Ferret: Is it the Right Pet for You?

Most people see Ferrets and find themselves swept up in their adorable look. Don't let those cute faces and playful behaviors fool you. Ferrets are not the right pet for everyone. They require a great deal of attention, money and patience. Ferrets are very smart animals, very friendly and trainable. They just require careful handling as well as a routine schedule.

What Ferrets respond to most is a constant daily schedule. Unlike some animals, Ferrets do not require a feeding schedule. Simply leave a bowl of food in their habitat and they will eat when they are hungry. Ferrets are much like cats and they prefer to be able to eat small amounts throughout the day. Their diet consists of store bought Ferret food, and a nice mix of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Make sure that you buy a Ferret food that is balanced such as Marshall and ZuPreem Ferret Diet. Of all the foods I've used over the years for Ferrets those two brands are the best. They give your Ferret a healthy diet, a thick and shiny coat as well as the proteins needed to live a long life. Ferrets also need fresh foods included in their diet. These fresh items don't need to be given every day, but at least a few days a week as a treat. Never feed your Ferret Cat food.

Ferrets love fresh fruits. In the wild they'll eat berries and even bugs to sustain themselves. I've found that Ferrets really love melons such as Watermelon and Canteloupe. A couple small cubes is all they need. It's a special treat and it's good for them. Be sure to do research on any fruit or vegetable you wish to give your Ferret. There are some things that could be deadly for them to consume.

Housing for a ferret is pretty simply to find, but can be rather expensive. Ferrets are burrowers so they need a tall cage. Something they can roam freely and get the feeling of burrowing. The Marshall Ferret Company carries a large line of Ferret Habitats of all shapes and sizes. From expensive to affordable they have a great selection of habitats made especially for Ferrets. Make sure you choose a cage with adjustable shelving so you can change the look from time to time.

Make sure the habitat has plenty of space for your Ferret to roam, and plenty of room to hang hammocks/beds for your Ferret to rest in. Ferrets love to curl up in dark spots so placing its habitat in a shaded area of your house is fine. Make sure it's not close to vents or heaters of any kind. Ferrets are very sensitive to temperature change and require a stable climate. Provide plenty of beds/hammocks for your Ferret to rest in. Use some that your Ferret can hide in such as pouches or cubes.

Ferrets need attention. They need to be handled at least once a day. If a Ferret is not handled regularly it can become lonely, stop eating and even become mean. Ferrets are easy to train if you have the patience. Young Ferrets have a tendency to chew and even nip at you during playtime/holding. You can easily break this habit in the same way you'd do so for a cat or puppy. Simply place apple bitter on your hands and during playtime/handling your Ferret will get a taste and never want to nip again. You can also break this habit by giving a sharp and sudden noise.

Yes it will scare your Ferret but only for a moment and it will not want to hear that sound again so it will learn not to nip. Ferrets can be leash trained. Start them out young though. The first time just put the harness on them and let them wander around outside of the cage. Keep them in a Ferret play pen while doing this. After a few times doing this your Ferret will become used to having the harness on. That's when you'll want to introduce the leash. Take it slow, don't force them to walk where you want them to go.

Let them lead the way, and occassionally use gentle motions to correct their path so they learn to not go certain places while on the leash. Over time and with a lot of patience you'll have a leash trained Ferret. You can also get pouches and front packs to house your Ferret in while traveling around town or taking a road trip/moving. Ferrets don't travel well so be sure to reduce their stress by talking to them calmly and keeping them close.

Try to reduce the amount of time your Ferret spends traveling. A trip to the pet store now and then is fine, but don't over stress them with daily travel. When going on vacation it is perfectly fine to leave your Ferret at home under the care of a trusted friend or family member. Make sure that the person you have caring for your Ferret is educated on its care. Make sure to give them detailed instructions on feeding schedules and play time routines. You may be away, but your Ferret still needs its daily routine to stay the same.

Also make sure that your Ferret is accustomed to the person you leave it with. Leaving your Ferret with a stranger could stress him/her out. When it comes to Veterinary care you should make sure that you find an Exotic Vet in your area. Someone with particular expertice/experience with Ferrets. There are some States/Cities where Ferrets are illegal to own, and there are some that require you get your Ferret a rabies shot. Rabies shots are extremely dangerous for Ferrets.

Make sure that if you live in a State/City that requires Rabies shots for your Ferret that you find a Vet that knows to administer the dead vaccine instead of the live vaccine. Also request, unless they openly offer it, that your Vet administer a shot of benadryl before giving the Rabies shot to help avoid any possible adverse reactions to the shot. Take your Ferret to the Vet for regular check-ups to ensure a healthy and long life.

Ferrets need to be groomed on a regular basis. When bathing your ferret make sure the water level isn't too deep, and that the water temperature isn't too hot. Room temperature/lukewarm works perfectly. Be careful when bathing your Ferret. Try not to get soap in its eyes and avoid getting any soapy water in its mouth. Bath time can be both fun and productive. Ferrets usually enjoy the water so before shampooing let him/her swim around a bit. Always make sure their feet can touch the bottom to prevent accidental drowning. Ferrets are good swimmers, but accidents still happen.

To dry your Ferret off just get a Drying Sack or lay out some towels and let your Ferret dry itself off. They'll roll around and play until they're dry. Do not let your Ferret go back into its cage until it is fully dry as you could risk it catching a cold. Make sure to regularly clean your Ferrets ears and trim its nails. If you are too nervous about doing this yourself then your Vet will do this for you. Ferrets, even ones that are descented, are known for their pungent odor.

This can be dealt with by regularly bathing your Ferret, cleaning its cage often, and giving it a steady healthy diet. You can also administer Bi-Odor which is a suppliment added to your Ferrets drinking water that helps stop odors where they start. Litter training your Ferret also helps reduce odors. Ferret litter boxes come in many shapes and sizes. I recommend getting a couple corner boxes first. Ferrets, like many animals, tend to use the bathroom in the corners of their habitat, and once they've chosen a corner they stick to it.

Once your Ferret has chosen a corner simply scoop up the soiled bedding, place the litter box in that corner, fill it with Ferret litter and place the soiled bedding inside. The Ferret will smell where it has used the bathroom before and get used to using the litter box. Make sure the bedding in your Ferrets cage is different from the litter used in the litter box. I recommend using Critter Litter in the litter box, and Care Fresh Bedding in the rest of the habitat. Care Fresh Bedding is affordable, and a large bag goes a long way. Especially when your Ferret is litter trained.

Ferrets are very playful and tend to knock over their food if it's not in a secure feeding container. I suggest getting a heavy ceramic bowl usually used to feed dogs or cats. Or get a mounted bowl that latches to the cage and can't be pulled down or knocked over. Ferrets do like to chew so get a Chew Proof Water Bottle for them to drink from. Don't give a Ferret a water dish as they tend to knock bedding into them and the water is wasted. Get a 26 oz. bottle or bigger. The more fresh water they have available the better. For those who really spoil their pets I recommend giving your Ferret filtered water as city water has a lot of added chemicals that aren't always good for pets.

Ferrets like to chew a lot so to prevent them from chewing on their beds or metal bars of their habitat provide them with options. Give them chewy treats or even thin raw hide treats that you'd give to a dog. Pigs ears are loved by Ferrets. They can chew it, it lasts a long time and it's not bad for them. Ferrets can get fleas and ticks so make sure to treat them for it if you have other pets that go outdoors or if you take your Ferrets out often. There is flea treatment made for Ferrets that you can buy at most pet stores or you can use Front Line for Kittens which most vets carry. Use half a tube per Ferret once a month.

Consult your Vet before buying/administering any flea treatments as it is all based on your Ferrets weight. Ferrets are community animals so I recommend having at least two. Make sure that if you get them they are both fixed. One way to ensure that is to buy a Marshall Ferret or if you get it from a private seller check its ears to see if it has black marks. If you see two distinct dots or even just one then you are safe. Marshall marks their Ferrets with dots on their ears so you know they've been fixed and descented.

Having a Ferret for a pet is an wonderful thing, but Ferrets are not for everyone. Make sure you know your State/City laws before purchasing a Ferret. Also make sure that your schedule will allow you the necessary time for a Ferret. Ferrets have an average lifetime expectancy of 6-16 years. Take care of your Ferret and you'll be together for a long time to come.