7 Cool DIY Ferret Toy Ideas You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
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Ferrets are fun and playful pets. They’re also easily bored and prone to destructive behavior. Every ferret owner knows that the key to stress-free ferret ownership is to provide a constant supply of toys. And because ferrets are intelligent and seemingly have a short attention span, you should look to introduce new toys regularly. Make sure the toys are safe and they aren’t too easily torn apart.
Making your own toys means you won’t have to spend a small fortune providing a constantly rotating supply of toys, but it does mean coming up with fresh and unique ideas to keep your ferret entertained. Below are some DIY ferret toy ideas you can make today.
The 7 DIY Ferret Toys
1. DIY Tug Toy by Shed Happens
| Materials: | Sock, Ball |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Some DIY ferret toys are really simple. If you have a cardboard tube, your ferret will likely love investigating inside, although it will quickly get bored. But, the key to the cardboard roll is that it is simple, most people have some lying around the house, and it is safe for your ferret, although it will take some clearing up if you leave them alone with the cardboard for too long.
This tug toy plan gives you very simple instructions on how to make a tug toy by simply putting a ball in a sock and tying the end. There are also instructions on using other unused items of clothing to create similarly simple ferret toys. But, as long as you can tie a knot, you can make a tug toy.
2. DIY Ferret Seesaw by Pet DIYs
| Materials: | Wood, Metal Braces, Cardboard Tubes |
| Tools: | Drill, Screwdriver |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Cardboard tubes really will become your best friends when you’re looking to entertain a ferret. They love to investigate which means ferrets will naturally crawl inside the tubes. Make sure the tubes you use are narrow enough to be exciting and to encourage the inquisitive nature of your ferrets, but wide enough that they can fit through without getting frustrated.
The thicker the roll the better because it will take longer for your ferret to get its teeth and claws through. This DIY ferret seesaw uses two such rolls, which are attached to a DIY wooden base. The seesaws tilt depending on where the ferret is, keeping them guessing a little longer.
3. Ferret Dig Box by RuffleSnuffle
| Materials: | Plastic Storage Box, Filler, Treats |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty: | Very Easy |
Ferrets love to dig. In the wild, they are fossorial, which means they live in burrows and tunnels underground. That’s why you’ll often find your ferret digging in its litter box and even its food bowl, and why you might occasionally find your little one digging in the potted plants. Providing a dig box simulates the digging that most captive ferrets don’t get to enjoy because they have a readymade house available to them.
It is as easy as filling a plastic storage box with an appropriate filler and then adding a few treats or other toys to entice the ferret to dig. Filler options include soil, sand, pasta, dried beans, and even dried leaves—it really does depend on what you have available.
4. Homemade Dig Box and Garden Combo by Ferret World
| Materials: | Planter, Soil/Substrate, Ferret Friendly Plants |
| Tools: | None |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
You can combine a dig box for your ferret with a planter for yourself, by making a homemade dig box and garden combo, although if you have accessible planters of your own you might want to avoid this because it will encourage the ferret to dig in any planter it sees.
Essentially, though, you use a ferret-safe planter, add ferret-safe soil or substrate, and then fill it with ferret-safe plants. Perhaps one of the best plants of all is grass. It is hardy and safe for ferrets, and it doesn’t cost a fortune when you inevitably have to replace and replant it.
5. Ferret Tunnel System by DIY Ferret
| Materials: | Dryer Pipes, Cardboard Boxes, Plastic Pipes, Plastic Bottles, Duct Tape, Pipe Connectors |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty: | Easy/Moderate |
A ferret will love having a simple pipe to play in, but it will love having a full ferret tunnel system even more. And, with the right tools and the right equipment, you can even hang the tunnel system on a wall, which frees up floor space and means you can leave the system up semi-permanently. You can use virtually any collection of dryer pipes and other plastic pipes.
You can even use plastic bottles and drain pipes, if you have them available, while cardboard boxes or plastic storage boxes can be used to make areas for sitting and planning.
6. 3-Hole Burrowing Flat Tunnel for Small Animals by Ferret Tails
| Materials: | Flannel, Fleece, Crinkle Paper, Elastic |
| Tools: | Sewing Machine, Scissors |
| Difficulty: | Moderate |
Ferrets love the darkness of tunnels and underground holes. They’re also highly skilled at squeezing into more confined spaces, and they enjoy being gently constrained while they are crawling around, hence why they enjoy climbing in clothing so much.
This 3-hole burrowing flat tunnel for small animals makes the ideal play area for your ferrets. It is flat, which not only negates the need to add hoops but also makes the experience more enjoyable for your ferrets. And by adding some crinkle paper, you can encourage your ferrets to investigate and explore. It does require some sewing machine skills but isn’t as complicated as it first appears.
7. DIY T-Shirt Pet Tent by Ferret Tails
| Materials: | Box, T-Shirt, Tape |
| Tools: | Scissors |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
As active and lively ferrets are, and as inquisitive as they are, like most animals they enjoy a bit of downtime. Giving them somewhere confined and dark to unwind will help your ferret wind down and relax after a long day terrorizing you and your family.
The DIY T-Shirt Pet Tent is made from a cardboard box and an old t-shirt. You can use tape to help ensure that the t-shirt stays in place, but even this step isn’t strictly necessary.
Common Ferret Toy Types
Although there are many styles and types of ferret toys available, most fall into the following categories:
- Tunnels – Tunnels can include simple cardboard rolls or leftover plastic pipes. They need to be wide enough for your ferret to squeeze through but shouldn’t be so wide that your ferret gets through too easily. Tunnels are a great way of reimagining the burrows that ferrets live in in the wild.
- Chew Toys – if you’ve left a ferret alone in a room for any length of time without toys, you likely know that they love to chew. Providing chew toys can prevent damage and destruction to furniture, clothes, and other items, and they provide enrichment for your little one.
- Ball Pits – Ferrets love to investigate and explore, and they typically find ball pits a lot of fun. You can buy ferret ball pits, or make your own by using a secure container and putting play balls in. Don’t leave your ferret alone with plastic balls, though, or it will chew through them.
- Dig Pits – Dig pits mimic the burrowing behavior of ferrets in the wild. They also provide exercise and, if you add treats and toys to the digging area, they can prove a lot of fun for your ferret. Again, you don’t have to buy a commercial dig pit because it is so easy to make your own with a container and a suitable substrate or digging medium.
Final Thoughts
Ferrets are fun and exciting pets. They enjoy playing, love burrowing and adore digging and chewing. If you don’t provide suitable toys to provide enrichment, your ferret will find its forms of entertainment, which could mean chewing furniture, clothing, or other items. Above are the DIY ferret toys that are easy and inexpensive to make but will keep your little one out of trouble.
See Also:
- DIY Ferret Playground Ideas You Can Make at Home (With Pictures)
- DIY Ferret Tunnel Systems (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Burloncita, Shutterstock
