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How can I prevent my ferrets from chewing on wires?

Pets Asked by Cuthbert on July 16, 2021

Ferrets tend to have a thing for chewing wires and all sorts of rubbery things. Swallowing pieces of this indigestible material can result in expensive surgeries to remove the foreign object or death.

I want to give my ferrets run of a room, but I also need to keep a small air conditioner (we don’t have central air; we live an old apartment with window AC units) in there where the only outlet is within their reach. I also like to keep a television in there so I can watch TV and game while I hang out with them. How can I discourage them from chewing at the plug or any wires for that matter?

2 Answers

What's worked very well for me is a combination of a few things.

I limit the amount of wires the ferrets actually have access to. The power-strip for the television is hung on the underside of the table with large command strips. The table is a little over two feet high and I don't put anything under it so the ferrets would never be able to jump/climb up to the wires. Gratuitous use of cable ties keep TV and console wires on the tabletop.

The power-strip cord is held up along the perimeter of the wall with command hooks, out of ferret reach.

The part of the cord they do have access to, around the outlet, is coated with this bitter spray. It's available at Petco and other chain pet stores. It tastes horrible (tried it on the car ride home; big mistake) and once the ferrets get a lick, they're usually very uninterested in whatever they just tried.

In general, I would not give my ferrets any toys made of rubber or similarly indigestible material that they could bite a chunk off of. Ferret kongs are a good example of what not to give them. They can bite off a piece, swallow it, and get a bowel obstruction. Ferret proofing is important.

Vigilant “ferret proofing” of the home is a must, being especially careful to remove all rubber and foam items that ferrets are particularly fond of.

The last part requires a bit of diligence. I watched my ferrets and every time they went for the wire, I would scruff them and drag them away from the wire. The dragging is something that ferrets will do to each other when trying to establish dominance. This is useful for training out any bad behaviors in ferrets (like nipping as the video mentions). You need to be consistent and make sure you get them every time they do it immediately after they do it, else they won't get the right idea. With enough time, it's possible to get them to ignore the wires completely.

Correct answer by Cuthbert on July 16, 2021

Ferrets love to chew on rubbery things. If you can't keep the wires out of their reach or conceal them, try to find some cladding or conduit that you can put around the wires. Try hunting around your local home store or maybe an auto store. I have seen flexible rigid plastic sheaths for wires that may help save the wires.

Answered by Beo on July 16, 2021

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