How much do ferrets sleep: the duration of sleep per day and what it depends on

Table Of Contents

How much does a ferret sleep per day
Establishing a place to sleep

Increasingly, unusual animals are becoming pets of citizens. Ferrets are mobile and cute creatures that have a peculiar way of life. Pets are interesting to watch, but you need to know how much domestic ferrets sleep. The rest of the animal can last 18-20 hours. Therefore, it is recommended to arrange a separate comfortable, warm and soft sleeping place for the pet.

How much does a ferret sleep per day

The animal during wakefulness leads an active lifestyle - likes to run, play. A feature of ferrets is an unusually long rest.

Factors that affect sleep

It should be noted that animals do not always sleep for a long time. Sleep duration can vary for various reasons:

age affects the daily regimen. Young animals are highly active, and they do not need a very long period to recover during sleep. The behavior of adults is calm, older ferrets prefer to sleep longer in a warm cozy nest;
neutered ferrets take long rests, which also tend to be moderately active during waking hours;
length of daylight also matters. In winter, pets rest longer, and in summer - less.

A peculiar physiological cycle is observed during the mating season. The rapid mobility of pets manifests itself at night, and during the day they sleep.

Sleep phases

There are two phases of sleep: fast and slow. Features of the slow phase: leukocytes are formed, hormones are released that contribute to the restoration of muscle tissue.

The fast phase is also called paradoxical, because the body relaxes so much that the animal does not react to what is happening around. Deep sleep during the REM phase helps training.

Why do ferrets sleep a lot

Factors that keep pets resting for a long time are rapid daytime mobility and an accelerated metabolism. During the day, pets "do not sit still." Ferrets are constantly moving, exploring the territory, playing, communicating with other animals or relatives. Naturally, such mobility is accompanied by high energy costs. Therefore, to restore strength, a long rest is required. Adult ferrets rest 18-20 hours, and the more mobile the animal, the more soundly it sleeps.

Processes occurring during sleep

Numerous processes take place in the body during rest that affect the full functioning of life:

energy is accumulated at the level of cells. During wakefulness, the pet expends a lot of energy, and during sleep, cell organelles are stored with special substances, during the exchange of which the body receives energy;
in a dream, brain structures store and process information received during wakefulness.

Adequate rest is indispensable for maintaining immunity. It has been noted that ferrets are more likely to get sick and move less if they do not get enough sleep.

Establishing a place to sleep

A common option is to arrange a hammock in a cage. Thanks to the suspended structure, more free space is saved in the cage.Hammocks are easy to wash and can be fixed at a comfortable height. Cave houses with tunnels are also popular. Such designs allow the pet to safely hide from strangers and sleep peacefully. Cause emotion and peppy ferrets, and sleeping. Animals become attached to the owner and love active games. To keep your pet active, it is important to provide him with proper rest.