Buying Your First Ferret

If you want to own a ferret, you will probably have more luck buying them from a breeder or a shelter instead of the pet store. This is because it takes some effort to care for these animals especially since they need constant attention.

For those who happen to find a breeder using either the newspaper or the web, it is best to ask for photos. If you like it, you will have to fill some forms and then pay for it and it's already to be taken home on the same day.

Ferrets can be purchased at any age. If you want to raise a new born ferret, make sure to ask the breeder about animal care. Although these cute little creatures can already see, their vision is limited to a certain distance. You have to keep this clean at all times to prevent injuries. As they grow older, it is best to toilet train them.

Adults on the other hand are quite different but just the same, they have to toilet trained and your home has to be ferret proof to prevent damage to your home.

The price of a ferret depends on their size and age. On average, they cost around $75 to $125. Aside from that, you will also have to purchase a few other items like a cage, litter box, toys and vaccinations.

Another thing you have to know before going buying a ferret is finding out if it is legal to own one where you reside. You can do so by checking with the local wildlife and game department so if you need to get a license, this can be done to avoid any problems later on.

When buying a ferret, pay close attention to the eyes, their coating and their behavior. The more active the creature is the better. If you are worried that the ferret might reproduce later on, no need to worry because these are usually neutered.

Once the ferret has been purchased, the task of taking care of the ferret is in your hands and although it sleeps for more than 18 hours a day, once it is awake, it is very active and you need to let it out of the cage and let it run out.

To keep it healthy, you need to find a vet that is qualified to handle such an animal. If the one near where you live is not able to do the job, ask around for someone that can.

Food is one of the most important things to consider since they need to eat poultry or meat products that are high in protein and have low levels of fat. You should also avoid giving products that are rich in carbs and sugar. You must never substitute the food that is intended for other animals to prevent health problems. To keep them clean, given them a bath every so often.

Ferrets are cute creatures. If you have seen one on television or in the movies and want to own one, look around because you are sure to find ferret sellers in the market.

Owning a Ferret - Things to Consider

More people are considering ferrets as household pets. These creatures that are typically colored black, brown, white or mixed fur may grow up to 20 inches in length, 5 inches in height and weigh about 2 to 4 pounds. They have an average life span of 7 to 10 years that may live just as long as other animals kept inside a home.

The ferret belongs to the Mustelidae family and one of its closest relatives is the weasel. Studies have shown that it has similar qualities to badgers, skunks and wolverines so if you are planning to own one, keep in mind that this small creature is a carnivore.

This means that your ferret should eat either meat or poultry. When you are shopping for it at the grocery, make sure that it contains high level protein and low levels of fat. You must never get food that is rich in carbs or sugar as well as those that are intended for other animals as this may cause serious health problems for the animal.

One thing you should know before deciding to own a ferret is that unlike other animals, they require a lot of attention. They don’t like being locked up in a cage the whole day like your hamster or guinea pig so if you don’t have the time, you should think about getting something else.

If you have children at home who are below the age of 6, this should not be given to them because ferrets have sharp teeth and they will retaliate if they are attacked.

Most ferrets sleep for about 18 to 20 hours each day but when they are awake, they must be allowed to come out and play. The downside to this as some owners have experienced is that they will chew on just about anything that could do some considerable damage to the home. The only way to prevent that from happening is to ferret proof your home.

You can do this by putting metal coiling on all your electrical cords, blocking off certain areas of the house so your ferret will not go there, windows must be screened so the animal does not get out of the house, the floor must be cleaned at all time to prevent them from eating dirt that is on the floor and air ducts are covered using ferret proof vents.

The ideal cage for a ferret must measure 18” x 18” x 30”. This will give them space to move inside as well as play with toys that you provide them. There must also be a litter plan to collect their waste that can be removed, cleaned and returned once a week.

You will need to toilet train your ferret so when it needs to answer nature’s call, it can easily do so inside the litter box. The best one to get is the kind of made of recycled newspaper that will also need to be cleaned between one to two times daily.

Ferrets are now considered to be the third most popular pet in the United States. If you think you have the time to spend with such a cute little animal, go ahead and get one. You may not bring it around the neighborhood like a dog but you can spend quality time in the comforts of your home.

Ferrets and Environments

How do ferrets respond to their environment? This is a typical question ferret owners are frequently confronted with especially when they are getting used to caring for their furry friend. There is no easy answer as to how ferrets respond to their environment, but there are several familiar scenarios that can help you get an idea of what you can expect from their furry mammals.

New Surroundings
Ferrets love new surroundings. If there is anything you can provide them with that will really make them happy and do their classic war dance of excitement, it would have to be new playgrounds for them to conquer. Since ferrets are quite adventurous, the only danger would be the fact that they may get too adventurous and get lost in the new surroundings.

So if you are taking your dear furry pal to the park or someplace that is new and exciting for them, make sure that you keep your eyes open to where they might be crawling next. Ferrets are quite fast creatures so you might even use this as an opportunity to jog with your pet.

Familiar Surroundings
The thing with the familiar surroundings which help ferrets is that they get to do their training better. You can’t expect to train them well with good manners if you are not able to furnish some semblance of familiarity. The ferrets might not know it, but once domesticated, they will really need a place they can call home. They tend to relax in familiar surroundings, but then they can get bored so there is always a need to shake things up with a new toy or rearrangement of some of the things your ferrets play with.

Noisy Surroundings
Ferrets like enclosed spaces and are not as well-adjusted to noisy surroundings. In fact, this might alarm them or signal that they are being attacked. Some normal conversational noise may be tolerable, but anything in excess to that may be considered detrimental to your ferret’s health.

Cluttered Surroundings
Clutter is the ferret’s best friend. They love taking things and treats new objects as toys, just as any innocent infant would in her crib. For the pet owner, this may be equivalent to Jumanji since the ferret can and will swallow anything in its midst. Its particular love for the unfamiliar may pose some danger to its digestive tract so make sure that you know the clutter they will be in before letting them loose.

Clean Surroundings
Clean surroundings are good only for sleeping, which is daytime for ferrets since they are nocturnal creatures. Their sleeping area must be free from parasites so that they can have the sweetest dreams when they sleep. Over time, clean may translate to boring so you may find your ferrets bringing in new stuff to shake things up in his clean crib.

Indoors
Indoors are fine for as long as your ferrets are in their resting stage. If the indoors is completely furnished with toys that will keep them amused, the ferrets will find no reason to roam. Though they are naturally wired to be wild and in the outdoors, ferrets may actually enjoy being the indoors if the place keeps them excited and motivated to explore.

Outdoors
Outdoors, ferrets are happiest. But you might risk losing them if the area is too wide and filled with trees.

How ferrets respond to their environment greatly depends on how they are designed. If you can give them various environments to play in, it will make them very happy. Like humans, always staying at home may make them dull and it will really pay to render them some constant dose of excitement.

Having A Ferret As A Pet

Can ferrets be pets? The answer is yes just like owning a cat or a dog. All you have to do is provide them with the same kind of attention you would with any other animal you choose to have at home so they will be able to stay with you for a long time.

Ferrets are considered to be “unusual” in the pet industry because a lot of people would still prefer a bird, cat, dog, fish or hamster. In fact, some states in North America and a few countries do not allow you to own one.

The issue centers around the safety of the people who own them especially since these animals have very sharp teeth and although they are already domesticated, they will bite if ever they are provoked. This is why parents are discouraged from getting one if there are small children around but if they still choose to do so, they must never leave them unattended.

The worse part about getting bitten by a ferret is that it can carry and transmit rabies just like dogs. This is the reason that pet owners should make sure their ferrets have been vaccinated. Neutering is another thing that has to be done to control the number of domesticated ferrets.

Ferrets are also very curious creatures and if you don’t like them messing up your home, you should make sure your house is ferret proof. You can do so by sealing small spaces which they may enter, reinforcing wires and securing air ducts.

Here are some interesting things that you should know if you decide to own a ferret.

• First, they sleep for more than 18 hours everyday but when they are awake, this is the time that you need to feed and play with them.
• They do not like being caged so give them some room to move about in the house.
• Ferrets take naps in the most unusual places. If you don’t want to squish or hurt them, check under the cushion before you sit down because you could hurt them.
• Male ferrets are heavier and grow much longer than the female.
• They can live for 6 to 8 years and if you are lucky, even up to 12 years with proper care.
• Ferrets have poor eyesight, but thier other senses like their hearing and smelling enabling them to find food or go to you.
• Ferrets can be trained to do just about anything just like a cat or dog. Reinforcement theory is the best approach here by rewarding them with food when they do something right.
• Ferrets are not noisy since they don’t bark. They also don’t go outside as long as the doors, windows and vents are secured so there is no way that they will ruin your garden or that of the neighbor’s.

Those who want to own a ferret can either buy one from a breeder or adopt one from the shelter. Before you pay for it and fill up the forms, make sure you know how to take care of it because that responsibility is now in your hands.

If you are not ready, put it off until you are committed to take care of a ferret as a pet.

Costs Associated With Ferret Ownership

How much does it cost to own a ferret? is a frequently asked by interested parties who are considering getting a pet ferret. But there are actually many possible answers to this question, depending on which angle you choose to see it. There are various price quotes for ferrets these days, but the most reliable would be one that will come in with the advantages, disadvantages or how’s and why’s of such pricing.

Average store or breeder ferret around $100 - On to the safer side of things, a breeder ferret will cost you a hundred dollars or so, depending on the age, store quality and rarity of the breed in that particular region where you ordered it. The average store of breeder ferret will also give you the advantage of having more people to talk to about it because most people who own ferrets for the first time get it from stores and will be more than happy to share with you their discoveries. Since this is a popular choice, you will also get a popular response should you encounter problems with your regular breeder ferret in the future.

Premium breed ferret: $200 and up - A premium bred ferret will cost higher and will definitely have higher maintenance. Though at the outset all ferrets may seem to be made of the same stuff, you might have to have additional facts with your premium breed. Perhaps they are easier to train, de-musked by removal of glands or have other special tricks up their sleeve compared to the regular ferret. And as an owner, you might have to know all of these after you hand in your hard-earned $200.

Cage and Supplies: $100 - Ferrets are creatures that you cannot just leave lying around in your house. They need cages, toys, and other supplies such as shower toiletries. The ferret is like a baby in some ways. You have to prepare for its coming and make sure it comes in complete with the right stuff. If you are really eager to provide the best care for your ferret, there is definitely a need to shell out regularly for cage, supplies and toys that will keep you in harmony with your ferret’s wants and needs.

Vaccinations $100 and up - Health is wealth even for ferrets. Vaccinations will ensure that they will not acquire viruses or illnesses that easily. This will be your ally especially if you are still in the beginning stage of caring for your ferrets. You might not be able to closely monitor or instantly define what’s wrong, so an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.

Special Cases with the Vet: $300 per visit - There will also be cases where your pet ferret will undergo something major so you need to have at least $300 stashed somewhere for you to access should these things happen.

In the grand scheme of things, ferrets end up costing about as much as any other domestic animal like a cat or dog.

Can Ferrets Bite?

As a ferret owner, I'm routinely asked if ferrets can bite? The answer is yes and they can bite quite hard. While most bites are just harmless play type bites, they can bite very hard if they feel threatened or hurt. In many respects, ferrets are no different than a domestic cat or dog, who can also bite very hard if they want. Most bites are not as harmful but still, precautionary measures must be taken properly.

A Quick Look on Ferret’s Teeth Structure

Ferrets’ teeth are in many ways synonymous to human teeth. But the lethal part in the ferret’s dentures would have to be the tip of their canines. That is the sharp part that some owners decide to cut off at the outset of its growth to avoid ferret bits from plaguing the whole ferret experience.

The good thing is that ferrets’ canine tips can naturally break off from excessive biting of objects. Giving them hard toys they can chew, for example, can help eliminate the threat of its sharp canines.

Ferret Bite Quick Tip 1: Assess the extent of the damage. If bitten, the very first thing to do would be to assess the depth of the bite. If it is just a minor scratch, clean the wounds but do not make any dismissive presumptions. In the case where you are confronted with a major bite, you need to have it checked immediately.

Ferret Bite Quick Tip 2: Clean the wound immediately with your first aid kit. Cover it afterwards. Having a first aid kit would be very beneficial for both you and your pet ferret. Wash with soap and water, clean it with peroxide, cover it with gauze and if all else fails proceed to the next step. Note the color of the wound and make sure that the blood flows for a considerable amount of time before cleaning it up.

Ferret Bite Quick Tip 3: Go to the nearest doctor. Seeking the help of a medical professional will help you have the objective assessment of the wound. It will also ensure that you did not acquire any infections from the ferret bite.

Ferret Bite Quick Tip 4: Have the ferret checked by the veterinarian. It is not just you who needs to be checked but you also need the help of your veterinarian to have your ferret checked. You also have to have the dentures of your ferret checked to see if there are any remnants of skin or anything unusual that came from the bite. This is to ensure that both your health and the ferret’s health remain uncompromised.

Ferret Bite Quick Tip 5: In the case where one ferret bites another, have them both checked and keep them in separate cages until the tension dissipates. In the case of ferret to ferret bites, you will have to have both of them checked with a veterinarian. If at all possible, analyze the causes of the hostile behavior. Eventually, you may have to combine them in a single place again, but make sure that this is done with utmost care and in a gradual manner.

Ferret Bite Quick Tip 6: Furnish your first aid kit immediately for both humans and ferrets. Your ferrets must also have their own first aid kit, furnished with pretty much the same thing that the human first aid kit has except that all the objects are downsized to suit your furry creatures.

Exert caution in treating wounds of your ferrets, otherwise they will see it as an attack and bite you as you treat it.

A Ferret Environment

Although ferrets have eyes, they are not unable to see that well. As a result, they use their other senses to guide them through their environment using their hearing and smell.

Since domesticated ferrets are not afraid of humans, they will be able to handle any new environment that they encounter without any fear. In fact, they don’t mind living with other ferrets as it has been observed that some sleep on top of each other.

This is as people have observed are very different from their close relative the European polecat that chooses to live in isolation.

One reason that ferrets behave this way is due to the fact that they have been neutered thus decreasing the tension or rivalry in finding a mate however, they still show aggressive behavior towards other ferrets when playing, marking their territory or hunting. Let’s talk about this behavior in their environment some more.

Ferrets play among themselves and neck biting is one example. Some scientists believe this is how the male controls the female during mating. But since they are already neutered before being given to the new owner, this may serve another purpose such as practicing how to hunt.

Since domesticated ferrets no longer have to hunt for food, this is now used to protect themselves from an attack. The amazing part about it is that because ferrets have very thick skin on the back of their necks, you won’t find a single mark afterwards.

Being on the offense is not the only way to fend off attackers. Other tactics include dancing, hissing, lunging, sideways attack, screaming, snapping of the jaws and a clucking sound.

You can prevent a fight from taking place by providing a separate area for both ferrets to call as their own. Eventually, they will sort out their differences which is something we humans also do whenever we are engaged in an altercation or misunderstanding. But fights among domesticated ferrets are rare given that many owners just purchase one.

Given that ferrets are very friendly and sociable animals, you have to house proof your home as these curious mammals will most likely go to dark corners and small holes. They might take a nap under the cushion of the couch when they feel like it so you better check underneath first to prevent any problems.

They will also have to be toilet trained so they don’t dump their waste just anywhere in your house. Studies have shown that this is the ferret’s way of marking their territory and if they are out of the cage, they can easily find the litter box even if this has been relocated.

In terms of their diet, experts suggest that this should be a combination of various products so that they don’t get used to one type of food. If one runs out, this can easily be changed with another. Also, the amount of protein that they should take in decreases as the ferret grows older.

Ferrets are adaptable mammals and once they are brought home from a breeder, pet store or animal shelter, they will in no time adapt to their new environment. So, just give them some time to get themselves familiar with their new surroundings and don’t be scared if they show some aggressive behavior because after all, they were once from the wild.