PetFaves may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through the links in this post.
Some people have to get the latest and greatest electronic gadget, other people need to wear the latest fashions. Only a pet lover would understand how I felt when the Midwest Ferret Nation*
cage came out. I wanted it. I needed it. I had to have it.
My ferrets were living in a Cat Playpen*
cage. A nice cage, but not my ideal ferret cage. The cage came with 2 not-wide-enough-to-do-anything shelves. Ferrets need more room and full levels are better. Buying additional shelves would have been to expensive, so I macgyvered the cage so there were 3 full-size levels. My ferrets liked and it worked well, but cleaning it was another thing. It has two good size doors, but I couldn’t access all 3 levels I had put in there without taking down a level. (Midwest now makes a Cat Playpen Cage with doors that provide more access.)
The Midwest Ferret Nation* cage has everything I want in a ferret cage. You can start out with one level and add an additional 2 levels at any time. Three levels makes for a very big cage, about 86 inches high. I am 5′9″ and have to use a step stool to access the top level with 3 levels. Each level has a lot of room. All 5 of my ferrets live in the 3 level Nation and I feel I could add another 2 without compromising space (my girls are out of their cage for about 4 hours during the week and all day on the weekends). The cage is solidly built and will last for a long time. The hammertone finish wipes clean very easily. The trays sit down a bit inside the levels so they don’t move when the doors are open plus it makes it a little harder for ferrets to burrow under them (I won’t say it makes it impossible, these are ferrets we are talking about!). You can close off the levels to separate ferrets. I have to do this when I go out of town and my mom takes care of my ferrets. She can’t tell them apart so I separate Spice, my insulinoma girl, so I can be sure she gets her twice daily medication. The shelves in each level are half the width of the cage, so you can actually use them for bedding, litter boxes, what ever you need. They are also adjustable so you can move them up and down or put them on the opposite side. At first glance, it may not look like there are a lot of places to hang hammocks, but each shelf and the ceiling of each level offers a more than enough places.
The best feature of all, though, are the doors. They open completely, making it SO easy to access the inside of the cage with out having to maneuver your body in there somehow. The doors close tight and the only way to open them is by squeezing the handles together making it hard for escapes.
The only issue I have had has been with the shelf is an issue others have had. Luckily, Midwest cared enough to listen to consumers and make a change. The shelves had an area at the front where 2 bars run parallel to each each. They provide a space for the ramp to attach. Ferrets were getting their toes caught when getting off the shelf (because ferrets don’t always like to use a ramp) and many ended up hanging upside down. Luckily, the incidences I have heard of this happening (including mine) occurred when the owner was nearby. The manufacturer has changed the design and has been sending replacements to those who contact them. I do wish the ramps came in different sizes for when you adjust the shelves (they can be put at 3 different heights, but my ferrets don’t seem to concerned.
The picture shows the 3 levels of my Ferret Nation Cage. The stand doesn’t appear in the picture. I added the Marshall Mini Mansion cage cover to the top of my Nation to provide my ferrets with a dark area to sleep. It covers the top level.
When you look at the prices of ferret cages, this one is well worth the money. It may be the last ferret cage you need to buy.
Likes-
The doors open completely up so you can access the inside of the cage with no problem
You start with one level and add more for a total of 3.
You can close off levels, making individual cages. Great for those with ferrets that don’t get along.
Dislikes
Wish they offered ramps in different lengths for when the shelves are moved. When put at their highest, the angle is very steep.
[pt_view id=”5ed699budz”]
there should be an MTV Cribs for ferrets episode for that cage…nice
I couldn’t agree more: Ferret nation cage has everything that I (and my ferrets) could want in a ferret cage!
I had cages from other manufacturers before and they were nice, can’t say anything bad about them, but ferret nation cages are simply a step beyond in quality and maintenance.