Why Does My Ferret Randomly Lay Down? 5 Likely Reasons

Ferrets are fun, playful, and lively pets, but because they’re exotic animals, few people understand their behaviors. When dogs have helicopter tails, most people know that means they’re super excited. When cats knead, even people who don’t own cats know this means they’re content. But when a ferret lays down randomly, most people have no clue what it means, especially if they’ve never owned a ferret before.

There are several reasons a ferret will lay down randomly, but one must pay close attention to the behavior before and after lying down to gain insight into why their animal is doing so. Read on to learn five potential reasons a ferret will stop what they’re doing to lie down.

The 5 Reasons Your Ferret May Randomly Lay Down

1. They’re Speed Bumping

Speed bumping is one of the most common reasons ferrets randomly lay down. This happens when they’re playing with you or other ferrets. You’ll notice them playing happily, and then suddenly, they’ll lie flat on their stomach and stay still for a few seconds before jumping up and resuming the game. Speed bumping is a totally random behavior and can happen more than once throughout a vigorous play session, and is a ferret’s way of taking a break.

2. They’re Invisible

One of the reasons ferrets lay down randomly, especially if it occurs during playtime, is because they think they’re invisible. Play along, and as soon as they jump back into action, act super surprised. Your pet will enjoy this interaction, and you’ll boost their confidence, too.

3. They’re Unwell

Ferrets are bundles of energy, so if you notice yours being less energetic and lying down more than usual, it may be that they’re not feeling well. Just as we take things slower when we’re sick, so do ferrets. It could be that your pet has a simple cold, or there may be something more serious at play. If your pet is exhibiting other signs of unwellness, you should contact your exotic vet to have them examined.

4. They’re Overheating

Like other animals and humans, ferrets can overheat during a particularly exuberant play session or when exposed to hot temperatures. Unlike humans or dogs, however, they don’t have a built-in system to cool themselves down. They don’t sweat or pant to expel heat, so it’s very important to be watchful for signs of overheating and heat stroke. Signs of heatstroke include:

Heatstroke is a life-threatening emergency, so if you believe your ferret is exhibiting signs of such, contact your vet right away. They will likely advise you to wrap your pet’s feet in cool, wet towels and transport them immediately to the clinic in an air-conditioned vehicle.

5. They’re Tired

Ferrets that lay down randomly during or after a big play session may be tired. It takes a lot of energy to play as hard as ferrets do, so it’s only natural for them to kind of crash after they’re done playing.

Final Thoughts

Keeping ferrets is exciting, but if you’re new to owning these unique animals, you have a lot to learn about their behaviors. While randomly laying down can be a completely normal thing for ferrets to do, it can be indicative of something more sinister at play, such as an illness or heatstroke.

You’ll need to take into account what your ferrets were doing before they laid down to gain some valuable insight into why they’re engaging in such behaviors. If they’re in the middle of a high-energy play session, they could just be taking a break, speed-bumping, or pretending they’re invisible. If they’re going about their day as normal and then suddenly lay down, they may be overheating or feeling unwell, especially if other signs of unwellness accompany this behavior.

Featured Image Credit: Chipiko, Shutterstock