On a typical day, a ferret will sleep an impressive 12 to 18 hours. One minute theyâre running, jumping, chasing a ball, and the next, they fall into such a deep sleep that itâs impossible to wake them up. In an hour of play a ferret can burn such a tremendous amount of energy thatâwham!âit can then drop off for a 4-6 hour period of shut eye. Some ferrets will even fall into a state of catalepsyâtheir body temperatures drop as their heart rates and breathing slows ⦠to the point where youâd think theyâd left the land of the living! But donât be fooled: theyâll bounce back as soon as theyâre good and rested. (Violaine Charest-Sigouin)
The ferret, a prize-winning sleeper
August 1, 2019