If your hyper ferret has been acting out more than usual lately then there are some tried and tested methods, you can use to calm them down. The techniques below can help to calm down a baby ferret, or an older and hyper ferret that is perhaps stressed and anxious.
How to calm your ferret down
Below are the ways in which I use to calm down a hyper ferret. Try each one sequentially, but don’t become impatient, these things can take time.
The key here is often to distract your ferret. For those that have developed a close bond with their ferret this will come easier. But calming baby ferrets takes more time as they won’t have this bond with you yet (here’s how to bond).
Before I go into the list, have you considered a ferret vitamin supplement (view on Amazon)? They love the taste, and it’s distracting enough to calm them down if you dab some onto your palms for them to lick.
1. Calm the ferret with petting and smoothing
You can use to calm down your ferret when it needs attention most: provide intense petting. Give your ferret lots of love and affection as ferrets are incredibly loving animals.
Brushing their fur with something like this on Amazon can also work to calm them down.
2. Calm the ferret by making soothing noises
Ferrets make some really funny noises, but they can also respond to their owner’s noise too. Whilst petting and calming your hyper baby ferret, make soothing soft noises like you might to do a baby.
With any luck, the baby ferret will calm down quicker and could even fall asleep once you get good with this tactic.
3. Calm the ferret with food
Ferrets are often very food orientated, so it can be the perfect distraction when you have a hyper ferret you need to calm down quickly.
Ferrets love their treats (view on Amazon) and will appreciate a little nibble or two. You can even feed them snacks like vegetables that they usually don’t get at mealtime.
Offer your ferret some of his or her favorite treats when it calms down. If you have a small animal, try offering some of their food in a dish on the floor to nibble at their leisure.
For larger animals, offer some fruit or vegetables instead! Ferrets are mischievous creatures, but they can also be trained! If your pet is being naughty or stubborn lately, try offering it a treat in exchange for its desired behavior. This will help teach your ferret that the right choice is always the most beneficial one!
4. Calm the ferret by removing any stimulus and giving “alone time”
Understand what the trigger is for your hyper ferret. That might be you playing with them which has wound them up into a frenzy. If this is the case, remove yourself or the item which is stimulating them.
You can give them “alone time” to relax and unwind, eventually leading to the ferret calming down. Don’t leave your ferret in a room by themselves for too long, though – they need attention and interaction as much as the next pet!
5. Calm the ferret with a distraction like a toy
You could try the opposite and calm down your ferret with a favorite toy, like a stuffed animal. This can calm down baby ferrets who find comfort in the warmth of a toy like this.
Ferrets love to rip things apart though, so keep an eye on this so that it doesn’t them develop into a frenzy.
6. Calm your ferret with something new to explore
Ferrets love to explore, so the perfect calming tactic could be to give them something new to see and smell. Something like this ferret tunnel on Amazon could be perfect.
This can act as a sensory experience to calm it down. Many ferrets enjoy furry mitts and blankets too, which they can rub their face against while softly purring. You could also try rubbing soft fabric on its back or belly for some relaxing “me time”!
The bottom line is that you should try give your ferret something new to play with. Ferrets love playing and exploring, so try giving them a new toy or even an old box they can crawl around in!
7. Calm your ferret down with a change of scene
If your hyper ferret is still not calming down, try something like taking him away from the situation. Ferrets love going on trips and being around new people and places. You can also bring along his favorite toy if you have one.
It could be as simple as putting the harness on your ferret and taking him for a walk. Ferrets love walks just as much as dogs do so that they won’t mind at all. If you’re not near a place where your ferret can safely explore, try cuddling up with him on the couch and watching some TV.
8. Calm your ferret with intense play
Baby ferrets need stimulation and play. If they don’t have enough stimulation they will have energy left and won’t calm down. One of the best ways to calm down a baby ferret is to provide intense play to tire it out.
By giving your ferret an engaging playtime before bed will help tire it out and encourage better sleep. Ferrets often like to play with their food, so try giving them something to do with the toy or treat you share after meals!
9. Calm your ferret with scruffing and discipline
Some hyper ferrets will respond differently. If your ferret is misbehaving, you coudl try picking him up by the scruff and telling him off. This isn’t about hurting the ferret, but is about showing them who the boss is and that you are not happy.
What age do ferrets start to calm down?
Most ferrets are naturally inquisitive creatures that will have less than calm episodes. However, younger and baby ferrets are much more active. Just like children, ferrets do start to calm down as they get older.
Whilst there is no hard and fast rule, at 8 months of age a ferret should be a lot calmer than they were in the previous adolescent months.
Conclusion
Ferrets are affectionate creatures, but also can get very high maintenance. They do love spending time with their humans, though and often this is the best wat to calm them down.
If your ferret isn’t calming down, often the best way is to simply try offering some cuddle time.
Ferrets have been domesticated as pets for hundreds of years– this means their natural wild instincts are slightly different from those of other animals. While ferrets still enjoy being active, they also really love spending time with their human companions.
If none of these techniques seem to work on their own, why not try a different one? There are many ways to calm your ferret down – you must find the method that works best for you and your furry friend!
If your ferret is not calming down, please don’t give up on training early. There are plenty of ways you can teach your ferret the difference between “good” and “bad” behavior – it just takes a bit of time and patience!
You might also like…
- Designing the perfect outdoor enclosure for your ferret
- Why I think it’s cruel to descent ferrets
- How ferrets can be good pets for beginners
Image of a calmed down ferret in header via https://pixabay.com/photos/ferret-animal-pet-animals-421715/