Is a Ferret For You?

As the popularity of ferrets is increasing, so are the numbers of ferrets being surrendered to shelters or given away as owners are/ were NOT fully prepared for everything that comes along with ferret ownership. Many web sites and owners are very eager to talk about the cuteness factor, their playfulness, energy, etc, often neglecting to mention that a ferret is not the pet for everyone and that they are very high maintenance, unlike cats and dogs. All too often ferrets tend to be an impulse buy without knowing beforehand what you are getting in to; perhaps if the price tag was higher this impulse buying would be reduced.

The purpose of this page is to help you determine if a ferret is the right pet for you before you go out to purchase one, as there are adjustments you as the owner will need to make. All too often ferrets end up in shelters, where the financial burden is then placed on someone else, the ferret does not get the human attention/ interaction, out-of-cage time needed, often suffers shelter shock, etc. Keep in mind, just like with a cat or dog, if you are making the decision to own a ferret you should be taking on all the responsibilities for the life of your pet.

A ferret is not a cage animal, and requires a minimum of 3-4 hours outside of the cage on a daily basis; they are very high energy animals. They need a cage with ample room to house a large litter pan, food bowl, water bottle, hammocks, bedding, etc.

• They cannot be left alone for more than 24-48 hours. What will happen when you want to go away?

• Do you have someone who will ferret sit? Most pet sitters will not watch ferrets.

• Do you have a ferret knowledgeable vet? Many regular vets are not equipped or have the knowledge to treat ferrets.

• Do you have the finances to provide for their medical needs? Yearly checkups and vaccines are routine, but what about illnesses requiring surgery such as Insulinoma, Adrenal Disease, hairball's, etc?

• Can you afford at LEAST 1 (avg is 2) surgical procedure in the lifetime of your ferret (7-9 years) which can run over $1,000?

• Can you afford the medical treatment for Adrenal Disease (Lupron Depot) which can run $300 every 4-6 months?

• Do you have the means to pay for medical attention when your ferret is not acting right, their poops are off, etc? Ferrets hide their illnesses extremely well; by the time any signs and symptoms are noticeable, the ailment is quite advanced and medical attention needs to be obtained asap.

Ensuring your house is fully safe is a big undertaking; you cannot watch your ferret outside their cage 100% of the time.

• Are you prepared to rearrange your home to accommodate a ferret?

• Are you ready to throw out any recliners you have or fully disable the mechanics and block off entry from underneath?

• Can you put up with their constant digging at carpets (especially corners)?

• Can you put up with poor potty habits outside of their cage?

• Can you put up with their digging on furniture cushions, possibly tearing the fabric and making openings inside the cushions that they can crawl into?

• Can you secure the under part of your box spring, chairs, sofas, etc?

• Are you prepared to block off any dangerous openings such as under/ behind the refrigerator, oven, wall openings?

• Do you have child proof locks for all your cabinets?

• Is your washroom secure so that ferrets cannot get to it?

Ferrets can tend to be nippy, especially when they are young.

• Will you have the time and patience to teach them not to bite the proper way (hitting, flicking their nose, etc is 100% unacceptable and will only encourage the ferret to bite worse)?

• If your ferret is a biter, are you going to ensure there are no accidents with friends, family members, children, etc, keeping in mind they need time out of their cage?

What about other pets in your house? What about children?

• Are you prepared to not have them interact and be kept totally separate?

• What if you add another ferret"?" Are you prepared that they "might" never get along and need to be housed separately with separate play times?

• Do you currently have young children in your house? If so, are you prepared to fully supervise ALL interactions?

• What about the future? Are you planning on having children? Will you still have the required time to devote to your ferret, keeping in mind a baby and a ferret should never be together?

• What happens when you get married? Will you still have the time needed to devote to your ferret?
  

Ferrets are obligate carnivores and need to be fed an appropriate diet. They are not a cat or dog and should not be fed that type of food (there are some high-quality cat foods that are an exception). Do you have access to high-quality ferret food they need? Will you provide meat-based treats only, rather than the junk treats marketed to ferrets which would only contribute to the onset of illnesses such as Insulinoma?