Why? Dig boxes help satisfy a ferret's natural desire to dig. Some ferret enthusiats claim that having dig boxes available for their ferrets to use can help decrease a ferret's anxiety, prevent destructive digging, provide a source of enrichment, decrease a ferret's natural body odor and even help them shed their old coat. One thing is certain: dig boxes do provide ferrets with hours of entertainment.
Styles: There are many different styles of dig boxes that you can create. Some people prefer to use regular boxes which can be easily discarded once the content gets old, others prefer clear plastic containers with holes cut in to help prevent the ferrets from flinging the contents of the dig box everywhere, and still others opt for the rubbermaid container with a lid that can be snapped on to protect the contents of the dog box when not in use.
Content: I asked the online ferret community what they used for their ferret's dig boxes and boy, were there a lot of different materials!
When selecting a material, here are some things to keep in mind:
1) you want to select a material that your ferret does not eat
2) If you choose potting soil or similar materials, be sure that it is chemical-free
3) Low or no dust materials are the best. Avoid fine powders such a baby powder, chinchilla bath dust, flour, and corn starch as these materials can get caught in the lungs and give ferrets upper respiratory infections.
4) Avoid sawdust. Certain chemicals used as a preservative in some sawdusts has been linked with lung cancer in ferrets; as such, it is best not to risk the health of your animal and avoid all sawdust. Sawdust is also, as the name suggests, quite dusty and has often been attributed to respiratory problems in ferrets.
This is a list of materials suggested, along with a few benefits and drawbacks of each material:
1) Kids' Play sand.
Pro: Pre-washed and sanitary, inexpensive.
Con: Dusty, can potentially get trapped in eye, nose and ear openings, very messy.
2) Packing peanuts
Pro: Inexpensive (at times), not dusty, low mess.
Con: Some ferrets enjoy eating this material.
***They do make cornstarch packing peanuts which dissolve when they come in contact with liquid. This type is ideal for use with ferrets, however they are not always easy to find and continuous eating is still not recommended. Biodegradable packing peanuts made of cornstarch can be found online in the US at Drs Foster and Smith website as well as at many post offices in both Canada and the US.
3) Pasta
Pro: Not dusty, inexpensive, textured noodles can help remove old/ dead fur, ferrets enjoy sound of shifting material, low mess.
Con: Some ferrets enjoy eating this material, sharp edges can cause injury, can be expensive
4) Potting soil
Pro: Inexpensive, can help reduce ferret odor (absorbs oil), moderately messy.
Con: Can become moldy, may contain chemicals, can be dusty is allowed to dry out (this can be overcome by occasional dampening).
5) Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces
Pro: Inexpensive (old puzzles can easily be found at thrift stores), texture can help remove old/ dead fur, ferrets enjoy sounds made by shifting material, low mess, low dust.
Con: Some ferrets enjoy eating this material, cleanliness of pieces can be questionable.
6) Rice
Pro: Inexpensive, ferrets enjoy sound of shifting material, low dust, moderately messy
Con: Some ferrets enjoy eating this material.
7) Dried Beans
Pro: Inexpensive, ferrets enjoy sound of shifting material, not dusty, low mess
Con: Some ferrets enjoy eating this material.
8) Lentils
Pro: Inexpensive, ferrets enjoy sound of shifting material, not dusty, low mess
Con: Some ferrets enjoy eating this material
9) Shredded Paper
Pro: Inexpensive, low mess, low dust
Con: Watch for paper cuts.
10) Wood Pellets
Pro: Inexpensive, low mess, low dust, crumbles when contacted by liquid
Con: Avoid chemical laden wood pellets. Some are pre-treated with chemicals to increase burning time. These chemicals may be hazardous to the health of your pet. Opt for chemical free wood pellets.
11) Plastic balls (such as ping pong balls, or balls such as those found in children's ball pits)
Pro: No dust, low mess, ferrets enjoy sound of shifting materials, easily re-usable
Con: Can be expensive, watch for sharp edges/ broken balls
12) Plastic easter eggs (the hollow ones that are designed to hide candy in)
Pro: No dust, low mess, ferrets enjoy the sound of shifting materials, easily re-usable, inexpensive (if bought after the Easter rush on clearance)
Con: Can be expensive (particularly in the lead up to Easter), watch for sharp edges/ broken eggs.
*you can fill eggs with jingle cat balls or other noise making items for added fun, or toss in a couple of crochet eggs for the ferret to find. If you wish to seal the eggs to prevent them from popping open, please be sure to use a non-toxic glue.
When selecting a dig box material, be sure to weigh the pros and cons of each material and remember: no two ferrets are alike! What may be an excellent material for one ferret owner may not be suitable for your ferret, but don't get discouraged - there are plenty of options to try!
If you can think of a dig box material not listed here, feel free to e-mail it to info@ferretsnorth.org and we will be sure to include it!
