Ferrets are loyal, playful, intelligent, affectionate, and full of hilarious antics. You can't help but 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.

If you are considering getting a ferret as a pet, first 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? Do you have other pets at home that your ferret may not get along with?
Are ferrets legal in your state or county?

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.

Ferret Facts

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.

Ferrets are one of the best 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).

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 shelter as well. Older ferrets are a good choice for first time ferret owners, as they are less hyperactive and may already be trained. Baby ferrets (kits) require a lot of training, patience and time from their owners.

Ferrets require high quality ferret or kitten food (not the kind you can usually find in the super market). Be sure you have at least $25.00 dollars or so a month per ferret to spend on ferret food. You may not need quite that much, however it's better to over shoot than come up short.

Ferrets require quality cages and accessories. Cages designed for ferrets can run anywhere from $60.00 to $500.00 or more per cage. If your ferret is going to spend a lot of time in the cage, a larger cage with ramps and tunnels should be purchased. Accessories such as litter pans, paper litter, shampoo, water bottles, feeding dishes, hammocks and toys can run you an additional $50.00 or more.

Ferrets can also suffer from a variety of health conditions (cancer, ECE, adrenal disease, respiratory infections, injuries, gastrointestinal blockages, etc. (See Ferret Health Issues). Your ferret may require surgery or an extended hospital stay. Be prepared to have at least $1,000.00 set aside for such emergencies. Also, unless you are an experienced breeder, your ferrets have to be spayed or neutered by six months of age. Most pet store and shelter ferrets have already had this procedure performed. Sexually intact female ferrets (jills) will go into prolonged heat if not mated and will eventually become seriously ill and die. Sexually intact males (hobs) will become aggressive towards other male ferrets while in rut and will develop a strong odor and anxiety if not mated.

*Sadly, ferrets are often given up to shelters or put to sleep when their humans can't afford to give them proper medical treatment. Having a fund available for health emergencies can save your ferret's life and save you from a lot of heartache.*

Time

Do you have the time to properly care for a ferret? If you are someone who is out of town a lot or is gone from morning until late at night, a ferret may not be the right pet for you. Ferrets are social animals and need at least three hours of "out of cage" play time each day (this means you have to play with them and supervise their activities). If a ferret is left alone for long periods of time, or is never let out of the cage (this is abusive) it will become depressed, stressed or ill. If you do work long hours and you are bent on getting a ferret (not recommended), purchase two ferrets and an extra large cage or set up an enclosed "ferret proofed" room with lots of safe toys. Make sure you let them out to play when you get home or in the morning before you leave for work (or both).

Young (and some older) ferrets need to be trained. Litter pan training, teaching them not to nip, and ferret proofing your house all take time. Ferrets can also learn to come when you call them, respond to "squeaky" toys and perform simple tricks (rolling over, standing up for a treat etc). Ferret are like dogs in that they are social animals who need human interaction and limits set to them by their owners. An unsupervised ferret can get into a lot of trouble around the house, just as unsupervised dog can.

Finally, you need to set aside time for grooming (see Grooming the Domestic Ferret). Although grooming your ferret is not extremely time consuming, it must be done on a consistent basis or health issues may result.

Patience

Patience is an important virtue where ferret ownership is concerned. Owning a ferret can be like having a two year old child who never grows up! Ferrets are very persistent, intelligent and curious animals who will try to get into everything, especially things they are not supposed to! For instance, if a ferret takes a liking to scratching a certain spot of the carpet, it will take more than just one "no" to get it to stop the behavior. The ferret may stop for a few seconds or even several minutes and then return to scratching the spot when you are not paying attention. Usually you will need to make adaptations to your house and furnishings to protect them (and the ferrets) from harm.

Ferrets like to hide things. If you leave the remote, a wallet, socks, keys etc. where ferrets can reach them, the items will usually end up in their favorite hiding place! Be prepared for litter box accidents, drinks getting knocked over, potted plants being dug into and toys and other objects showing up under the couch or bed (or just missing completely). It takes time and creativity to stop a ferret from exhibiting unwanted behaviors, however some behaviors are just part of a ferret's nature and will persist. In other words, if you are someone with a short fuse and little patience, ferret ownership is probably not for you!

Young Children

Do you have children under the age of five at home? Children, especially very young ones, have difficulty understanding how to properly treat animals. Small children have a tendency to pull, grab, squeeze and drop small animals without realizing they can hurt them. This can lead to injuries to the ferret, or the ferret may possibly nip the child out of fear.

Children under the age of five or infants should never be left unsupervised with an adult or baby ferret. If your child is under the age of five, I would especially advise not purchasing your child a baby ferret (kit). Kits are very active, are hard to hold on to, and can nip before they are trained not to do so. They are also very small and could be easily harmed by a young, inexperienced handler. An adult will be needed to care for grooming, cage cleanings, supervision, and playtime. Ferrets are not like hamsters or mice and cannot be kept in a cage for prolonged periods of time. Parents should be prepared to supervise interaction between young children and ferrets.

Other Pets

Do you have other pets in your household? Ferrets can get along with some other domesticated pets, mainly cats and some breeds of dogs. Ferrets and cats generally get along the best (especially if they were raised together). Dogs are a little more tricky. If you own a hunting dog, a terrier, or a dog that likes to chase small animals, it will spell trouble for your ferret. Always use EXTREME caution and intense supervision when introducing a ferret to a dog or cat. Ferrets have been killed by dogs and seriously scratched by cats. Ferrets are so domesticated that they have lost most of their natural fear of other animals. They may just boldly walk up to a dog or cat out of curiosity and get harmed.

Never leave your ferret alone with birds, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice, rats, rabbits, chinchillas or reptiles. Ferrets will usually consider them food, or kill them on accident during rough play. If you allow your birds, rodents, or reptiles time outside of their cage, be sure to lock your ferrets in their cage to avoid a tragedy. There have been a few isolated cases of ferrets not bothering these animals, but it's best to proceed with extreme caution.

Legal?

Are ferrets legal in your state or county? Some states may not have specific laws against ferret ownership, however the counties within the state may. Always check with animal control before relocating or purchasing a ferret. Although there are more areas than these that may not be ferret friendly, I know that California, Hawaii, Dallas, and New York City don't allow ferret ownership. Call your local animal control office to find out if ferrets are legal in your county or state.

Ten Tips to Help Keep Your Ferret Happy and Healthy

1. Feed your ferret a premium ferret or premium kitten food (only if ferret food is not available). Make sure the food you choose contains at least 34% protein and less than 2% fiber. Make sure that meat is the first ingredient on the list of ingredients on the back of the bag. Avoid any ferret foods that contain dried fruits and vegetables. Remember, ferrets are strict carnivores! Suggestions: Totally Ferret, Zupreem, Iams Kitten, Eukanuba Kitten.

2. Give your ferret meat based treats or fatty acid supplements as treats. Give your ferret cooked chicken, chicken or turkey baby food, chicken livers, cooked egg, and chicken or turkey flavored cat or ferret treats. Avoid giving your ferret fruits and raw vegetables as treats. A raisin a day won't hurt your ferret, however raisins provide no nutrients for your ferret and they contain sugar. Raw vegetables can cause intestinal blockages in ferrets. Remember, ferrets cannot digest vegetable matter.

3. Give your ferret a one-half inch ribbon of hairball remedy a few times a week during non-shedding seasons, and a one inch ribbon daily during shedding season. Be sure to give your ferrets the hairball treatment at least one hour after they eat. Don't give your ferret hairball remedy right before he or she eats a meal. Hairballs can and do cause stomach and intestinal blockages in ferrets. They can't cough up hairballs in the same way cats do.

4. Give your ferret at least three hours of supervised out of the cage play time each day. Invent creative games to play with your ferret and provide him or her with lots of interactive toys. Remember, ferrets are very intelligent animals. They can get depressed and stressed if caged for too long. This can lead to illnesses such as ulcers and other gastrointestinal problems (plus it is just isn't nice). Hold your ferret often and give him or her lots of affection. Ferret are social animals (like dogs) and need interaction with others for good mental and physical health.

5. Purchase the largest cage possible for your ferret. One ferret requires a cage that is at least three feet wide, two feet deep and three feet high. If you have more than one ferret, you need a much bigger cage. Choose a ferret cage that has multiple levels. Fill the inside of the cage with tubes, tunnels, hammocks, sleep sacks, dangle toys, a litter box, food bowls, a water bottle and lots of soft fabric bedding. Don't ever use a fish aquarium as a ferret home.

6. Use recycled paper litter in your ferrets litter boxes. Do not use cedar or pine chips as litter for the litter boxes or as bedding in the cage. These products may cause respiratory problems in ferrets.

7. Ferret proof your home!!! Keep your ferret away from shoes, soft rubber items, foam rubber, Styrofoam, pencil erasers, rubber bands, nuts, candy, chocolate, soda, chips, gum, cleaning supplies, soap etc. Be aware that ferrets like these items and will do anything they can to get them. All of these items are potentially lethal to your ferret. Block off any openings around the dishwasher, stove and under cabinets. Keep your ferret away from the laundry room. Also be aware that ferrets can climb into reclining chairs, sofas and beds to fall asleep. Ferrets are often injured by getting crushed in furniture. Always know where your ferret is at all times. Never let your ferret run around the house unsupervised. Ferrets can open cabinets and climb into bath tubs, washers and dryers and drawers. Try to have a ferret safe room for your ferret to play in.

8. Groom your ferret. Make sure your ferret's nails stay trimmed. Clean your ferret's ears whenever you see wax building up. Keep your ferret free of fleas. Don't bath your ferret more than once a month (unless he or she gets into something). Brush your ferret's fur regularly, especially during shedding seasons (spring and fall). Brush your ferret's teeth with cat toothpaste at least once a month.

9. Be sure to have enough money set aside for emergency surgeries and vet visits. Try setting aside a certain amount of money every month for your ferret's medical care. Just one surgery can run as much as $800.00 or more. Your ferret depends on you to care for it in the event of a medical emergency. Have at least $1000.00 available at all times for medical care. Ferrets do tend to get illnesses that require surgery.

10. Keep your ferret up to date on his or her vaccinations and heart worm medication. Ferret do need to be vaccinated against rabies and canine distemper on a yearly basis. Both diseases are lethal to your ferret. If you live in an area with mosquitos, your ferret needs to be on a monthly heart worm prevention medication. Take your ferret in for a check up and vaccinations every year (more often if your ferret is ill).

Ferret Links

Looking for more information on ferrets and their needs? Here are some links to help you out.

Ferret Nutrition

Ferret Footnotes
A Review of the Nutritional Needs of a Ferret

Medical Information

Ferret Medical Information on Many Topics
Miami Ferret
Ferret FAQ from Ferret Central
Vet Centric
American Ferret Association

Training Your Ferret

Ferret Central- Litter Training
Ferret Net- Litter Training

Bite Training

Problem Ferrets and the People Who Love Them

Nip Training

Triangle Ferret Lovers