How do you care for a ferret?

What Is a Ferret?

A ferret (mustela putorius furo) is a small carnivorous mammal, belonging to the weasel family, or mustelidae and is related to the otter, badger, mink and weasel, usually weighing less than 5 pounds. The females (jills) are much smaller than the males (hobs). They were domesticated from the European polecat ferret (mustela putorius) even before the cat, probably by the Egyptians. They have been used for centuries for rodent extermination and rabbit hunting.

Because ferrets have been domesticated for so long, they have lost all natural instincts and cannot survive on their own in the wild and totally depend on humans for food and care. They have no inherent fear of humans or other animals. Ferrets are not rodents and are not even related to rodents. They are used in biomedical research as an animal model. In some European countries, they are bred on fur farms for use in clothing called fitch fur. In fact, many ferrets are bred by mink farmers for their fur, because they are easier to handle than minks.

Ferrets are energetic, curious, playful, and very interested in their surroundings and environment. They have a repertoire of behaviors both endearing and sometimes difficult for some human owners. Ferret tend to form a strong bond with their owner, craving human interaction, and also form strong bonds with their cage mates.

As kits, they tend to nip, biting in a playful manner; are more prone to chewing and teething, and a tendency to bite hard. Ferrets that have been abused (fear biters) or are in extreme pain or with an illness may bite a human, and are capable of strong bites which break through the skin.

Ferrets are easily entertained and will actively seek humans for play. They are naturally inquisitive, and because of their natural burrowing instinct will tunnel into or under anything. With patience and practice, they can be taught commands and will respond to discipline. Ferrets use a variety of body language. Some of these behaviors are dancing (Dance of Joy), wrestling, hiding, chasing and stalking.

They will often sleep 15-19 hours per day. They are naturally crepuscular, meaning they are most active during dusk and dawn. They have an instinct to habitually urinate and defecate in the same place and can be trained to use a litter box. They have a strong nesting instinct and will repeatedly carry small objects to hidden locations.
(Source: Wikipedia)

Are ferrets rodents?

• Contrary to popular belief, ferrets are not rodents. They are members of the mustelid family, which includes weasels, badgers, stoats, and otters.
  

• Ferrets are not rodents, not even being close to rodents. They are members of the Mustela family, which is a family of animals that have strong musk glands.

• Ferrets are in the same family as weasels, Mustelidae. Badgers, polecats and otters are also in this family, as well, they are carnivorous. Rodents tend to be vegetarians, or at least omnivorous, and their two front teeth on the top and bottom continuously grow.
  

Ferret Care First thing you need to do is educate and learn all you can on the proper care of ferrets to insure a long and healthy life. It's important to handle and play with your ferret daily to insure proper socialization and to avoid aggressive behaviors. Ferrets are not caged animals but you "cage them for their protection". By nature, they are very inquisitive and love to explore their surroundings, make sure that they are provided with a safe environment by "ferret proofing" and allow them time out of their cage at least four hours a day. Ferrets need to be placed in a quiet area to avoid shock - caused by loud sudden noise, being chased by a predator or any similar sudden movement. Shock may not be instant and a delayed from the time of the incident to the time of the reaction may occur. SYMPTOMS: Can vary from panting and lethargy to a catatonic state of rigidity, depending on the depth of the shock. If your ferret suffers from shock, place it in a warm quiet spot, speak softly and stroke it very gently, recovery is normally fast.

Ferrets need quite a bit of care and attention, as well as a lot of knowledge before acquiring one as an owner. They are not a good pets for small children, ferrets don't like to be restrained, and could easily be injured. They live for an average of 8 years and one really has to be able to commit to being the primary caretaker for that length of time. They do make good pets in families of older children as long as the children have full support their parents in caring for the them. Properly caring for a ferret can be expensive, there are many illnesses they can acquire. Many owners have had to relinquish them to shelters when they could not afford veterinarian care. Learning all about ferret behavior and their care can be found in the very thorough book, "Ferrets for Dummies."
 

Cost of getting a ferret

When purchasing a pet ferret, it's not the cost of obtaining one, there is more to it than the animal itself. The financial responsibility can be costly to ensure the health of your ferret. Ferrets need to be provided with a good quality ferret food, necessary vaccinations, and annual veterinarian visits for well care. You need to commit to being a responsible ferret owner by providing a loving, safe environment and provide necessary proper care. Are you aware of what is necessary to keep a ferret happy and healthy? Do you have a sufficient large cage suitable for ferrets? What about vaccinations? When you buy a ferret, they have had only one distemper vaccination and will need 3 more distemper vaccinations that are required at 9, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Rabies Vaccinations are required between 13 - 16 weeks from an exotic animal veterinarian. Do you have the money for four separate veterinarian visits?
Ferrets cost anywhere from $100 to $200 in the pet store. The initial cost of supplies can total upwards of $500. You will need to plan to buy supplies on a monthly basis throughout the rest of the ferret's life. You can expect to spend up to $200 on food a year, $200 on litter, $70 to $80 on treats and toys, and more money on other supplies. Veterinary costs vary widely, but you can expect to spend anywhere from around $100 for necessary vaccinations, if there are no health issues. Even when your ferret is healthy, veterinary care can cost you $250 to $500 a year. Illness/Disease - Ferrets are prone to illness and disease if not properly taken care of and also most ferrets are from Marshall Farms (pet stores) are also prone to illness from improper breeding (inbreeding and genetics) and early neutering, therefore it is suggested to set aside an "emergency fund" of about $800 for veterinarian care. Ferrets can come down with an illness or disease within the first year. Anytime a ferret has an illness or disease it is not usually recognized in early stages, because ferrets tend to hide their pain and illness. If you ferret starts acting different from their usual behavoir, suspect illness. Contact a veterinarian as illness in ferrets can progress rapidly with a possibility of death in a matter of days. A fund set aside for emergency medical care is highly recommended of at least $800 - $1000 per ferret.

Recommended supplies - Large, multi-tiered cage - habitat should also include a hammock and/or sleep sack, tubes, litter box, and toys, high quality ferret food, food bowl, water bowl and/or bottle, book about ferrets, bedding, soft brush, collar, harness and leash, litter box/litter, ferret shampoo, nail clippers/kwik stop, ear-cleaning solution, hairball preventative, flea comb, flea preventative.

Cage for a ferret - A large, well designed cage is a necessity. Some features to look for are solid floors and shelves / balconies (wire mesh is hard on the feet), and ideally solid ladders, too. Multi-level cages are nice, but depending on the arrangement of the levels, falls are possible. Get extra shelves or use hammocks to make cages safer if necessary.

What to feed a ferret - Food made specifically for ferrets - must be high in animal protein (chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, etc) and fat. Protein should be about 35% to 40% minimum, and fat should be around 18% to 20% minimum. They do not have the ability to digest fiber, so their food must be low in fiber. Look for a food that has quality sources of animal protein and fat as at least three of the first five ingredients. Kitten food does not have the proper nutrition that ferrets need for their main food. Dog food also lacks the nutrients needed to properly maintain ferret health.

Advice from other contributors:

• I love "Ferrets for dummies" book - ISBN 0470139439 I've actually talked to Kim Schilling on the phone. I wouldn't even let a person THINK about getting a ferret if they had to ask someone how to take care of it. That shows they don't know how and the ferret most likely won't get taken care of properly

• This book from the library first "Your First Ferret" it is a small paper back, it has everything you need to know to care for your ferret properly and keep both of you happy

• Educate yourself first on how to take care of a ferret before you acquire one, make sure it's the right pet for you. Ferrets are not rodents or pocket pets.
  

• Ferrets crave human interaction and loved to be played with, they need to have proper socialization and training.Plenty of time out of the cage "ferrets are not caged animals, you cage them for their protection. Prolonged caging can lead to aggressive behaviors. A good quality ferret food - the food it eats is a reflection of its health
  

• "Ferret-Proofing" it's environment. Keeping things out of reach that are dangerous to ferrets. Ferret have been know to crawl into large appliances, reclining chairs, sofas due to their burrowing nature and have died as a result. Anything their head can fit into, the body will follow. Even under doorways. Ferrets love to chew on soft rubber, foam like pencil erasers, rubber bands, fabric etc. which will cause blockage in the stomach and a painful death unless surgery if performed.

• Proper veterinarian care - Ferrets need immunizations against rabies and canine (dog) distemper. Distemper is an airborne disease that can be brought in from the outside on clothing and shoes and is always fatal in ferrets.

• Ferrets can be prone to various illnesses and sickness. Ferrets are know to hide their pain from sickness or illness, before you even realize that there is problem and can easily die in a matter of a few days without proper medical treatment. They can be easily stressed from sudden loud noises, or even a trip to the veterinarians office. They can suffer from depression in the event of a cage mates death, some will even stop eating and without human intervention, will die.
  

• There is a lot to learn about caring for a ferret properly, to much to list here. Please see related links below and educate yourself to understand these lovable animals

• Research in how to look after it and work out your cost etc.. like you would with any other pet, also check out how to house a ferret! then go and find a nearest rescue shelter and ask questions and they will sort things all out with you! Normally rescue shelters are very helpful and will tell you everything you want to know. you can get a ferret from a breeder or sometimes pet shops but rescue shelters are very full and ferrets there need new homes!

• Ferrets require human interaction (lots of play time) and about 4 hours out of their cage daily. Ferrets like to have a lot of attention and require a lot of time.

• a ferret needs a lot of attention, they sleep 18-20 hours a day, they are usually active at dawn and dusk, they can be taught tricks and respond to discipline, tunnel under anything, they use a variety of body language like dancing stalking or wrestling, they are related to the otter and the weasel,THEY ARE NOT RODENT THEY ARE NOT EVEN RELATED TO RODENTS AT ALL

• As babies they nip, if sick or abused they may bite, they have strong bite that puncture the skin

• Ferrets can catch Influenza illness from humans

• In some parts of the world they are used in rabbit hunting called "ferreting"
  

• Most all ferrets are as pets now, only one species are in the wild and they are extremely rare - The black footed ferret.

• Ferrets require a lot of care, time and attention. Ferrets would be very hard to take care of, if fact it would be impossible to own one for some people that have very busy schedules with kids, jobs, keeping up with the Jones, etc. and are hardly ever at home or travel a lot
  

• On the other hand, some people who may be retired, their kids are all grown and moved out, may live in a place far away from others, have extra time and maybe could need some company, then a ferret would be perfect and easy for them to take care of.
  

• Pets are a big responsibility, before acquiring one, educate yourself first on the specific needs and proper care. When pets are bought as an impulse buy, it's the pet that suffers from abuse, neglect and improper care or left at the nearest pet shelter to be forgotten or euthanized.
  

• Do not declaw your ferret - ferrets use their claws for many things including climbing, and keeping balance. Do not let your ferret play with reptiles, birds, insects, mice, rats, etc... - Ferrets will most likely try to kill these animals. Do not let your ferret loose in the wild - The domesticated ferret will not survive.Do not keep your ferret in temperatures over 80% F - ferrets do not handle hot weather at all and are extremely susceptible to heatstroke that can quickly kill your ferret if not treated immediately. GROOMING Brushing: During the shedding season, your ferret will need to be brushed. If you do not brush your ferret, he/she may get a hairball. Nails: You usually need to clip ferret nails about once every two weeks, although it varies. You can use regular nail clippers or special ferret nail clippers. When clipping their nails, watch for the red vein that goes through their nail, do not clip it! Clip a little ahead of this vein. It is a good idea to consult a vet before trying to clip a ferret's nails. If you do not know EXACTLY what you are doing, do NOT clip the ferret's nails. Ears: You will need to clean your ferrets ears about every week with a ferret ear cleaning solution and some Q-tips. But it varies from ferret to ferret. Tooth Brushing: Yes, you do have to brush a ferrets teeth. Do not use human toothpaste/toothbrush on your ferrets teeth. If you are planing on getting a ferret, be sure you realize how much time it takes to take proper care of them. CLEANING Owning a ferret is not all fun and games! Cleaning up takes up a lot of time. Here are some cleaning tips. Bedding: You will need to wash your ferrets' bedding at least once every week. Just throw it in the washer like normal clothes. Cage: Every month, the whole cage will need to be scrubbed down. If you have a small cage that can be lifted, haul it outside and hose it down. Then scrub it with suds, and spray it again. On the other hand, if have a large cage that can't be lifted (or can't fit through the door! ) you will just have to get on your hands and knees and use an indoor cleaner that is pet safe! Your ferrets will thank you very much. Litter Pans: Do not use clay/clumping litter - This litter has a lot of dust and is meant to stick together when wet, then harden to form a clump that if your ferrets sniffs it will cause suffocation. Stove pellets work well as litter. Litter pans need to be scooped everyday or more. After a week the litter pan will need to be scrubbed (with water and soap) Toys: A lot of owners discard cleaning their ferrets' toys. But think about all the things those toys have been through. Most stuffed animal toys can be thrown in the washer just like their bedding. The plastic toys should be dumped into a bucket of hot water. After they are done soaking (about 10 minutes) take them out and run them under water. Scrub them with a towel or other cleaning scrubber. Food/Water Dishes: The bacteria that grows is not visible to the naked eye. You will need to scrub the food dishes every week. ACCESSORIZING THE CAGE Hammocks, beds, sleep sacks/cubes, T-shirts, Fleece, etc... Ferrets love to burrow into their bedding when they are sleeping. Never use wood shavings, pine/cedar chips or wood chips for bedding - it can cause respiratory problems. If your cage has wire flooring, cover it with linoleum, fabric, or sticky tiles. These wired floors are way too rough on your ferrets' feet, not to mention there have been numerous accidents of getting their feet stuck. FOOD What brand?: I would recommend buying 3 brands of food, to give them a variety and if you run out of one! A ferret needs a high quality diet, at least 36 percent protein and 18-20 percent fat. There are many brands to choose from, do your research before you decide on one. A ferret can be allergic to one food or another, so be aware of diarrhea that persists after switching foods. If your ferret does develop diarrhea for more then 2 days for any reason, take him to the vet immediately. When to give: Food and Water needs to be out at all times. Ferrets can easily get dehydrated. Do not feed low quality cat food or foods high in fiber - ferrets cannot digest this very well. Do not feed nuts, sugary foods, dairy products, seeds, coffee, tea, chocolate, alcohol, salty foods, and raw egg whites - can cause serious health problems.
  

Refer to the Related Questions and Related Links below for more information.