Children and Ferrets Don't Mix

Check this out. People are buying members of the weasel family and bringing them home for pets.

These animals are carnivores and hunters by nature. The natural instinct of a ferret is to stalk, kill and eat its prey.

The ferret has all the right equipment to do the job. They have razor sharp claws. Ferrets have very strong jaws. Their teeth are long canine teeth for puncture wounds. Even their digestive systems are designed to eat primarily freshly killed meat.

Does this sound like a wise choice to bring home and mix up with the average child?

That being said, ferret owners are true to their pets. They are truly family members because the of the nature of care and socialization needed to keep them happy and well. If the family has ferrets in the home before the children are born it is a part of the family structure. Cautious parents will slowly introduce interactions with children, not toddlers and babies. These situations work, probably because the pet owners are dedicated beyond belief. That is the kind of dedication needed to have ferrets. For they truly have a mind of their own.

Generally, they are very temperamental animals and even the most well behaved may end up taking a nip at someone. Biting is a natural behavior for ferrets. Young male ferrets are particularly prone to biting. It is something the owners are willing to accept because of the joy they find with this active and engaging pet.

Ferrets take a lot of care. They must have constant food available. They need to have nails clipped, teeth cleaned and baths. Their bedding needs to changed and washed. They have litter boxes that need to be cleaned and filled. At first a parent's eye might light up with a chance to teach a child some responsibility. A ferret is not the kind of pet to use for teaching. Some kind of animal a whole lot more docile and less aggressive is a much better choice for that goal.

These animals are fun to watch as they roll, play and tease each other. Familiar owners may hang them upside down, swing them around and play fairly rough. It looks like so much fun. And it is, for the right family and the right situation.

Want to leave town and need someone to help with the ferret? Good luck finding someone who qualified and comfortable to care for the animals. Networking with other ferret owners is a good way to find someone to at least stop by the house and make sure the animals are fed, fine and play with them for awhile.

Some where there must be balance. In all seriousness a ferret is not a good pet for a child. Children don't have the skills needed to do all the work required to take proper care of a ferret.