 
What is a Ferret? Ferrets are small furry mammals. Ferrets are not rodents. They are a member of the Mustelidae family. Females are Jills, males are Hobs, babies are Kits. Are Ferrets Wild Animals? No. Unlike their cousins the otter, weasel, min and black footed ferret, the pet ferret is a domesticated animal. It will not survive in the wild. How Long Do Ferrets Live? Ferrets, on average live anywhere from 7 to 10 years. We have known of ferrets who have lived longer, even up to 13 years. How much do ferrets cost? In an American pet store ferrets cost on average, $120. In an American Ferret Shelter, you may be able to adopt a ferret with adoption fees ranging, on average, anywhere from $25-$75. Sometimes you may be able to adopt an older ferret from a pet store, shelter or private home for very little, or for free. Other costs to consider are the costs of neutering/spaying if it has not already been done. You should consult with your Veterinarian as to the appropriate age your ferret should be for this procedure. All Vet fees vary according to country/state/region. Other costs to consider are the cost of rabies and distemper vaccinations, ADV testing and any Veterinarian costs if your fuzzy should become ill. Other costs would include food and treats, bedding and a cage if you are going to use one. Because I am allergic to cats will I have a reaction to Ferrets? Typically, most people are not allergic to ferrets even if they suffer from allergic reactions to dogs and cats. The best way to tell is to handle ferrets before you decide to get one. A good way to do this is to contact your local ferret shelter and pay them a visit. Spend some time playing with the ferrets and see how you react. Do ferrets bite? Healthy, well trained ferrets will not bite. Just like dogs and cats, ferrets must learn that biting is not acceptable behavior. When ferrets are young, they tend to nip or bite a bit. Handling is the key. The more you handle your ferret and teach it love, the less it will bite. Handle your ferret as often as you can. Have patience. If you put Ferret Tone on your hands (an oily treat available in stores) they will lick it off and learn that hands are good things. Some ferrets never bite at all. Others, will continue to play-bite (especially feet) when they are very excited and having fun - normally they will not bite hard, but equal to the way a kitten plays. Some people will scruff their ferret and say NO very sternly if they are bitten. Blowing on their face may help. Please NEVER hit your ferret's nose to teach them not to bite. Hitting a ferret's nose WILL hurt them. Do Ferrets Smell Bad? No. Ferrets have a light musky odor which most people find quite pleasant. An ferret that has not been descented has the ability to "poof" when excited or scared and the "poof" smells unpleasant but can be cleared instantly with the spray of an air freshener. Do Ferrets Need Baths? No. Bathing of ferrets will strip the oils from their coat. An occasional bath is fine, but ferrets do not need baths anymore than cats do. What Do Ferrets Eat? Ferrets are carnivores. They must have a diet high in protein. Many people feed their ferrets meat. Other people feed their ferrets a store bought, quality ferret kibble (dry food) high in protein. Some prefer high quality/high protein kitten/cat kibbles. For more information on food, see both our FERRET FACTS page and our FERRET FOOD page. Sugar is bad for ferrets although they do have a sweet tooth. Please see our FERRET TREATS page for information on healthy treats you can give your ferrets. Are Ferrets Nocturnal? Ferrets sleep an average of 16 to 20 hours a day. Usually ferrets will adjust their sleep schedule to coincide with your schedule for playtime. Are Ferrets "Cage" Animals? No. Ferrets are quite social and require exercise, playtime and companionship to keep them healthy and happy. Ferrets that are kept constantly in a cage may develop behavioral problems such as biting. Most people keep a ferret cage, or ferret-proofed room in their house for times when they are not home, not able to supervise the ferrets, or for night time. Many people have "free-roaming" ferrets, which means they do not go in a cage at all, or the cages are kept open at all times and the ferrets go in them when they want to sleep, eat or use the litter box. HOUSE-PROOFING is a very important factor when deciding to have ferrets regardless of whether they are free-roamers, have a ferret room, or have a cage except when supervised. How do I house proof my home for ferrets? To learn about Houseproofing please read our FERRET HOUSEPROOFING page. I can not stress the importance of houseproofing enough. Without houseproofing, your ferret runs the risk of having a serious or fatal accident in your home. Do ferrets use a litter box? Yes. Ferrets can be trained to use a litter box, although, this takes patience and ferrets do have a tendency, even after trained, to have "accidents" sometimes. Some ferrets learn to use the boxes better than others, but all ferrets can be trained. Go to FAQ page two for some good tips! Do not use wood chips, pine or cedar in the boxes. Do Ferrets get along with other Pets? Typically, it is not recommended that you introduce your ferrets to birds or rodents. Many of our members have ferrets and dogs and/or cats including myself. The key is to have slow and supervised introductions and depends on the individual animals. Be careful with certain types of dog breeds. So many people have more than one ferret...is it okay to only have one? Yes. Having one ferret is just fine. Remember, whether you have one or ten, the important thing is to have plenty of time to play with your ferret and love your ferret. Many people have more than one ferret and ferrets do typically enjoy each other's company, and because they are addictive, usually end up with multi-ferret households. Is it difficult to introduce ferrets to each other? Like all introductions, ferrets should be supervised and introduced to each other slowly. Some people will change out all the bedding to fresh bedding, and bathe all the ferrets together when making a new introduction. There can be some territorial squabbles in the beginning, but over time, most ferrets will typically get along with one another once they get used to each other. Sometimes new ferrets fit right in from day one and have no problems at all. Be sure to have new ferrets checked at the Vet before integration - up to date on vaccs, ADV tested, and clean bill of health. What about general HealthCare? As we mentioned, ferrets need rabies and distemper vaccinations and ADV testing. Also ferrets should have regular annual checkups by a Veterinarian. Do not allow your ferrets to play with rubber or latex items, or any toys that may come apart and be swallowed. Swallowed items can cause intestinal blockages. Ferrets are also very heat sensitive. Do not leave your ferret in the car, or in direct sunlight or heat. Do not use wood chips for bedding as the dust can cause respiratory problems. Use soft blankets and hammocks. American ferrets are very susceptible to various cancers, especially adrenal cancer. Test for ADV especially if adding new ferrets to the family. As your ferret ages, you should become even more aware of symptoms to watch for. Symptoms of ill health and detailed information on health care can be found in our MEDICAL INFO section. Are all Vets ferret knowledeable? NO. Make sure you find out if the Vet you plan to go to has treated ferrets before and has experience. For referrals you might try calling your local ferret shelters or breeders. For a list of American shelters you can look at our Shelter Page. We also have a Ferret Vet list here that everyone is welcome to add to. Please read How to choose a Vet. Can I take my ferret outside? Yes. Ferrets can be trained on a leash/harnass. You may also make supervised play areas outside in your yards. Remember, ferrets do not fare well in heat and high temperatures so note the weather before going outside. NEVER leave your ferrets outside unsupervised! Should ferrets be groomed? Yes. Ferrets enjoy having their coats brushed with a soft brush and it keeps their fur thick and healthy. It also helps to reduce hairballs during shedding season which occurs twice a year. Hairballs can cause intestinal blockages. (A product called FerretLax or Laxatone can also aid in preventing hairballs during shedding season). Ferrets need their ears cleaned and they need their nails clipped on a regular basis. Ferrets teeth should also be cleaned - it isn't easy to do yourself, so you can discuss teeth cleaning with your ferret knowledgeable Vet. Where can I find more information on ferrets? Talk to your local ferret shelter operators and breeders. Also, you will find some informative pages here on our site. In addition, we have a FUZZY LINKS section filled with resources on ferrets.
NOW FOR SOME Litter Training Tips and LIGHT-HEARTED FAQ >CLICK HERE FOR PAGE TWO<
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