Ferrets as Companion Pets

It is a given that dogs and cats make great companion pets. Dogs are loyal, want to please, love to play games, and can even learn to do tricks or save people. Cats are more independent and aloof, but can often be a lovable pet, and some even make great mousers. However, there is a new up and coming pet, which also makes a wonderful companion pet. The ferret is a very clever, intelligent, funny, cuddly, active, and very enjoyable pet for many. They are quickly becoming the third most popular pet in the United States with an estimated 10 million kept as pets. With distinct personalities, they are each different, with many engaging quirks and favorite activities.

For many people who are allergic to felines or dogs, a ferret is typically considered hypoallergenic. For this reason, ferrets can provide a very nice alternative as a companion pet. Ferrets are not vicious, stinking animals as many people tend to believe, and will seldom bite unless frightened or hurt, just as any other pet will do. Ferrets do have a musky odor but it is no more smellier than a dog (especially a wet one) or cat. Ferrets can be litter trained, but do have accidents outside of their cage when playing. Owners must accept it as part of the deal when owning a ferret and try to circumvent "accidents" with pee pads placed in corners, or extra litter boxes.

They are especially nice if you live in an apartment or smaller home because they are small, but ferrets are suitable for almost any house provided some effort is made to "ferret proof" at least one room where they can play without getting into trouble. They are very curious about their surroundings and very mischievous. Some ferrets have been known to pull out an electrical socket, so ferret proofing with childproof covers is a good idea, along with sealing up any holes they may be able to escape through to the outside or a room that is not ferret safe. In fact, their intelligence level has been compared to being that of children between the ages of two and four years old. Do not under estimate their ability to go where nothing has ever gone before.

Ferrets are one of the most engaging, people orientated animals alive and frequently combine the best characteristics of both dogs and cats. The one most important requirement is that you must be able to devote time to your ferret and to interact with him (or her) because they love their people and want to spend time with you. Although they will sleep an average of 20 hours a day, the remaining four are frequently filled with hard play, wrestling, playing with toys, eating or cuddled up in your lap.

Ferrets love to play with almost anything to the most expensive toy to a plain old empty box. They love to have rides on a towel pulled by you or will chase a ball (and sometimes bring it back to you). They live to explore any and everything and will also hide your keys, wallet, TV remote, or even your jacket as long as they can move it. My ferrets love playing in a box filled with cornstarch peanuts (safe for ferrets if ingested) or in an old gallon plastic wide-mouth plastic jug. All eleven ferrets here adore tubes, both the clear 20 foot long one or the 4 inch white PVC pipe. If they have something they do not like, don't be surprised if they dump it into the litter box. Ferrets also enjoy being outside and you can take them for walks with a full body harness and leash. Never let them go off leash because if they are frightened or startled, they can run fast and may hide anywhere or even run out into a roadway. Ferrets also love to travel, but keep them contained in a travel carrier or cage for their protection.

If you have children, make sure they know how to handle a ferret. Ferrets do not make good play toys for young children who may squeeze them too hard or try to carry them by their tail. Ferrets will not appreciate it and they may nip or bite when trying to escape. Any small animal should not be considered an ideal pet for a child including ferrets unless they are able to handle a ferret correctly. That said, the bite ratio for a ferret is much smaller than for dogs or cats and are normally very gentle animals.

Ferrets are able to get along with most pets such as a cat or dog. Many ferrets will play with both or they may ignore each other. However, if introduced correctly, many ferrets will even sleep with their house mates. Please note that they are not good companions for mice, rats, snakes, guinea pigs, or birds as their natural instinct may cause them to attack and injure or kill these pets.

If you have a low traffic household, you can leave your ferrets out to "free roam" as long as their surroundings are safe for them. With my eleven ferrets, I let them out to play a couple hours a day when I can supervise them, but they are always caged at night or play in a special ferret playpen. If you should have an emergency where you need to get everyone out of the house, it makes it much easier knowing where everyone is and not have to try and find a ferret who has decided to sleep under a sofa cushion or in a basket of laundry. The cage should be roomy, with a litter box, food and water, blankets, (even old sweatshirts), hammocks, and ferret safe toys. Pine shavings or other bedding suitable for rodents, rabbits, or other pets are not considered safe for ferrets and may even cause respiratory problems.

Because ferrets belong to the family of Mustelidae, they are related to many other animals including weasels, marten, badgers, European Polecat, mink, otters, skunk, ermines, and many others. They are NOT rodents and not even cousins of any kind. Ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2500 years or since 4 B.C. and no wild ferrets exist. They are not able to survive on their own if they get lost or someone turns them loose and the average life expectancy for a loose ferret is normally less than a week. Nor can they be confused with the Black-footed Ferret in the United States as they are only distant cousins. For this reason, their food should be meat based because they are obligate carnivores and should have a diet consisting of at minimum a food with a protein level of 32% or higher with little vegetable filler and with a fat content of 20% or higher.

All ferrets should be spayed or neutered, receive routine health checkups, rabies and distemper shots (distemper is usually fatal to your ferret), and a CBC (complete blood cell count) blood test to check for any illnesses. They should be spayed or neutered, especially since a male will be more aggressive and a female must be bred if she comes in heat. If she is not bred, she could develop anemia and die from complications. Ferrets can get sick quickly and may require medical care. They are not low maintenance animals and it could cost up to $500 dollars or even more for emergency care. You should also talk to your veterinarian to make sure he is ferret knowledgeable or find one that is. Having a veterinarian that is familiar with taking care of ferrets may save you a lot of heartache.

The average life expectancy of a ferret is 8-10 years. Ferrets also come in a variety of colors from albino with pink eyes to the more typical sable with a mask that resembles a raccoon. Ferrets may weight from 1-5 pounds, with the males called hobs and females called jills. Ferrets are legal in 48 states with the exception of Alaska and Hawaii, and a few cities and counties do have specific requirements or are considered "ferret free zones", so always check with your local animal shelter, veterinarian, or ferret rescue to make sure you can keep a ferret where you live.

Therefore, if you think you have sufficient time to spend with a ferret of at least a couple hours a day, ready to clean litter boxes and fill food and water dishes every day, and able to handle any health concerns, do consider one of these highly intelligent, fun loving, and creative animals for a companion pet. Research and read all you can find on how to take care of them and what they require. When you select your ferret from a pet store, private breeder, or a ferret rescue, you will be ready. In return, you will receive all the love they can offer you including kisses from many, plenty of laughs and enjoyment, and your love and attention will be given back to you whole-heartedly and forever.

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About Ferrets

Ferrets as Pets