Have you thought about the many ways your ferret could get itself into mischief around your house? One of the easiest places, besides the kitchen, is in the bathroom. You absolutely must ferret proof your bathroom – and this isn’t easy. You and others are in the bathroom regularly and will often move things around, such as appliances, utensils, and more. Though the best approach is to secure one specific room for your ferret, it might be harder than you expect at first. If your fur baby roams freely inside your home and you just want to keep him away from the bathroom, here are a few things you can do.
1 – Empty The Bathtub
When you want to ferret proof your bathroom, you should think about all the sources of water. Ferrets love bathtubs; they associate them with cleanliness and fun.
Furthermore, when you bathe them at home and keep a couple of treats handy, they demand bathing again and again. They love the temperature of the water too and relish the overall soothing experience.
These positive things compel them to enter your bathroom.
For that reason, you need to kill their expectations and drain the bathtub always. In addition, a full bathtub is dangerous for ferrets. They love to jump inside it but they can’t jump out of it once they fall in; a full bathtub can be deadly for them.
2 – Seal Door Gaps
Sealing bathroom door gaps should be the first step.
You specifically need to fix the gap between the door and frame, since the ferret uses that space the most to enter inside your bathroom. Hardware stores and home centers often have an array of products for this purpose, for example, they have weather-stripping that is used to cover the side and top of the door. But in case you have too much space under the door bottom, you can get sweeps as well; it fits beneath the door and fills that space.
Before buying sweeps and weather-stripping, don’t forget to measure your bathroom door gap. It helps you choose the right product size to fill the largest gap along its run.
If you are sealing door gaps yourself, you likely need some tools like a drill driver, screwdriver, knife, hammer, and step ladder.
3 – Close The Toilet
Your toilet is like a trap for your ferret.
The problem is that ferrets are small, and once they fall in the toilet, it is almost impossible for them to get out. In fact, because of their curious nature, they might even try to get through the hole and trap themselves more.
For that reason, always close the toilet lid when you are done using the bathroom. It’s one of the easier ways to ferret proof a bathroom – simply keep the toilet lid down, which many of you probably already do.
It is also good to use a sign inside your bathroom to remind guests and kids that you have ferrets at home, and it is important to close the toilet lid to keep them safe.
4 – Keep Windows Closed
If your bathroom has windows, ensure they are shut.
Even if there is no way for a ferret to enter through the windows, it is better to keep them closed, because ferrets can jump very high (up to a few feet). They can and will jump up and plummet to the ground without any trouble.
Also, some window screens are very flimsy. Be sure that yours is not too easy to move around. Otherwise, if they pop out easily with just a little push, you can expect your ferret to eventually get inside your bathroom. Make sure the window screens are strong and can’t be broken easily.
Bathroom – A Forbidden Room For Ferrets
There is often danger in every bathroom corner.
This danger may be nothing to you or me, but there is a toilet, cleaning supplies, cabinets packed with shampoos, makeup stuff, sponges, and etc. All these items are deadly for ferrets.
Of course, it is impossible to ferret proof every inch of it.
The best option you have is to focus on the doors and windows only and try to keep them closed. Besides, as we have mentioned before, it is good to empty the bathtub and close the toilet lid as well to reduce the chances of unfortunate accidents.
Weather Stripping… It is new improved weather stripping for both windows and doors with firmer foam and extra reach. We highly recommend it for ferret proofing your bathroom. We love it particularly because it is tear-resistant. It would be tough for a ferret to rip it and enter inside your bathroom. Furthermore, unlike another weatherstripping, it is low-friction and produces less noise. All you need is to press it into the slot in the frame and it will stay in its place; it is a firm, tight, fit masterpiece.
Door Sweeps… These door sweeps also provide an air-tight seal, but they are installed only at the bottom of the door. It is a good option for those who have gaps at the bottom of their doors. But if you want to seal the top and sides of the door as well, opt for weather-stripping instead.
Conclusion
With these products and precautions, you will be able to keep your bathroom ferret proof, and your ferret safe. Before using these products, remember one rule. If your ferret can get his head into the crack, his body can and will follow. These animals are flexible and once curiosity strikes, there is no way they will resist.
Ultimately, if you just ensure that every small hole and space is closed, you won’t have any problems. Share your tips for how you made your bathroom more manageable and safe for your pet ferret!
For more tips on taking care of your pet ferret, make sure you check out this guide next.