Small Animal Talk: Ferret Fuzzies

I am a full blown animal addict. I love anything with fur. Cats, dogs, hamsters, guinea pigs, hedgehogs even, I have owned them all. Ferrets have been my favorite so far with their curious, friendly and hilarious approach on life.

Ferrets are playful

Admit it, when you buy an animal you may think of all the fun you can have. When you buy that hamster, it runs in its wheel and doesn't want much to do with you. You have to give them your ever-loving attention and hope he will come to realize you won't eat him for dinner.

Ferrets are different. They will play endlessly, like it is their goal in life. If they aren't having fun they are sleeping. It's as simple as that. Give them toys and stimulation and they will have you entertained for hours. Not to mention that they will definitely lift your spirits on a bad day. Oh, and be light-hearted as these guys will steal anything of interest and hide it. Anyone up for a game of hide-and-seek?

Ferrets are social

Most of the time, small animals cannot be kept in the same cage. They will fight to the death. This isn't to say that all ferrets will get along, but they are social creatures. Most ferrets will happily get along with another. If you are buying two ferrets at the same time, they are already living together and should get along fine. However, having one ferret then adding an additional ferret may cause a problem. Follow these steps for introducing a new ferret to your home.

1. Make sure you have a cage for every additional ferret.

2. Before introducing the ferrets make sure that you take it to the veterinarian for shots, and to be certain the ferret doesn't bring in unwanted disease.

3. Slowly introduce your ferrets, and don't pay more attention to the new one. Ferrets can get depressed!

4. Know the difference between fighting and playing. Ferrets can get rough because they have tough skin. If you see unwanted behavior, scruff them on the neck and tell them "No".

5. You will know when your ferrets have bonded with one another. A key indication of bonding is if they snuggle up and sleep with one another. That's a bond for life!

Extra tip: Some ferrets enjoy the taste of ferretone (basically liquid vitamins) if you put a drop of ferretone on the ferrets, they will bond quickly if they lick it off one another.

Ferrets can be litter trained

When you think of small animals, litter training is usually out of the question. The easy thing about ferrets is they go in the same spot all the time! When they have to use the bathroom, they simply back into the corner of their choice and do their business. It's pretty easy to tell when they have to potty.

Despite their similarities to a cat, they aren't going to use a standard kitty box and litter. The litter can be harmful to them, and a litter box with high edges is hard to back into. They won't go through all the trouble climbing into one. Pet stores usually sell a high back litter pan with an opening in the front so the ferret can simply back in and potty. If you put the litter pan in their favorite potty place, you have a trained ferret.

Ferret checklist

Like any animal, ferrets have needs. Below is a list of things your ferret will thank you for.

High quality food- Stick with foods with meat as the main ingredient, some owners even feed ferrets a raw meat diet

Bedding- Not just any bedding, though! Stay away from any kind of wood bedding for ferrets, as it is bad for their respiration.

Water bottle- Ferrets can become dehydrated very quickly, so make sure water is available to them at all times.

Lots of toys- Ferrets love toys, but they will also get bored with them. Let them play with toys, and hide them for a good while and give them to your ferret again. It will be like a brand new toy to them.

Harness and leash- Yes, you can walk your ferret. Make sure to use a harness, as ferrets can easily slip out of a collar.

Playtime- Ferrets love time outside of their cages. They need you to stimulate their minds, and maybe create problems for them to figure out. They love a good challenge, and they will love to play with you.

After owning a variety of different small animals, ferrets have definitely captured my heart as a favorite. They are different in many, many ways than your traditional hamster. I guarantee that if you give these little fuzz balls a shot, you will fall in love with their cute faces and curious nature.