Be careful when picking a food because they cannot have vegetables, grains, or soy and many leading pet food brands do have them. They are strictly carnivores and should never eat dairy, sugar, fruits, vegetables, or grains/breads. They need their ears cleaned once a week and their hammocks and beds need to be washed. The majority of their musky smell comes from their ears so keeping up with that will keep the smell under control. They don’t need baths very often, frequent baths could dry out their skin. Their nails also need to be clipped and this is better off done as a two person job so one person can scruff ( held up by the skin on the back of their neck like a cat would hold a kitten in her mouth) and the other person can clip the nails. Make sure you don’t clip too fair back or you could make them bleed. You can usually see the vein in their nail and avoid it but it is something you need to be careful about and don’t want to do if they’re squirming. Another tactic is to try it right after they’ve fallen asleep so they’re docile enough to let you do it. or you can rub some salmon oil on their tummy so that they’ll be distracted licking it off. Don’t use ferretvite/ferretone/vitamin pastes marketed towards ferrets it contains harmful ingredients (sugar) for ferrets. Keep styptic powder on hand in case of an accident. Their teeth also need to be cleaned. Constant access to fresh water in a bowl (not a bottle) is a must. Don’t leave the lights on for them, the dark is good for their melatonin regulation which helps prevent adrenal disease. I would also recommend keeping an empty emergency kennel above their cage in case of a fire or any other event that would need you to evacuate quickly. It’s also important to have a vet on hand. If you get a Marshall’s ferret they’re usually all taken care of medically before you adopt them but you still need to keep up with routine vaccinations and they are sensitive creatures and are prone so certain problems like insulinoma and adrenal disease, they are also very accident prone and you don’t want to wait until something is wrong to look for a vet. Most conventional cat/dog vets won’t see ferrets because they are considered exotic. You should also familiarize yourself with blockage protocol. They live up to 8 years and take a lot of time, energy, love, patience, and commitment. They are a long term commitment so make sure you’re up for it and your schedule allows for it before you adopt. Good luck :)

MidWest Deluxe Ferret Nation Double Unit Ferret Cage (Model 182) Includes 2 leak-Proof Pans, 2 Shelves, 3 Ramps w/Ramp Covers & 4 locking Wheel Casters, Measures 36" L x 25" W x 62.5" H Inches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_ENuCDb2RWR1V5

Wysong Ferret Epigen 90 Digestive Support - Dry Ferret Food, Four - 5 Pound Bags https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019W9VYPY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_cOuCDb9EA300W

Grizzly Omega Health for Dogs & Cats, Wild Salmon Oil/Pollock Oil Omega-3 Blend https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074N97RFP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_wOuCDbJGSXZ2Y

https://holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/common-behavior-problems/ferret-bite-training/

https://holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/common-behavior-problems/litterbox-boot-camp/

https://holisticferretforum.com/health/blockages/blockage-protocol/

https://holisticferretforum.com/care-and-enrichment/cages-and-bedding/464-2/ferret-litters/

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTvMXyhwVBu5TLnYSvGhqJqr_vE_-x_1BADF7dPwatwlB9l--m02ZN23FqvPNqp3v-n5cJyOuSssVfn/pub?fbclid=IwAR1-YBxbLHkIRRgR9JgFZUD6zaxtOYq0W0dxfcpdEXUB51q8aHu2A3PZ_H0

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ps63TeKhcYB9L7YUxxBkGTjXQHSkGjVu/view?fbclid=IwAR2v0jT04d3cTa0Ixv3JUATp7wTTbv0WIwDaumJICWULdWhrMiF_7zmL_KM

This is basically the run down I send to all first time ferret parents on here but to also answer your specific questions 11 hours is okay as long as they have at least 4 hours out of the cage (the more the better though). Raw diet is good but anticipate varying stools. If you want easy and consistency I would go with kibble. I have a ferret proof room where there are no accessible wires but if you can’t provide that duct tape and zip ties are a good idea.
Here is a list with cost estimates https://www.reddit.com/r/ferrets/comments/ao29zy/the_cost_of_owning_ferrets_2019_edition/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf

Some tips for ferret owning if youre interested. Ferrets are obligate carnivores, do not buy any brand of food that says theyre for ferrets. Most of it is garbage that can kill your ferret. Get a high quality cat kibble here is a link to a chart that has a good list of options. Raw feeding is another good option, here is a forum that teaches about that. They should never have anything but meat or high quality oils, such as salmon oil for treats.

Ferrets need a ton of space to live well these are the best two cages. ferret nation and feisty ferret. The last one you will need to get something to put over the bars to protect their feet though.

Ferrets should not be bathed more than once a month, and only if they are visibly dirty. If you bathe them more than that their body produces more of the musk and they will smell like ass.

Ferrets should always be kept in pairs, especially if they have always been kept with another. They say the best toy for a ferret is another ferret for a reason. Ferrets also require a lot of out of cage play time, so a ferret proofed house or a play pen is required. They will attempt to eat anything and they will get intestinal blockages easily. This will kill them very quickly. There is a "protocol" for trying to get blockages out which includes feeding them raw canned pumpkin. However, the majority of the time they need surgery.

Please feel free to ask me anything about keeping ferrets!

Proper diet is crucial. Raw is the best but many ferrets are on kibble. With the exception of Wysong, ferret kibbles are no good. Many cat kibbles with the exception of a few are unacceptable as well. Stay away from Ferret brands like Marshalls, Mazuri, Dr Foster Smith, 8 in 1, Kaytee, Wild Harvest, Totally ferret, Zupreem, Dumor, along with anything that has rice, corn, wheat, barley, molasses. (I would name cat brands too, but again most of them are unacceptable to give. The major ones being Purina, Iams, and Meow Mix, Hills, Whiskas, these aren't even good for cats.) Ferrets are obligate carnivores which means they literally cannot digest or process anything other than raw meat organs and bones. Anything else that is or contains fruit vegetables salt sugar nuts dairy or carb of any kind especially rice, corn, or wheat is detrimental to their health. The absolute worse is anything with corn, rice, wheat, barley, molasses, potatoes or peas especially within the first few ingredients. Ferrets little bodies have to work so hard just process it. Raw is the best thing you can give, but lets stick to kibbles. When switching Kibbles ferrets need to be transitioned gradually to do so do a 1 to 4 ratio of new food too old and increase as you see fit. My boys were off Marshalls and on Wysong within 10 days. Please feel free to message me with any questions!

This new chart now contains totally ferret, I strongly recommend not using it due to rice being the third ingredient. It should only be used if absolutely necessary only if they have IBD or other food allergies.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vTvMXyhwVBu5TLnYSvGhqJqr_vE_-x_1BADF7dPwatwlB9l--m02ZN23FqvPNqp3v-n5cJyOuSssVfn/pub

Ferrets are very expensive family members, if you haven't already, start saving up now in case there's ever an emergency which there likely will be sometime in their life. It's important that you have a ferret knowledgeable vet, having an exotic vet is the bare minimum, often it's hard to find a good vet. Networking online is the best thing to do when trying to find a specialist near you.

Ferrets are very social creatures who develop close relationships with their humans. It is important they have companionship when your not around. They can even die from depression caused from loneliness. Ferrets THRIVE with a friend (or 2, or more!). When your not around you don't have to worry about your baby being home alone and lonely. There are also so many things a human can't do that another ferret can. You can never wrestle with them, chase them through tubes, or cuddle with them in a hammock. They live longer, happier, healthier lives with a buddy.

It's ideal if you can let ferrets free roam. Even if it's just a room (with time out of that room as well) If you must cage for part of the day the best cage is a Ferret Nation or Critter Nation. Anything smaller is just not enough room. They really need at least 2 solid floors to be able to stretch out on and relax on without fear of falling. Cages with just a bottom floor and floor panels not only do not have enough room, but are dangerous as a ferret could fall from the top to the bottom and break bones. Here, is the best cage you can get. It is well made, safe, easy to clean, and is the only cage on the market that's adequate amount of space.
https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-182-leak-Proof-Shelves-Measures/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1538709394&sr=8-2-spons&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=ferret+nation+cage&psc=1

there’s also different clear gates you can use to section off places or can even be put around a cage...

https://www.clearlylovedpets.com/dog-pens/

As for treats, raw meats, free dried treats, raw egg or just the yolks, or supplements such as salmon oil or Pickled Ferret Juice. Stay away from store bought supplements like ferretone, ferretive, ferretlax, ferrevite, they are all junk, salt, sugar, and bht a cancer causing preservative. There are some good freeze dried raw, I grind it up and make it into soupies...

https://www.chewy.com/stella-chewys-chick-chick-chicken/dp/129980?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=Stella%20%26%20Chewy%27s&utm_term=&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtb_bBRCFARIsAO5fVvHe0TNfR1DlRu3orbYpqRy1kmq_kdrGzy0-2GbOusCdOEdXzMf4JYgaAlr9EALw_wcB

Pickled Ferret Juice.

http://etsy.me/2AiWUyz

Salmon oil

https://www.amazon.com/Grizzly-Salmon-Oil-Supplement-Healthy/dp/B00WRAZ4CK/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1509819415&sr=8-13&keywords=grizzly+salmon+oil

No water bottles. Water bottles are intended for rodents. When ferrets are forced to chew on a metal rod they struggle just to get a drop and does permanent damage to their teeth. Like cats and dogs ferrets are naturally supposed to lap their water, and receive 60% more water intake when they are able to. Instead get a HEAVY bowl or one that can latch on to their cage.

Also no shredded bedding like you see them in at the petstore. Ferrets are prone to respiratory illness, the dust from those types of beddings can irritate their lungs and cause infection, also it can be ingested and cause a blockage. Ferrets are very clean animals and prefer blankets to cuddle in. Get lots of blankets (even an old t- shirts or sweaters will do)

Don't bathe more than twice a year. Bathing strips ferrets of their natural oils, therefore they have to overcompensate by making more and smelling worse. I prefer baby shampoo. Ferrets who enjoy water or have itchy skin can benefit from oatmeal baths, as long as soap isn't use it can be done more frequently.

Ferrets also need their nails trimmed (typically once a month) and should have their teeth brushed weekly.
https://www.amazon.com/Nuby-2-Pack-Oral-Massager-Toothbrush/dp/B008FONSQG/ref=sr_1_14_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1508618085&sr=8-14&keywords=baby+finger+toothbrush

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B000NJ0PEE/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1541386629&sr=8-2&keywords=MaxiGuard+OraZn+Pet+Oral+Care%2C+2+oz.

If you can afford this one and have room for it, get it. I will never, ever own another cage - it is the awesome. (Especially after owning a dinky "Super Pet - My First Home".

They also have a single story version as well.

Pros:

• Easy to clean/get ferrets out due to the double doors
  
• Lots of room for playtime in the cage, just in case you can't take them out one day
  
• Easy to hang up hammocks and toys on the bars
  
• Bottom pans come out for scrubbing and covering in fleece
  
• Extremely sturdy, I doubt I'll ever have to get another cage
  
• Good door closing mechanism, ferrets can't escape
  
• Under the cage storage
  
  Cons:
  
  
• Takes up a bit of room(particularly vertically)
  
• Shelves and pans need to be covered in fleece. The shelves have a little groove on the edge nails could get stuck in.
  
• Really fucking heavy. I had to take mine up stairs the last time I moved
  
• You need a tube or stairs to allow the ferret to get in and out of his cage on his own. I use a pair of doggy stairs.

Playtime fine i just think they need a little more room that way they can have space for themselves.


MidWest Deluxe Ferret Nation Double Unit Ferret Cage (Model 182) Includes 2 leak-Proof Pans, 2 Shelves, 3 Ramps w/Ramp Covers & 4 locking Wheel Casters, Measures 36" L x 25" W x 62.5" H Inches https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_qrG0DbZ1WM2D3

https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-182-leak-Proof-Shelves-Measures/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=ferret+nation&qid=1558915998&s=gateway&sr=8-3

Remove the ramps and mid part.
Add kiln-dried pine shelves.

You got yourself a chin cage.

The bars are sturdy and thick.
It can hold a chin spin like no tomorrow so your chins can run fast as lightning at 3am with no fright that the bars will give out.

Got difficulty with their superchin teeth because they’re biting and bending the bars?
No sir their mastermind plans for escape are foiled today. These bad boys aren’t bending one stinking bit!

It’s pricey. But knowing how long chinchillas live, you’ll have this baby well over a decade.

slaps roof of car
Great investment.

Ferret Nations/Critter Nations (they're the same thing, just different bar spacing) are both really good cages, I highly recommend them. The doors open up all the way allowing an easy clean. It's a little pricey but definitely worth it. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0054U8UGW/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510607590&sr=8-1&keywords=ferret+nation+cage+182&dpPl=1&dpID=51iPQNiSSnL&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_O1V3Db5ES7TBN

Looking it to give the link for it realized they put it on sale already. Damnit lol

1. It depends on the person, I don’t think they smell too bad but my friend hates the smell of them. They just smell a bit musky. Feed them a good diet and clean their cage everyday and it’ll keep the smell down.
   How big is the apartment? Is their enough room for a cage like this- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_OcmSCb4PNDRJP
   You’ll want a cage similar to this, there are some cheaper ones around.
   
   
2. How big is the room? They don’t need a huge space but they do like to run and jump around, they also like to explore. So as long as there’s enough space for some toys and tunnels for them, they should be happy. Also you should get at least 2 ferrets as they are social animals and need a friend.
   
   
3. They can be quite expensive, food can be a little pricey for the better quality stuff. You can try and litter train them and buy cat litter for them. You’ll also need blankets for them if you choose to use fleece for bedding.
   You should also keep back money for emergency vet visits, they can be expensive.
   
   
4. Ideally they need to be out at least 4/5 hours a day. They also spend a lot of the day sleeping so it should be fine, as long as you let them out when you get back and maybe in the morning before you leave.
   
   I’m probably leaving a lot of stuff out so if you have any questions, feel free to ask :) I can suggest certain cages, toys, litter and so on...

Every pet store around me recommends this for 3-4 ferrets

https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-181-Ferret-Nation-Single-Level/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1457629954&sr=1-4&keywords=ferret%2Bnation%2Bcage&th=1&psc=1

yeah its actually this cage here - at one point in the description it read it was for rats as well but has since been taken down :d - I got this about a month ago and the spacing between the bars is only like a 16th of an inch wider on the very outside bars and she knows that and I guess its just enough to let her through lol - so now im gonna have to get some smaller mesh stuff and wire over the whole cage I guess :/ I chose this cage because If I wanted to add another level to it later, it would be super easy - still a nice cage, maybe if I can fatten em up a little more she wont be able to make it through :)

..oh, and cages...

Don't buy them from pet stores. They're often not big enough or overpriced.

If you're in the states, the best options are the Critter Nation cages (single or double unit) and Martin's cages (powder coated and R-680 or larger only).

Some economical options include the large MCage (30 x 18 x 24) and the Rat Manor. Both of these cages are $60. They're much cheaper than Critter Nation and Martin's cages but they both have some issues. They're not perfect cages. In the long run, you'd probably be more satisfied if you saved up a little more cash to purchase one of the better cages.

It looks like either a Midwest Critter Nation (double unit) or a Midwest Ferret Nation (double unit). I have had both and they are great cages but I recommend the Ferret Nation over the Critter Nation as the wire gauge is thicker and less prone to breaking.

Sorry kept calling it ferret nation. It’s Midwest but for ferrets.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0054U8UGW/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Good questions!

Gender doesn't matter if they're all fixed, they all get along just fine, they all have really individual personalities. I found the same is true with age, I'm guessing unless one ferret is really old and doesn't want to deal with a hyper baby. But if yours is less than a year, any age should be fine. I had a lazy only-weasel until he was 1yr then got him a hyper little kit.. he was annoyed at first, but now they love each other and play all the time.

If you're getting a new cage, I recommend the ferret nation double-decker. You can section off the top and bottom for a while to keep them seperate in the beginning when they're not being supervised, and when you're sure they get along they'll both have a nice big cage.

When you say your ferret attacks the cat, do you mean playfully? lol

Ferrets are not generally territorial, but I think with most animals it's better to introduce them in a neutral territory so they're not defensive off the bat, so putting them both in a new cage would be a good plan regardless I think.

I think the only difference with getting another 1 vs 2 is the litter box training.. harder to keep track of two new fluffs running around!

Good luck!

This is the cage I have.


https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-182-leak-Proof-Shelves-Measures/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1521215258&sr=8-3&keywords=ferret+nation+cage&dpID=51iPQNiSSnL&preST=_SY300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch


It's great for my ferrets. They have plenty of room to stretch out. It's very easy to clean and move around.

Two story ferret nation on sale now for $162 4hrs left Ferret Nation Habitat / Cage, Double Unit

We use the 2 story Ferret Nation cages from MidWest

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=psdc_2975537011_t2_B000QFMYWQ

We made some felt "pillow cases" that pull over the pans, to make it a bit more comfy for them and it makes cleaning fairly easy as well.

They moved into this from a set of KayTee cages they came with, and they seem to like it. I'd definitely recommend getting the exit ramp for it as well. Watching a ferret belly slide down it to the floor cracks me up every time.

The cage is just a now-somewhat-ubiquitous Ferret Nation two-level cage with an additional shelf installed.

This is the gold standard of ferret cages, for the reason that it's really easy to open/clean, and provides enough space for 2 critters! I don't have this cage, but I plan to get it in the near future.

​

https://www.amazon.ca/MidWest-182-leak-Proof-Shelves-Measures/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=asc_df_B0054U8UGW/?tag=googleshopc0c-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=292953562927&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=6610477494864731789&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001365&hvtargid=pla-571164129721&psc=1

Hello!

1. I'm also allergic to cats, and Ferrets only set off my allergies a little bit (I think it's mostly because they tend to like dusty places, like under furniture, and I'm also allergic to dust) but not enough that I can't have them.
   
2. Yep! Ferrets are pretty good at adapting to your schedule--I work nights, so mine come out in the afternoon before work at at 2am when I get home and are content.
   
3. Large cages are good! I have a Ferret Nation two story cage (https://www.amazon.com/Midwest-Homes-Pets-Ferret-Nation/dp/B0054U8UGW/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1469055507&sr=1-1&keywords=ferret+nation) and I love it--easy to clean, plenty of space, and you can make covers for the shelves (or buy them from ferret people!)
   
   Other advice:
   -See if there's a ferret shelter near you and go visit! It's a great way to learn more and make sure ferrets are right for you.
   
   -Ferrets should see the vet once a year and be vaccinated, so see if there are good ferret vets in your area. Vet bills can also add up (where I live, it's about $70 for the appointment and $25 for vaccination), especially since they may need emergency appointments or suprelorin implants later in life--it tends to add up.
   
   -Ferrets are not like cats and dogs--their temperament and care is a lot different, so definitely make sure you enjoy their quirks before taking one home.
   
   -Ferrets are poop machines, and they get into everything. They're great animals, but they also tend to be (lovable) troublemakers :)
   
   Good luck!