Ferret

Photo by Evgeniya Litovchenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-woman-holding-a-ferret-9083445/

Ferrets are related to weasels. They are another exotic pet that is banned in some places, so be sure to check and make sure you are allowed to have a ferret before you adopt one. Ferrets, like cats and dogs, need to eat meat. Also, be aware that ferrets smell.

Cage

While ferrets do sleep a lot, when they are awake they really want to run around.  There should be plenty of levels with ramps and ladders in their cage. The cage for one should measure at least 18 inches by 18 inches by 30 inches. Wire cages are best, but make sure the spaces between the wires are narrow because ferrets are escape artists.  The floor should be carpet, wood, or linoleum - a wire floor will hurt their feet.

They need hammocks, shelves, and a dark hidey in their cage.

They like a cool climate, and will not do well if temperatures go over 80 degrees F.  They should be kept in the shade and definitely out of direct sunlight.

They should have lots of supervised playtime outside of their cage. They need a lot of exercise. Ferrets will chew on everything, make themselves small to escape, and can be pretty messy. Cover under doors, keep windows closed, and watch out for dryer vents, and any other place they may hide.  If you have a recliner chair, always check for a ferret before you recline.  Check in the oven for a ferret before you turn it on.  Likewise with the washer. You get the picture.  Electrical cords and anything plastic, foam, or rubber should be kept out of their reach.  They can get stomach blockages if they ingest foam.

Bedding

Paper bedding is considered ideal for ferrets, as long as it has no toxic inks.  Aspen shavings are also a good choice.  The bedding is for the ferret to snuggle in and for their litter box, if you have litter trained them. 

Photo by Nikolett Emmert: https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-hand-feeding-white-ferret-15470443/

Food and Water

Ferrets need to eat meat. Fiber and carbohydrates are not good for them.  They should not eat vegetables or fruit. Many ferret treats commercially available are not good for them.  If you want to give your ferret a treat, try a piece of meat - they will love that! You can get specially-made ferret food. Cat food might do in a pinch. 

Ferrets have very small digestive tracts and they poop soon after eating, so bear that in mind. They’ll poop every 3-4 hours. They also need to be fed quite frequently because of their quick digestion.

Ferrets need a lot of water, so it is best if you give it to them in a large, spill-proof bowl.  Water bottles do not release enough water at one time to be adequate for a ferret. They should drink about a cup a day of water.

Photo by Verina: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-and-brown-rodent-on-the-table-7179720/

Sociability, Activity, and Toys

Many people get two ferrets at the same time. They like having friends and the two of them can keep each other occupied so they don’t get bored.  A little ferret family of up to four might work well in a home that is set up for them to get plenty of exercise. 

You can sterilize ferrets, or “de-sex” them. Make sure both ferrets get equal access to food, water, and toys. If you are introducing two ferrets, do it slowly and carefully.  Some ferrets are loners, so having only one is not necessarily a bad thing for a particular ferret.  You will have to stand in as a playful friend, though.

Ferrets chew like it’s nobody’s business. Be careful of foam or rubber toys because the ferret will eat those and it could cause a blockage in their digestive tract. Keep them away from plastic because they will chew on that as well. Really make sure that the area they play in is ferret-proof - nothing they can chew on that would be dangerous, no way to sneak out, lots of great toys to play with, and space to run around in. If they are stuck in their cage all the time, they will get obese and unhappy.

Photo by Hans Splinterhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/archeon/1929555740

Some people put a harness on their ferret and take their pet for a walk. Or you might say that the ferret takes the human for a walk because they pretty much go wherever they want.

Ferrets will collect things, so if you are missing some socks, keys, or other objects, you probably left them out during ferret playtime and your pet sequestered them away. Provide them with balls, toys on a string, PVC or cardboard tubes, paper bags, and other toys to play with, burrow in, and climb on.

Biting is something they do to indicate they want to play.  It may be hard to train them to not bite you, and a ferret bite can hurt a lot, so be careful. If handled carefully, many ferrets become quite cuddly

Keep your ferret away from small pets like kittens, rabbits, or guinea pigs because the ferret will try to eat them. They will probably not get along with cats or dogs because they can be territorial.

Ferrets are extremely quiet and rarely make any noise. They are most active at dawn and at dusk.

They like to pee and poop in a corner, so it is easy to find a place to put their litterboxes. Just find a corner and reward them for using the box if you can. Clay litter is too dusty for them and clumping litter will stick to them. Paper litter is the best for them, and they are least likely to chew on paper than anything else.

Size

Ferrets tend to be 20 inches long including their tails. They weigh 1.5 - 5 pounds. Males tend to be larger than females.

Photo by Nikolett Emmert: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-ferret-in-hands-15470442/

Lifespan and Health

You can expect your ferret to live about 5 - 10 years. 

It is recommended that they be seen by a veterinarian every year.  They should have vaccinations for rabies, distemper, and other diseases. Once they are three years old, they should have annual blood tests, and over 5-year-old ferrets should visit the vet twice a year.

Domesticated ferrets tend to be very inbred. This leads them to be prone to diseases such as adrenal gland tumors and pancreatic cancer. Older ferrets tend to develop heart disease. They often get fleas and worms. 

Ferrets should be neutered, especially females.  Once a female ferret goes into heat, she will stay that way until she gets pregnant.  This is uncomfortable for her, makes her irritated, and can cause medical problems. Males tend to smell less after being neutered

Ferrets will groom themselves and don’t usually need baths.  A bath might actually dry out their skin.  They might get hairballs by grooming themselves, so you can brush them to minimize this. You might also clean out their ears and cut their nails sometimes.

Finally, ferrets are smelly. They have a musky smell that won’t go away with de-scenting, cleaning, or baths.  Neutering and removing scent glands will help, but the smell won’t go away. You may love the smell of your ferret, but other people in nearby apartments may not.

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