Introduction

One question that often pops up in the mind of pet owners; especially those that have ferrets as pets, is that are these adorable animals nocturnal? Now, why is this particular question asked?

This is because Ferrets tend to sleep a lot during the day and are very active at night. The term 'nocturnality’ refers to animal behavior that is characterized by being active at night but sleeping during the day. It is the opposite of being diurnal, which means being active in the day and docile at night.

Several nocturnal animals have physical traits that aid the simplicity of living out their lives at night. Some of these traits include a very sharp sense of smell, hearing, and specially adapted eyesight to the end that they perform excellently at night. When it comes to nocturnal animals, their sharpened senses also makes it very easy for the predators among them to hunt.

Now which animals in question are referred to as nocturnal animals? They include bats, wolves, ferrets, sugar gliders, raccoons, hedgehogs, owls, and certain species of frogs, birds, mice, etc. 

What are Pet Ferrets? 

As regards Ferrets, they are beautiful creatures that are can fit into almost any environment as pets. They are very active as they love and enjoy playing and running around when given the opportunity.

These animals are adorable and can be just the pet you are looking for! When it comes to choosing a pet, there are certain factors to consider, and one of these factors is if you want a diurnal or nocturnal animal. Note that several pets are either nocturnal or crepuscular, which implies that they are mostly active at twilight or night.

If you are one that works throughout the day and so you need to rest and sleep peacefully at night and as such won't be able to take care of your pets at night, then you should get a diurnal animal as a pet. However, if you are one that is not too busy during the day and you can adequately watch your pets at night, then you should go for nocturnal or crepuscular pets. 

Are Pet Ferrets Nocturnal? 

If it is the case that you already have a pet and it is a ferret, then bear in mind that you have a crepuscular animal as a pet. Crepuscular animals are those that are most active at twilight. Ferrets often sleep for about 18 to 20 hours daily and so they are very active at dusk and dawn.

Sleeping for more than 16 hours is a basic characteristic of Pet Ferrets, but note that they can adapt to the sleeping habits of the environment they’re in. Ferrets are not nocturnal, that is they are not mostly active at night excluding the exceptions. They easily adjust to the owner’s schedule, so if you want them up at a certain time, it is very achievable. 

Noteworthy Traits and Characteristics of Pets Ferrets 

When we say pet Ferrets sleep for about 18 to 20 hours, it doesn't mean they sleep for those long hours at a stretch. They can't even handle that long of sleep at once.

However, how they function is filling up their day with periods of activities like running, playing, eating, and swimming before sleeping again.

Ferret babies and older ferrets usually sleep more than young and adult ferrets. They can even sleep 20 to 22 hours a day. 

Ferrets can sleep in different places and positions. Wild Ferrets, for instance, love to sleep in dark and hidden places and they also burrow. You should see them when they are exhausted! Ferrets can sleep off almost anywhere when they are tired; most especially in hidden spots.

If you already have one, then this trait should not be new to you. I'm sure you must've noticed that it or they usually stay in places like under the rugs, blankets, bed, piles of laundry, where you keep socks, etc. In case you haven't noticed then, you ought to pay more attention to them or you might step on them mistakenly.

Bear in mind that all the above is only possible if you let the ferret run around freely. You can do well to get sleeping hammocks or commercial ferret beds at local pet stores. It is the absence of a bed or haven that makes them dig out theirs themselves and this doesn’t always end well as they might destroy a lot of things in the process.

Given how many hours in the day Ferrets sleep, it is important to get a bed that’s of a solid quality so they can sleep soundly. 

A trait that’s not so common or known to pet ferret owners is that they are actually litter-trainable. Studies and experiments have shown that training Ferrets with a litter box is a huge success. All it takes is adequate preparation, and patient training, and your pet ferret is litter-trained!

You can start by placing litter boxes in corners that the ferret tends to go to when playing, this way the chances of using it are increased. Make sure to keep the litter boxes close by so they can see them often and use them when needed. Ferrets have a very short digestive system and so they tend to release easily and at any time. Keeping the litter boxes close around helps to minimize the damage. 

One other thing to note about Ferrets is that they do not take up a lot of space in the house. Though they obviously love to run and play around, they do not need a large amount of space. A standard room with some fun items; toys to be specific, is perfect.

If it’s the case that you keep them in a cage, try to release them around the room for about 4 hours per day. You can do this in the early hours of the day or late hours at night. 

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