More info on ferrets please....?

Question

i really want to get pet ferrets, perferably 2 female ones. any advice or information???

Answer 1

The biggest thing I can ever recommend to you before getting a ferret is research. I researched ferrets for 9 mos. before getting mine.

You should get at least 2 ferrets unless the one you adopt/buy does not like other ferrets, because ferrets get lonely. 3 is the best number to have unless you want more, because then if one dies, it is less likely for the other ferret to get severely depressed.

Cages: The best cage you will find on the market is a Ferret Nation. Ferret Nations are the best cage for any ferret owner, they allow plenty of room, and are the safest cages out there. www.ferret.com has the cheapest, unless you search on ebay. Look out for a purple and green cage. It falls apart easily and I know someone who's ferrets toenail got caught on it and he was hanging from it for hours on Christmas.

Food: Probably one of the most complex subjects about ferrets, other than medical issues. A raw diet is the best thing you can feed your ferret. A diet is the thing that will determine whether or not your ferret is healthy and lives a long life or is sickly and dies young.

The best food you can feed is Innova EVO as far as kibble goes.

8 in 1 Ultimate, Wysong Archetype I, Natural Gold, Zupreem, Totally Ferret and a few others make good choices. Marshall food is a popular but terrible choice to feed your ferret. For cheap, quality food, go to www.stinkweasels.com. John only sells quality food on his site so no one is mislead. A great guy.

Know that ferrets can not digest plant matter and fruits and vegetables, nor grains, so take that in mind when picking a food, if you do not pick one of the foods I mentioned.

Medical: There are so many things that can shorten a ferrets life. Bad breeding is one thing. Pet stores are bad breeding. Please do not buy from a pet store, you are just supporting suffering of a creature. I got my ferrets from a shelter and there was plenty of selection, and the people there were much more informed, and were very helpful in helping me choose the best ferret for me.

The three most common cancers in ferrets are lymphosarcoma, adrenal disease, and insulinoma. Research these heavily so you can identify symptons early and help your ferret before it is too late.

Ferrets can get blockages if they eat something funny, so always have laxatone or vaseline on hand to help them clear their tummies of that, though if it is more serious, they will have to go to a vet.

Vet: Find an experienced vet, it could save your ferrets life.

Ferret Proofing: Your ferret will injure itself and possibly die if you do not ferret-proof the places your ferret has access to. Cords are not acceptable as well as reclining chairs, fold out beds (ferrets can get stuck), plants, your ferret will dig in them as well as quite a few other things. Read some articles on ferret-proofing to help you.

Smell: They do have an odor which some like and some hate, and you can expect it. Don’t bathe them more than 3 or 4 times A YEAR, or else they will smell worse, because you strip the oils from their furs and they have to replace them.

Cleaning: You have to wash bedding once a week, wipe down cage with cage pads, vinegar water mix or bleach water mix. You have to clean the litterbox twice a day, look for broken toys, etc.

Ferrets DO make wonderful, playful, intelligent pets, as long as they have great owners who know what they are getting into. Lots of ferrets are returned because their owners did not research their purchase.

Do not buy ferrets as an impulse decision, it will be a big regret. Research them heavily.

Ferrets for Dummies 2nd Edition is a great place to start. It covers all the basics and more. Even better is to join a forum, where people share their firsthand experience and you can ask them questions.

One I am a member of is http://www.ferretvillage.org . I am also a member of is http://ferretopia.proboards51.com/ and http://www.ferretsrus.proboards80.com/, though I most heavily recommend Ferret Village. My username is Carpetsharks. :)

If you have any more questions feel free to contact me here. Remember to research!!!

Alison H

Answer 2

Two or more ferrets will have a blast playing with each other all day long. They are very gregarious and are usually happiest in groups of two or more.

Ferrets are extremely curious creatures and will investigate anything and everything. Unfortunately, this curiosity is the leading cause of premature death amongst ferrets. Ferrets sleep eighteen to twenty hours of the day, waking up several times to eat, check their domain, and tend to other needs. Greatest activity occurs during two periods of about two hours beginning just before sunrise and sunset, when they play virtually tirelessly.

Once settled in, ferrets quickly establish their territory and set the house rules: What's theirs is theirs, what's yours is up for grabs. They explore; find and make nests; select and hide treasures. Life's simple pleasures, like bags and boxes, socks (with or without feet), or any rubbery item, appeal to ferrets most. Anything that can be turned over, inside-out, or dragged off, no matter the size, is fair game. In pairs, they prance, dance, wrestle, and hunt down each other, dogs, cats, and people with gleeful chittering. They are there to inspect every activity and supervise every undertaking. A ferret's greatest delight is to outwit a human. When these tiny whirling dervishes tire, they enjoy a warm place to rest, a human lap will do, piling up in groups if possible, with angelic little smiles on their faces which belie the previous hours of mad mayhem. In nature, a ferret acts and reacts like a child of two to four years of age.

Ferrets are curious by nature and can crawl through any hole the width of its head. Contact your local ferret Club or Shelter for helpful hints on "ferretproofing" your house. Reclining chairs and sleeper sofas are responsible for high incidence of accidental deaths in ferrets before their 5th birthday, as ferrets are crushed in the mechanisms. These pieces of furniture cannot be ferret-proofed, nor can you rely on children or guests to refrain from using them when ferrets are about. Ferrets love to dig in dirt, so potted plants should be placed out of their reach. Ferrets can not climb as cats do. They are able to jump and get a grip on something, then will either pull themselves up...or objects will come down with them. Items such as trash cans, tablecloths, laundry baskets, drink glasses, etc. are fair game.

Ferrets are not cheap pets.

Should you decide to parent a ferret, be a responsible owner - protect your pet and yourself by getting a ferret, or any other pet, only from a rescue organization or pet store that provides animals which are fixed and vaccinated, and provide him with proper home and veterinary care. Beware of "cheap" ferrets (less than $100 each) offered by "breeders" and pet stores: Altering and descenting costs range from $250 upwards and the ferrets from these sources, either breeding stock or offspring, only rarely have had proper handling or any medical care, making them untrusting of humans, and likely carriers of parasites and genetic defects.

Basic (essential!) items you will have to purchase for your ferret include:

A good cage (see your ferret care book, or consult a veterinarian or other ferret owners for details and advice).  Suitable ferret cages range in price from about $85 to $200, and up for custom cages.

Litter boxes and litter (Get Yesterday's News, Good News, or any of those types of recycled paper litters)

Water bottles or heavy water dishes. (Mine perfer the water dishes, beings they need a lot of water and can get more from a dish)

Heavy food dish (or one that attaches to the side of the cage itself is even better).  Separate food dishes can be purchased at your grocery or pet stores for just a few dollars.  Some of the attaching ones can run to about $10 each, but are a good investment.  Some ferret owners use two or three food dishes, with a variety of foods in them.

Bedding materials (old shirts of flannel or cotton, sweats, tee-shirts and towels work well, although terrycloth must be monitored and removed at any sign of unraveling). "Retired" items from your own home are probably your best bet, and will probably be your pet's most inexpensive need, short of water!

A pet carrier for transporting your ferret to the veterinarian, or other places out of your home.  A small-animal size carrier usually costs between $10 and $30.  This item is essential for the safe transport of your ferret.  Never carry a ferret loose in your car unless it is absolutely necessary (such as accident or dire emergency) and the carrier is NOT the driver!

Collars / harnesses / leashes. (optional)

Food!  Consider a good-quality food for your ferret.

Answer 3

"Are You Thinking About Owning A Ferret?

You should ask yourself the following questions:

•   Will you be able to afford to pay for high quality food, supplies and possibly up to $1000.00 or more for medical  bills?

•   Do you have at least 3  hours a day free for supervised out of the cage "ferret play time," and additional time for grooming and cage cleanings?

•   Are you a patient person?

•   Will you get very upset or want to get rid of the ferret if it scraches a hole in the carpet (or other furnishings), or uses the bathroom on the floor (if the answer is yes, don't get a ferret)?

•   Are  you  willing to make changes to your home to protect your ferret and your furnishings?

•   Will you be able to provide constant supervision between your ferret and your young children? Will you be able to help with the care of the ferret?

•   Do you have other pets at home that your ferret may not get along with?

•   Are ferrets legal in your state or county?

    

       Ferrets are loyal, playful, intelligent, affectionate, and full of hilarious antics.   I have never met a person who didn't laugh after seeing a happy ferret leap and bounce around a room during play (the "dance of joy")!  Ferrets can easily help chase the blues away after a hard day.  

     However, ferrets are a big responsibility and can require expensive medical treatments and surgeries.  Please do your research (and make sure you have funds available for medical care)  before purchasing or adopting a ferret.  

    

•       Ferrets are pretty easy to please, however they can be considered a "high maintenance" pet.  All they ask is that you let them out of their cage to play for at least three hours a day, give them lots of affection and keep them clean, healthy and safe.   The rest of their time is spent napping-  for ferrets sleep fifteen to eighteen hours a day.  Ferrets are easily litter box trained, although accidents can happen,  and will adjust to your schedule quite well.

•       The risk of getting bitten by a ferret is actually less than the risk of getting bitten by a cat or dog.  Ferrets can nip when they are young, however this is done out of play and they can easily be trained not to do so.  Ferrets who are afraid, sick, or have been abused do have the potential to bite (no different than any other domestic pet).  

•       Ferrets are not wild animals or rodents.  They are weasels (mustela putorius furo) who have been domesticated for thousands of years.  Ferrets do have a slight musky odor, but neutering or spaying your ferret can keep the musk from being too strong. Ferrets who are not being used for breeding must be spayed or neutered for health reasons.  Female ferrets will go into prolonged heat and eventually die from aplastic anemia if they are kept intact and not bred.  Male ferrets will become aggressive towards other male ferrets and release a strong, unpleasant musky odor (although some humans actually enjoy the smell).

•       If a ferret with intact anal scent glands is very frightened,  it can release a foul odor.  However, unlike a skunk, the odor does not linger as long and it does not smell as bad.   Most pet shop ferrets have been descented (anal scent glands removed), however this practice is considered to be mutilation by some people.  Ferrets who feel safe and are treated well by their owners will generally not express their anal scent glands unless they are extremely frightened.  Ferrets have scent glands located all over their body, however the anal glands are the only ones they can release as a form of protection.

      

    The decision to adopt or purchase a ferret (or any other pet) should be a careful one.  Ferrets do bond with their owners and become stressed when separated from them.  So, if you are considering a ferret as an addition to your family, think of it as an eight to ten year commitment.  Don't act impulsively.  Ferrets do require a big commitment on the part of their owners to ensure optimum health and safety.  

          In the following section, I have outlined some questions you should ask yourself before adopting or purchasing a ferret.  I am including this section not to discourage ferret ownership, but to help those considering ferret ownership make an educated decision.  I think ferrets are the greatest pets in the world,  but they are not for everyone!  There are far too many ferrets in ferret shelters around the United States and beyond (this is why you should always consider adopting a ferret from a shelter rather than purchasing one from a pet store).  

1.  Cost - Can you afford to own a ferret?  Ferrets themselves are fairly expensive, around $100.00 from a pet store, and they require proper food, cages, accessories and medical care.  One should always consider adopting a ferret from a ferret shelterl.  Older ferrets are a good choice for first time ferret owners, as they are less hyperactive and m

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Answer 4

Female ferrets stay in season until they are mated or until they have the injection. If they do not get either of these then this will cause Aplastic Anaemia which is life threatening.

Female ferrets are smaller and generally smell a little less. Although you do learn to love the ferret aroma!

Two female ferrets will love each others company. They are very playful pets and will need daily play time out of there cage. They can live inside or outside.

As babies they do tend to nip, this is no different then when a puppy playfully bites, they can be quickly taught not to do this.

Ferrets eat a range of food, a complete ferret food should be fed daily to maintain good health. Then i used to treat them to mince meat, dead chicks a favorite was a raw egg in its shell. Put a slight crack in it then let them do the rest!!!

They love digging, climbing and running through tunnels.

Ferrets dont cost a great deal of money but they can live for some years so expect to spend some money on food and the occasional vet bill.

I love ferrets they make fantastic pets!!!! I'd much prefer to buy my daught a ferret then a guinea pig or rabbit.

Have fun, hope i helped!!!