Increasingly, unusual animals are becoming pets of city residents. Ferrets are active and cute creatures that have a unique way of life. Pets are fun to watch, but you need to know how much pet ferrets sleep. The animal's rest can last 18-20 hours. Therefore, it is recommended to arrange a separate comfortable, warm and soft sleeping place for your pet.
How long does a ferret sleep per day?
The animal leads an active lifestyle when it is awake – it loves to run and play.Ferrets have an unusually long rest period.
Factors that affect sleep
It should be noted that animals do not always sleep for a long time. The duration of sleep can change for various reasons:
- age affects daily routine. Young animals are more active and do not require 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;
- Sterilized ferrets rest for a long time, which are also characterized by moderate mobility during waking hours;
- The length of daylight hours also matters. In winter, pets rest longer, and in summer – less.
A peculiar physiological cycle is observed during the mating season. The vigorous mobility of pets manifests itself at night, and during the day they sleep.
Sleep phases
There are two stages of sleep: fast and slow sleep. Features of the slow phase: leukocytes are formed, hormones are released that promote the restoration of muscle tissue.
Why do ferrets sleep a lot?
The factors that cause pets to rest for a long time are vigorous daily activity and accelerated metabolism. During the day, pets “do not sit still.” Ferrets are constantly moving, exploring the territory, playing, and communicating with other animals or relatives. Naturally, such mobility is accompanied by large expenditures of energy. Therefore, long rest is required to restore strength. Adult ferrets rest for 18-20 hours, and the more active the animal, the more soundly it sleeps.
Processes that occur during sleep
During rest, numerous processes occur in the body that affect full functioning:
- energy is accumulated at the cellular level. While awake, the pet expends a lot of energy, and during sleep, cellular organelles are stocked with special substances, during the exchange of which the body receives energy;
- During sleep, brain structures store and process information received during wakefulness.
Adequate rest is indispensable for maintaining immunity. It has been noted that ferrets get sick more often and move less if they do not get enough sleep.
Arranging a place to sleep
A common option is to arrange a hammock in a cage. Thanks to the hanging design, more free space is saved in the cage. Hammocks are easy to wash and can be secured at a comfortable height. Cave houses with tunnels are also popular. Such designs allow the pet to reliably hide from strangers and sleep peacefully. Both vigorous ferrets and sleeping ones evoke affection. Animals become attached to the owner and love active games. To keep your pet active, it is important to provide him with adequate rest.
