You’ve seen them in movies and TV shows, and your local pet store usually has a few for sale. They seem smart and cute. But what do you really know about owning a ferret?
Ferrets live an average of 6-8 years, although some can reach 10. They tend to sleep a lot (about 18 hours a day!), But when they are awake they are very playful and fun to watch.
The domestic ferret should not be confused with its wild cousins, the black-footed ferret, which is an endangered species. Never take a ferret out of the wild to keep as a household pet.
Many people have the misconception that ferrets stink! Although they have a slightly musky smell, it is not an offensive odor and the occasional bath helps with this. Most ferrets sold in North America for pets have also been descended and neutered prior to sale, and this helps eliminate any odors they might otherwise have.
The name ferret is derived from the Latin furonem, which means “thief.” If you’ve ever owned a ferret, like me, you know the name is well deserved. They will steal and hide anything that attracts them, especially if it is bright and easy to carry.
There are many good quality commercial ferret foods on the market. It used to be a common misconception that quality cat food could be fed to ferrets, but research has shown that quality ferret food is recommended. Ferrets require a diet rich in protein (34-36%) and one that contains approximately 20% fat. The source of the protein must be animal protein … plant protein is not suitable for a ferret’s metabolism as it is not digestible for them. Make sure to read the labels at your pet food store to ensure proper nutrition. You can give your ferret treats like apples, raisins, and bananas or there are commercial treats available at your pet food store. Treats should be administered in moderation and are a great incentive for training purposes.
A ferret should have a cage that is large enough for it to move around. They are very active animals when they are awake and you will likely want to lock them in a cage when you are not at home.
Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box. Here are some suggestions:
1. Initially, keep the litter box in the ferret’s cage. Generally, a ferret will use the box and may be rewarded with a small treat when they do.
2. Once the ferret has become accustomed to using the litter box in the cage, you can gradually move the litter box further away from the cage if you wish.
3. When your ferret is out of the cage, take him to the litter box often and reward him when he uses the box with lots of praise and maybe a small treat.
4. Ferrets will recoil to defecate or urinate, so if you notice your ferret backing into a corner when it is out of the cage, take it to the litter box.
Ferrets love to play! They will play with almost anything, so it is very important that the toys they have at their disposal are safe. Things that are sharp or have small parts that can be swallowed should be avoided. Soft rubber toys are not a good choice, as ferrets have sharp teeth and will destroy them quickly. Most of what a ferret plays ends up in its mouth, so it is a lot like “protecting the babies” from your home. Ferret Toy Suggestions:
1.hard plastic balls
2.hard rubber balls
3. things they can get into … commercial ferret “tubes”, or a section of PVC pipe at least 3 “in diameter
4.paper bags and cartons
5 rattles, teethers, etc. (safe toys for human babies)
6.small stuffed animals
Remember … they will steal anything, so make sure your home is “ferret-proof.” Oh … I forgot …. When I bought my first ferret, they told me they don’t climb. They are very good climbers, I found out.
After reading all of this, if you’ve decided that you still want a ferret, good for you! They are charming and entertaining pets. I will never regret having a ferret like FurrKid at some point in my life.