how bad do ferrets smell?

Answer 1

ferrets usually are descented at a young age by the breeder, as far as cage smell, it can get pretty gross if you don't clean it out once a day, the litter box not the whole thing. Clean the whole cage like once a week or once every 2 weeks. Ferrets like water, so fill the tub up only with a couple inches of water and let the ferret swim for its bath! DONOT leave it in the tub with out you! I have even heard of them taking a shower with you! :) fun!!
Ferrets are a handful!! So make sure you are up to the task before getting one!
Good Luck!

Answer 2

First off, ferrets do NOT urinate on themselves or spread it around, matter of fact, most of them are litter box trainable(where do some people get their info??).
Secondly, I would say that a ferret most definitely does not smell any worse than a wet dog or a kitty box, IF the owner takes care of the ferret right. That involves scooping the litter boxes at least twice daily and washing them with hot soapy water at least once a week, keeping the bedding clean(I use old tt-shirts. They are plentiful, washable and ferrets love sleeping in laundry piles anyhow). I change ALL the bedding and their hammocks at least once a week and as needed. Then for the ferrets themselves, they get a bath once a month or less. The more you bathe them the more stink they produce. It's a musky odor that they have even if they have been descented. Too much bathing dries their skin out and makes their bodies go into overdrive to produce more musky oils, therefore they smell worse sooner. They need their ears cleaned regularly, because dirty ears can get smelly as well.
And one needs to pay attention to the label on their food. If the main source of protein comes from fish or fish by-products, their waste will smell worse. Chicken or lamb based foods won't make them stink as much. So, if on top of all hat you make sure that you keep them in a well ventilated room, the smell is really minimal.
Are you really worried about the smell? Then maybe you would simply be better off not getting one in the first place. I personally think that what little smell remains they more than make up for with their weasel kisses and war dances.
I have four ferrets and most times you cannot even smell them. The only times you can is when I am running behind with my cleaning schedule.

Answer 3

Ferrets have a strong musky odor that they emit. Contrary to popular belief, removing their scent glands do NOT help this. The smell comes from their oil glands in the skin and if you bathe them a lot, it makes them even smellier because the oils have to reproduce far more since they've been washed away. The best way to keep smell down is scoop the poop box religiously and wash the bedding at least once a week.

But you have to remember, every animal has a smell and ferrets are no different. Cats do, and have you ever smelled wet dog? Shoo!

Answer 4

Ferrets don't smell THAT bad. When they've been de-scented, it just means that the glands have been taken out, and then they don't spray (like a skunk would) when they get frightened or excited. They still have oils they secrete though. I bathe my ferret once or twice a week, and I clean her litter box everyday, and change all the litter in it once a week, and i give her clean blankets everyday. She doesn't smell terrible though. She just smells like a ferret. Ferrets that stink, stink because theyre owners dont have the time to properly maintain them, or won't. I wouldn't recommend getting a ferret if you don't have the time to take care of it everyday, and if you do get one...make sure you get a proper cage. :) Oh, and if you bathe your ferret TO much, those oils go in to overdrive tryin to replace all the oils you washed off of their fur, and that can make them smell worse.

Answer 5

They have glands that give off a musky odor so they will always have that smell. Go to the site below click on the small pet species choose ferret it will give you lots of information about ferrets.

Answer 6

Well, I have a male ferret, and if you do not keep his cage clean and give him a bath at least once a week, they can smell really bad.

Answer 7

Well they only smell really bad because they have "sweat glands" but they can be removed. I think the cost is about $300 but some people have said its worth it so maybe it is. I dont have a ferrett to tell you but I guess even after the sweat glands are removed, then tend to have a smell to them still afterwards but its not as bad... basically you can still live with it.

Answer 8

they only smell if you are dainty and whine about the smell. i, for myself, happen to enjoy the smell of small animals, such as gerbils and ferrets. if you can't deal with a little bit of stink, you shouldn't get a ferret

Answer 9

Even the cleanest ferrets smell like urine, it's part of their behavior to pee on themselves and spread it around. Bathing only makes it worse cuz then they pee on themselves even more and bathing is bad for their skin if you do it too much.

Answer 10

THEY STINK!!! My firiend had one that was de-scented and it still smelled and their pee and poop are like rodents times ten.. the urine can knock you down and eeew they are so smelly..... you would have to clean their cage constantly after everytime it goes to the bathroom... litterbox trained or not.