When choosing toys for your ferret, the best strategy is to consider primarily how safe they are for your ever-chewing, highly inquisitive pet. Then apply some creativity by choosing those that are entertaining as well. The key safety concern for a ferret toy is that it should not be soft or brittle enough to be chewed apart into small pieces that your pet can inadvertently swallow, causing choking or intestinal blockage. As for entertainment, ferret toys should arouse his curiosity, allow him to vent his burrowing tendencies and provide him with the means to exercise his high-energy muscles.

Safe Toys

• Chew toys for large dogs. Nylabone and similar items made from nearly indestructible synthetics are designed to withstand the massive crushing and tearing forces of a large dog's jaws, and will, therefore, resist your ferret's chewing. Soft rubber or latex toys that can be chewed apart are dangerous.



• One-piece non-toxic toys. These are generally safe because without separate parts - especially small, detachable pieces that can be swallowed - they present no danger of intestinal blockage.



• Cloth toys. Safe and entertaining toys are sometimes made of cloth, such as hammocks. Ferrets like to play in hammocks that are hung from the top of their cages.



• Tunnels and slides. As long as they are non-chewable, tunnels can be the best exercise toys for your hyperactive ferret. He will scoot through them for hours, giving him the needed exercise that will help relieve the boredom and frustration of being inside a cage most of the time. Slides made of hard plastic are also excellent for entertainment and exercise.