If you’re like some pet owners, you may have a mixed-pet household. Pet owners with ferrets may be wondering if a cat tower is a safe place for their ferret to play. Another issue is whether or not a cat and ferret can share the same tower. Many also want to find out if it is better to buy more than one cat tower.
Ferrets love to climb and find special hiding spots. They would greatly enjoy small tunnels and boxes that are part of many cat towers. Although ferrets are considered intelligent animals, they don’t seem to fully appreciate height, or more specifically, how tall is too tall. Because of this lack of height awareness, it can be a good idea to buy a scratching post that’s on the shorter side.
Ferret owners have reported their playful ferrets falling off the unit without injury. Make sure the base is fully secured to prevent it from tipping over easily.
There doesn’t seem to be any conflict with cats and ferrets using the same cat tower to amuse themselves. In fact, one owner revealed that her older cat enjoyed sitting on a high platform to keep away from the ferrets while they frolic on the lower levels.
A word of caution is that your ferret may decide to use one of the lower boxes as a litter box. Just make sure you take some necessary steps to keep the chaos to a minimum. After all, they are animals!
Choosing the right cat tower for your pet takes a little thought. Like anything else, the furniture you buy for your cats and ferrets is only as good as its use. If your cat enjoys the comfort of a soft chair or cushion, look for a cat tower with a padded perch or heel. If they prefer to rest on your table or bookshelf, then a harder, carpeted surface will work better.
You may also be able to condition your ferret and cats to use the tower to lounge and play instead of using your “human” furniture. They can be trained very quickly to choose the heel of their cat tower that’s level with the kitchen countertop, rather than sprawling out on the table you’re eating on!
How many cat towers you should buy depends on the number of pets you have and the space you have. Owners with limited space find that a cat tower adds vertical space for their cats and ferrets to play. Some prefer to buy a scratching post for more than one room in the house for maximum enjoyment. The choice is ultimately yours…with your pet’s permission, of course!
