Basically hes about 4 years old now and he lives in large cage in my parents double garage so he is protected from the cold wind for a start! I know he probably doesnt really need anything as many people keep them outside but normally but in very cold weather I use a hallogen heater on him during the night. This uses lots of electric and with prices as they are is a waste of money.

Was thinking you can get like heat mats and stuff like that which use about 20w rather than 400w for the hallogen heater and if I placed one under his bedding area dont see why it shouldnt work!

Anyone got any thoughts on this?

They're animals, they have fur. I wouldn't mess about with heaters etc, he'll be fine just with straw or whatever you put in his cage.

Is the garage draughty?

Not really no, and the only real reason why I have used a heater when very cold is for the first 6 months of his life he lived indoors. Last winter it got down to minus 22 where we were one night and I wouldnt be happy with him on his own in that without any heat.

I know if he was wild he would go wihout heat but as he has been use to it when very cold not sure if he would live to well without it thats all!

My guinea pigs have a microwaveable heat pad called a Snugglesafe, I'm guessing this would be suitable for ferrets too?

Ferrets are pretty good at coping with cold. As long as hes got plenty of warm bedding and is out of the draught he should be fine. Shredded newspaper as bedding is really good at insulating. I used to use it all the time, mainly because it was cheap and plentyful

yeah he has plenty of shreded paper for bedding, loves the stuff im forever stuffing more into his like house bit lol and he gets right in it and sleeps for hours!

Maybe I should just try without any heat for the next few weeks if its cold enough, but he cant tell me hes cold!

Yeah he can ..he'll shiver. Ferrets have been knocking about Europe since the last ice age they are tougher than youd think. If it gets silly cold check on him more often than normal. I kept ferrets outdoors for years and they were fine even when their water had frozen over. Plenty of bedding and no draughts and he'll be right as ninepence

he shivers in the summer when he wakes up lol! I dont see him everyday and work most nights so only see him to let him out every 2-3 days. but like I said hes got a large cage which he can run about in so its not really an issue. plus him and the cat play most days which keeps him active

You can get special heat mats That I suppose you could put under a specific area of the cage where they sleep? Or failing that just a hot water bottle. Just so that area is warm so they can curl up and keep the rest of the cage quite cool so they can escape the heat if they want to

It doesn't mean they don't feel the cold just because they have fur

:Buy him these for Christmas

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=fer...rvPnbDQ&zoom=1

I can't say I agree with ferret couture but it does suit him . In regard to heat mats and the like, ferrets are more likely to overheat than freeze, especially if they've grown a winter undercoat. A few old blankets doubled up over the sleeping area would be better if it gets to minus 22.

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3108/ferret10.jpg

I think I did the link right

aha! ^^ bless

don't use a hot water bottle though - they stay warm for a couple of hours but then will cool down and in turn make your fuzzies bed even colder

give him plenty of straw/paper bedding and it should be enough
my friends ferret has blankets in her bed area which she curls up in as well as straw

you can also drape blankets over the cage to keep it warmer too.

At least they don't hibrernate like hamsters if they get too cold!

I think its safe to say I wont be dressing him up! Yeah I do cover his sleeping area with a sheet so think I will just try him and see. thanks for your help guys