How Long Do Ferrets Sleep & Other Odd Behaviors

Ferrets sometimes do things that make new pet parents think that their pet has a serious problem.

Playing Dead
Sometimes ferrets sleep so soundly that they seem to be dead. You can pick them up, shake them, pinch their toes, or thump them on the chest, and they hang from your hand as limp as rags, with their eyes closed. About the time you have run to the car on the way to the nearest emergency veterinary clinic, the ferret sleepily opens its eyes and looks innocently around, wondering what is going on.

Some ferrets do this quite commonly and their pet parents get used to it. Others just do it occasionally, and each time, their person of significance panics because they are afraid their pet is in a coma or has died. If the ferret is warm, has a moist pink mouth, and is breathing regularly but slowly, it is not dead, just sleeping soundly. Comatose ferrets usually drool, have cold extremities, and may stiffen, moan or have convulsions.

Not Sleeping in Bed Alone
Ferrets like to sleep together for comfort, and in cold weather, for warmth. When given several containers to sleep in, a group of ferrets will usually all get into one. This does not mean that there is anything wrong with the other beds. Whoever gets in first ends up on the bottom, and never suffocates, even though it appears to be a risk.

Shaking and Shivering in Ferrets
Often when you wake your ferret up and take it out of its habitat, it trembles. People sometimes interpret this as fear, or shivering because the room is too cold. Adult ferrets tremble with excitement, anticipation, and probably other pleasurable ferret emotions that we cannot adequately describe in words. They rarely shiver with cold, and fear is expressed differently. Don't turn up the heat: ferrets are uncomfortable at ambient temperatures above 70°F. When your pet has had a chance to run around for a few minutes, you will notice that he is no longer trembling, even when you pick him up.

Energy Bursts
When first released from their habitatsto play, many ferrets burst out of the door, run and leap and twist in the air, and carelessly collide with solid objects. They might run over to your feet, nip at your shoe, and go on another race around the house, sometimes making soft chuckling noises as they do. (Ferret lovers think this sounds like 'dook, dook, dook,' and they call this happy ferret talk "dooking.")

Ferrets do not try to avoid running into things, probably because their vision is poor and they are moving at high speed. New pet parents have sometimes feared that these ferrets are having convulsions, have rabies, or have gone blind. However, it is normal ferret behavior, expressing exuberance at being let out to play, and is a good indicator that the ferret is feeling well. Ferrets appear to have a very high threshold of pain and truly do not appear to notice bumps that would make most other animals stop and lick the spot that was hurt. However, all illnesses and injuries you notice should be addressed in partnership with your veterinarian.

Bad Bathroom Manners
After using the litter box, most ferrets drag their hindquarters along the floor, the way dogs do when they have impacted anal glands. Pet parents sometimes take the ferret to a veterinarian thinking she has a problem, or that she is itchy because of tapeworms or pinworms, or is constipated, or is losing control of her hind legs. In fact, your ferret is just using your rug for toilet paper, a good reason for locating the litter box on a floor that can easily be washed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many hours a day do ferrets sleep? Ferrets are champion sleepers — most healthy ferrets sleep 14 to 18 hours per day. Unlike cats or dogs, ferrets cycle through deep, heavy sleep multiple times throughout the day and night, waking in short bursts of intense activity before returning to rest. This pattern is completely normal and no cause for alarm.

Why does my ferret look dead when he sleeps? Ferrets can fall into an extremely deep sleep that makes them appear limp, unresponsive and lifeless — even when picked up or gently jostled. This is normal. A sleeping ferret will be warm to the touch, have a moist pink mouth and breathe slowly but regularly. A ferret that is truly in distress may drool, have cold extremities or show muscle stiffness; contact your veterinarian immediately if you observe those signs.

Is it normal for ferrets to sleep in a pile together? Yes — ferrets are social sleepers and naturally seek out companionship for comfort and warmth. When given multiple sleeping spots, a group of ferrets will almost always pile into the same one. This behavior is healthy and instinctive; no one in the pile suffocates, even when the arrangement looks precarious.

Why does my ferret tremble when I wake her up? Shaking or shivering right after waking is typically a sign of excitement and anticipation, not fear or cold. Adult ferrets express pleasurable emotions this way, and the trembling usually stops within a few minutes once your ferret has had a chance to run around. Note that ferrets are sensitive to heat — ambient temperatures above 70°F can make them uncomfortable — so resist the urge to turn up the thermostat.

What is "dooking" and does it mean my ferret is healthy? Dooking is the soft, rapid chuckling sound ferrets make during energetic play. It is a reliable sign of a happy, healthy ferret expressing excitement. If your ferret is dooking during those post-nap energy bursts — running, leaping and bouncing off furniture — that exuberance is a good indicator he is feeling well. A sudden, lasting change in vocalization or activity level is worth discussing with your veterinarian.

When should I call a vet about my ferret's sleep or behavior? Consult your veterinarian if your ferret is difficult or impossible to rouse from sleep and also shows drooling, cold limbs, moaning, stiffening or convulsions — these can signal a medical emergency rather than normal deep sleep. Likewise, any sudden change in sleep patterns, appetite or energy that persists beyond a day or two warrants a professional evaluation.

This article was created with assistance from AI tools and reviewed for accuracy by Petco's content team.