Anyone own a ferret?

Question

I am thinking of getting a ferret, what are thing to look out for, or things i should know first. upsides and downsides. any advice

Answer 1

http://www.gomestic.com/Pets/Unusual-Pet...

read this link, it is very helpful and will give you some honest advice.

Answer 2

I HAD FERRRT WHEN I WAS 5 YR OLD. THEY SMELL BUT THEY CUTE. THEY SLEEPY ALOT AND WHEN THEY R UWAKE THEM EAT A LOT TOO.

Answer 3

They are really smelly animals but they are really cute and smart if you get them a glass cage they usually use the bathroom in one spot

Answer 4

Upsides- ferrets are so much fun and can bring so much joy and fun!, they do the cutest things and very low maintanice. They sleep for about 18-20 hours a day. so it is not like a dog who wants attention every min. also they are able to fix there sleeping schedual to match your free time. My ferret knows when i get up and is able to wake up when i get home from school. Also since they are small and unique other people love the play with a ferret also and they live long. And to top it off they go to the bathroom in a litter box to you don't have to pick up after them in the yard, or HOUSE!

Downsides-  After 6 years they catch diseases easily which can be hard to handle with medicine and just the sadness of having a sick animal. Also they are smelly, but it is mostly the litterbox and you have to pick up after her like every 2 days so maggots and stuff to come to her. You cannot leave the p**p in the backyard for like 5 days and then pick it up, you are reminded when you are not taking good care of your ferret.  also you have to play with her and give her attention because they get depressed easy.

Other than that ferrets are great pets and i think the upsides over come the downsides.



Lookouts- they get into things easily so if you want to let it run around a room free you have to ferret proof it. No Inclining Chairs!!!! They will get in there and it will not be good. also make sure there are not holes she can get into and always have a litter box laying in its playing area. a good book to read if "ferrets for dummies". hahaha it is actually very helpful. ohhhh and ferrets don't do good in hot  hot areas. They get very over heated and you can tell when they are.  Well Good Luck and i hope you get one! They are adorable.

Answer 5

With proper diet, grooming and washing of cage the stink is minimal at best. As for the scent glands most store bought ferrets are going to be descented and neutered/spayed in the USA.

For a quick low down. Ferret live around 6 to 10 years, but after 2 they are very pron to sickness which is treatable. They are also curious animal to say the least ans will get into everything and I do mean everything, think of in like a 2 year old kid in this respect and your house need to be secured, which is what I found to be the cutest thing about them. They also have a specific diet, ferrets eat every 3 hours and use the restroom every 3 hours also, but with the proper diet will eat less food at that time. They also sleep for up to 20 hours a day, but the other 4 hours they need to be out of their cage romping though the house.

Answer 6

ferrets smell. you should know that first. they have the same stink glands as skunks and sugar gliders and their body odor is strong. their cage needs to be cleaned every other day at least. and they also need bathes every week--you can get special shampoo for their sensitive skin that'll keep their fur healthy, too.

some ferrets bite, but not all. they have verryyy sharp teeth.

ferrets aren't really nocturnal, but they're not not-nocturnal. they sleep when they aren't playing. they don't really have a pattern: when they're not playing with you, eating, drinking, or pooping, they're sleeping. they don't mind you waking them up though.

they need lots of attention. mine can't go a day without being held. try to let them run around every single day, whether for ten minutes or ten hours. they need to get out, they need to play, they need to run around. this is important.

they usually pee in the corner of the room or cage, so if you let them run around your house, figure out which corner they  choose (you'll have to do that the hard way...) and after that, they'll almost always go to that corner, so put a litter pan there.

you can buy them leashes to walk them. mine don't like that, but you can train some to get used to it and eventually walk it down the street.

they're smart and sneaky. my girl, since she's the smallest, can get out of her cage any time she wants by squeezing through the bars. but i'm not worried--she knows her way home, and when she wants to, will stay in a pile of blankets that i have next to it until i discover her sleeping there. so if they get out, try to poke around for them a while. if yo udon't find them, then wait a couple hours and check back in a again. when they get tired or hungry or thirsty, they'll usually return.

umm.. nothing else comes to my mind right now. those are the most important things.