ferrets is there anything good about them?

Question

I'm thinkking about getting a ferret but my parents say they smell and are hardto keep clean

Answer 1

First off, the more you bathe a ferret the worse the smell will get.
You shouldn't bathe them unless they need it, no more than once a month, less if possible. Bathing strips the bodies oils and makes the ferret itchy. The oil glands then go into overdrive to replace the oil and you'll have an even smellier ferret very quickly. The oils are what carry the musky smell.
You can keep the smell down to a minimum by scooping their litter boxes at least twice a day and completely washing them out with hot soapy water once a week. Change their bedding and hammocks weekly as well. I use old t-shirts over every floor surface in their cage. They are washable and I have plenty of them and if someone has an accident on them I change them as needed. I don't believe in using Bi-Odor, the chemical you put in their drinking water, some people do. Personal preference I guess. I just think that if one cannot put up with a little bit of smell, one should get a fish tank. You wouldn't give a baby chemicals to make its poop smell better, would you?
Ferrets are very time consuming, they require at least four hours outside of their cage daily and they want to play with their favorite toy, YOU!! So make sure you are willing to invest the time EVERY day, even when you have something important like a new boyfriend or something.
Ferrets need to see the vet yearly, for check ups and shots, that costs money and it's not easy finding a vet who's knowledgeable about ferrets. Then, as ferrets age, they are prone to diseases like insulinoma and adrenal disease, amongst others. They are somewhat treatable, but all that is not cheap. Are you willing to save up some money to make sure it's there when/if the time comes?
You will have to ferret proof your house, or at least one room where the ferrets are allowed to play to make sure they cannot escape or get hurt.
Ferrets need special food and litter, toys, hammocks, a cage, emergency supplies, water bottles, food dishes and a big multi level cage. Are you willing to get all that?
Do your homework, read "Ferrets for Dummies", they might have it at the library and then decide. If you think you are up to all this, go to www.petfinder.com and try to find one that is looking for a forever home. There are so many in shelters nationwide, I wouldn't buy one at a store. I just adopted #'s 3 and 4 through that site. Not only will you be doing a good deed for a fert in need, but you'll also save a lot of money you can put away in your vet fund. I had to pay the adoption fee, around here it was $45 per fert, but the owners gave me a giant cage with accessories for free. Good luck to you. Please think long and hard and do what's right. Sorry for being so long winded, but this means a lot to me.

Answer 2

Ferrets do have a very distinct odor to them, exspesially if not descented (glands removed) typically all petstore ferrets are desented. If you give them a bath weekly, use a ferret deoderizing spray, wash all towels, hammocks, at least monthly it will cut back on the smell, but like even a cat or dog they have a smell, just most people aren't use to it.
First make sure your town ordnenses allow ferrets, and what type of vaccinations are required. Most need distemper and rabies. Next make sure you have the time for a ferret., they need several hours out of there cage to roam and explore. Ok so if you can own one in your town and have the time, Next it's money. Ferret food is very expensive, about $20.00 for 7 lbs. (for high quality) They go thru it fast too. (Two ferrets clean that up in about three weeks trust me). Then the shots and vet visit run about $75.00 to $100.00 a ferret. When they get older they will more then likely need adrenal surgery which is really really costly. Most all ferrets need this surgery. And you can tell they need by the loss of hair on their tail, sometimes it spreads all over the body and you have a naked ferret and the hair may never grow back! Cages start @ about $50.00 and go up mine was $300.00 Four levels, doors, wheels, ect. Toys, hammocks, towels, collars, leashes, bowels, toe nail clippers, ferrtone, it all adds up. so make sure you have the finacial stabilite, if you are young and plan on going to college make sure you can take your new friend with ferrets can live 6+ years. So please do LOTS a reasearch and maybe find a ferret shelter near you to talk with someone who deals with the people who buy these little friends because they are cute in the petstore, and don't do their research first. Take the time before you buy.

Answer 3

Ferrets, when kept clean, do not smell any more than any other pet. You can get a special compound to put in their water called BiOdor. BiOdor, which can be picked up at almost any pet store, will almost totally eliminate any odor.
If their musky scent bothers you, you can also get what amounts to ferret perfume. It does work pretty well, esp. when used with the BiOdor. As long as you use the BiOdor and keep them very clean (and they are can be litter trained), then they do not smell.
However, I have to agree that if you decide that you want a ferret, you need to do a lot of research. Ferrets can easily get impacted bowels from chewing on lots of things, and they often will get adrenal disease as they get older. However, they are quite worth it, and a lot of fun.
PS - If your parents are ambivalent, be careful: you will very likely not be able to take your ferret to college with you. They live for seven years most of the time.

Answer 4

I've never had one but my ex roommate got one after I moved out and we were still friends. Most of the time they go ahead and fix them and de gland them so they don't smell so bad. But they still do have an odor. I know she had to bathe her once a week...not technically in a tub or anything but she used this powder shampoo stuff. I had to baby sit it one weekend for her...and it was a pain in the ***...you have to seriously ferret proof your house. If there is a tiny space open that thing will find it and get into it. I thought I had the fridge and dishwasher ferret proof but I was WRONG. That damn thing got up under there and started chewing on insulation. And then I was trying to clean up the poop in the bathroom...my ex roommate told me to let her "pick a spot" and just put aluminum foil and paper towels down in that spot...yeah I had ferret crap all over the bathroom and when I go to flush it down the toilet ( the poop not the ferret) and the toilet overflows. So I don't personally recommend it but thats only cause the damn thing drove me nuts. But they are cute and do weird things that are kinda funny...the one my friend had had a thing about shoes and she would get them and drag them under the couch.

Answer 5

First of all, before you even think about getting a ferret, PLEASE do some researching on them, before you start to 'consider' owning one. They are great pets, however there is a lot of care training and responsibility to them. They will need at least one major surgery before their death, and they will need other health care concerns. Also, as noticed on another post, ferrets do not need to be bathed very often. It takes away the oils that the glands produce, and they'll come right back, adn probably smell worse during that time, shortly after a bath! Its more importnat to clean bedding blankets carpets and litter pans, than to worry about bathing your ferret. Anyways... ferrets make EXCELLENT pets, but please be sure you know everything u want to know by researching them first. Ferrets are way over board on being dumped off, so make sure you're ready for its life time commitment to you.

Answer 6

My neighbor had 2. The good thing about them was I got to leave them at her house. They are high maintenance and do smell, it takes a very responsible and clean person to care for these in my opinion. Keep in mind vet bills and possible vaccinations as far as financial responsibilities. Now that I've shared all the negative, I do think they are verrrrrry cute and fun to watch. Good luck!

P.S. May be consider a guinea pig or a rat. You may not like the rat suggestion but they actually make very good pets, they're smart and affectionate (We've had several over the years)

Answer 7

i agree w/ dream... do some research i have 2 ferrets and yea they do have a odor but wont as much if you keep them and their cage clean. i got them not that long ago, we picked them up from someones house and they gave us a ferret mag. as well and we learned alot of stuff (me and my mom) while i was reading on the way home. like dont give them apples or other foods and how to cut their nails and such. they love to play but you have to watch them if they go under the fridge or behind the tv they can hurt themselves or the equipment. and no they dont need a bath but only 2-4 times a month but its better to do it once a week or so cause they tend to like to play in their litter box. also if you are to get a ferret then you need to give it LOTS of attention or they can get depressed and start getting mean and such. thats how mine were when we first got them cause they were mistreated. the people had them outside in their cage in the garage, which you should NEVER leave them to be outside ferrets. i hoped i help you and if you have more questions feel free to email me!

oh and they love to swim in the tub when they get baths :)

Answer 8

They don't smell if you keep their cage clean. I had two, and bathed them regularly (once a week, more than that is bad for their skin and fur)

I loved my ferrets. They were always playful and affectionate. I would do some research before I bought one though. They can be high maintenance if you don't care for them properly.

Answer 9

they do have a smell to them but there are special shampoos that can get rid of it for long periods of time. They are adorable and loving and cute as hell. If i didnt have 2 cats and a rabbit i'd totally wanna have a ferret

Answer 10

They are a little musky smelling...they have sent glands in their neck that are not removed. I think they are cool pets. They can be litter box trained if you work at it. They are very play full and cute. Just give them the attention they need everyday..like time out of the cage and toys. They like to play with ping pong balls and balls that make noise.