As any ferret owner knows, these little buggers love to steal your things. They will snatch up just about anything they can get their little paws around. So, if you’re sick of digging your wallet out of their hammocks, you might want to know why they do this in the first place. Stealing random objects around the house is a standard and totally instinctual behavior—let us explain why these little bandits rob you blind. The 4 Main Reasons Ferret Steal Are:
- Hoarding Impulse
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A post shared by Tishka Lucille (@tishkatheferret)
Among many other rodents and weasels, hoarding is a widespread practice. Typically, in nature, ferrets stash away food in their homes to preserve their health and keep alternate rations—kind of like a squirrel. A hoarding impulse is wholly expected in many like animals.
- Food Collection
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A post shared by Chuchu & Mira (@sausage_pikachu)
Obviously, in captivity, ferrets are fed by their owners and do not need to scavenge. Because they never know where their next meal is coming from in the wild, hoarding food is a regular habit ingrained in their DNA. Domestication doesn’t take the urge away to stash food as much as they can.
See Also: Where Do Ferrets Live in the Wild?
- Shiny Object Obsession
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A post shared by Silly Pizza (@silly_pizza_ferret)
If something catches your ferret’s eye that is is big enough to fit in their hands, they’re probably going to snatch it. Ferrets will hide anything from shiny keys to valuables to other precious metals. And yes, they guard these items with all their might
- Sticky Paws
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A post shared by ぬうとおじぎ (@nnu_gi)
In addition to their jewel heist, ferrets can still take about any toy or small valuable you have laying around your home. That is not limited to cat toys, dog toys, children’s toys, and even your wallet. Once they have it in their clutches, they will be very resistant to let it go.
How to Keep Your Ferret from Stealing Hoarding is a natural impulse that isn’t trainable. This means that you will have to come up with other deterrents to prevent or channel the behavior rather than stop it completely. Get your ferrets their own goodies Trying to take away their basic instincts can have negative impacts on your pet. Instead, try to offer them shiny objects they can actually take to hoard. If you give alternatives, it can really turn the behavior around. You can gather up various things you don’t need anymore—like extra keys, faux jewelry, socks, and other ferret-friendly household items. Image Credit: kemll, Pixabay Remove any questionable items before floor time Before you let your ferrets out to play, remove anything and everything they may get their paws on. If there are no forbidden objects within their reach, they won’t do much damage. Supervise, supervise, supervise The best way to prevent your ferret from stealing is to eliminate the option. During out-of-the-cage time, interact with your pets. Play with a variety of toys with them, so they burn their energy but stay out of mischief at the same time. Having said that, always make sure to supervise any interactions out of the enclosure. Handling Ferret Object Aggression Ferrets can get downright protective over what they have stolen, adopting the “finders keepers” mentality. Even though it might rightfully be your possession, they might think otherwise. If they feel threatened, they can become aggressive or even bite. If you are concerned that your ferrets will bite or otherwise hurt you, you must handle them with caution. Never try to pick your ferret up if they are:
Hissing
Vocalizing
Hovering over objects
Snapping
If it is something you desperately need at the time (like car keys), try to distract them with a snack or another desirable object. How To Ferret-Proof House The best way to make sure your ferret doesn’t steal your things is to ferret-proof your house as much as possible. When you’re getting your ferret out for playtime, put away anything that they might latch onto.
Control the free-ranging area
Close doors
Put things out of reach
Wall off designated play spaces
Close cabinets and closets
Discourage climbing
Use a playpen or play enclosure
We all know your ferrets rule the roost, but you can have a small amount of control—just don’t let them know about it.
Ferret + Stealing: What Did We Learn? Like all owners, you’ve been the victim of your favorite furry companion swiping your goods. Don’t feel bad, though. There is no real solution other than taking some precautions. Always protect yourself—arming for a potential attack—if you try to retrieve these items back without consent. Ultimately, the only thing you can do is make sure your ferret and valuables stay separate—best of luck with your retrieval.
Featured Image Credit by Nadezhda Manakhova, Shutterstock
As any ferret owner knows, these little buggers love to steal your things. They will snatch up just about anything they can get their little paws around. So, if you’re sick of digging your wallet out of their hammocks, you might want to know why they do this in the first place.
Stealing random objects around the house is a standard and totally instinctual behavior—let us explain why these little bandits rob you blind.
The 4 Main Reasons Ferret Steal Are:
1. Hoarding Impulse
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Tishka Lucille (@tishkatheferret)
Among many other rodents and weasels, hoarding is a widespread practice. Typically, in nature, ferrets stash away food in their homes to preserve their health and keep alternate rations—kind of like a squirrel. A hoarding impulse is wholly expected in many like animals.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Tishka Lucille (@tishkatheferret)
A post shared by Tishka Lucille (@tishkatheferret)
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
2. Food Collection
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Chuchu & Mira (@sausage_pikachu)
Obviously, in captivity, ferrets are fed by their owners and do not need to scavenge. Because they never know where their next meal is coming from in the wild, hoarding food is a regular habit ingrained in their DNA. Domestication doesn’t take the urge away to stash food as much as they can.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Chuchu & Mira (@sausage_pikachu)
A post shared by Chuchu & Mira (@sausage_pikachu)
- See Also: Where Do Ferrets Live in the Wild?
3. Shiny Object Obsession
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Silly Pizza (@silly_pizza_ferret)
If something catches your ferret’s eye that is is big enough to fit in their hands, they’re probably going to snatch it. Ferrets will hide anything from shiny keys to valuables to other precious metals. And yes, they guard these items with all their might
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Silly Pizza (@silly_pizza_ferret)
A post shared by Silly Pizza (@silly_pizza_ferret)
4. Sticky Paws
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by ぬうとおじぎ (@nnu_gi)
In addition to their jewel heist, ferrets can still take about any toy or small valuable you have laying around your home. That is not limited to cat toys, dog toys, children’s toys, and even your wallet. Once they have it in their clutches, they will be very resistant to let it go.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by ぬうとおじぎ (@nnu_gi)
A post shared by ぬうとおじぎ (@nnu_gi)
How to Keep Your Ferret from Stealing
Hoarding is a natural impulse that isn’t trainable. This means that you will have to come up with other deterrents to prevent or channel the behavior rather than stop it completely.
Get your ferrets their own goodies
Trying to take away their basic instincts can have negative impacts on your pet. Instead, try to offer them shiny objects they can actually take to hoard. If you give alternatives, it can really turn the behavior around.
You can gather up various things you don’t need anymore—like extra keys, faux jewelry, socks, and other ferret-friendly household items.
Remove any questionable items before floor time
Before you let your ferrets out to play, remove anything and everything they may get their paws on. If there are no forbidden objects within their reach, they won’t do much damage.
Supervise, supervise, supervise
The best way to prevent your ferret from stealing is to eliminate the option. During out-of-the-cage time, interact with your pets. Play with a variety of toys with them, so they burn their energy but stay out of mischief at the same time.
Having said that, always make sure to supervise any interactions out of the enclosure.
Handling Ferret Object Aggression
Ferrets can get downright protective over what they have stolen, adopting the “finders keepers” mentality. Even though it might rightfully be your possession, they might think otherwise. If they feel threatened, they can become aggressive or even bite.
If you are concerned that your ferrets will bite or otherwise hurt you, you must handle them with caution.
Never try to pick your ferret up if they are:
Hissing
Vocalizing
Hovering over objects
Snapping
If it is something you desperately need at the time (like car keys), try to distract them with a snack or another desirable object.
Hissing
Vocalizing
Hovering over objects
Snapping
- Hissing
- Vocalizing
- Hovering over objects
- Snapping
How To Ferret-Proof House
The best way to make sure your ferret doesn’t steal your things is to ferret-proof your house as much as possible. When you’re getting your ferret out for playtime, put away anything that they might latch onto.
Control the free-ranging area
Close doors
Put things out of reach
Wall off designated play spaces
Close cabinets and closets
Discourage climbing
Use a playpen or play enclosure
We all know your ferrets rule the roost, but you can have a small amount of control—just don’t let them know about it.
Control the free-ranging area
Close doors
Put things out of reach
Wall off designated play spaces
Close cabinets and closets
Discourage climbing
Use a playpen or play enclosure
- Control the free-ranging area
- Close doors
- Put things out of reach
- Wall off designated play spaces
- Close cabinets and closets
- Discourage climbing
- Use a playpen or play enclosure
Ferret + Stealing: What Did We Learn?
Like all owners, you’ve been the victim of your favorite furry companion swiping your goods. Don’t feel bad, though. There is no real solution other than taking some precautions. Always protect yourself—arming for a potential attack—if you try to retrieve these items back without consent.
Ultimately, the only thing you can do is make sure your ferret and valuables stay separate—best of luck with your retrieval.
Featured Image Credit by Nadezhda Manakhova, Shutterstock
