why do ferrets have a certain smell to them?

Answer 1

The only reason a commercially sold ferret should smell, is if their owner isn't cleaning them and their living area appropriatly. Ferrets should be spot cleaned if they get into something, and only bathed once or twice a year unless whatever they got into is really icky or extensive. Ferrets ears should be cleaned regularly, as most ferret smell can come from their ears if you can smell it even when not snuggling them. The natural oils a ferret emits through its skin has a faint musky smell, unless the ferret was never neutered. Then the musky smell can be stronger. Scent glands are removed in commercially sold ferrets. They are also neutered or spayed. Breeders are the only ones who don't routinely spay/neuter/descent their kits (baby ferrets). Their bedding and litter boxes should be completely changed and washed a minimum of once weekly. More often if you have more ferrets. Their diet can make them smell too. Feeding the cat food or junky ferret diets can make the oil the emit smell particularly foul and can be a cause of skin and ear infections. Also, feeding them fish based diets can cause their poop to smell extremely rancid. As long as you keep their environment clean, their ears clean, feed them correctly, and keep appropriate litter in their litter box, they shouldn't "smell" and guests shouldn't smell it when they walk in the house. I had up to 9 ferrets at once, and no one ever smelled them.

Answer 2

ALL animals have a certain smell to them. And a well cared for ferret does not have a bad scent.

Answer 3

its their sent glands and also the oil they produce in their fur/skin. most all ferrets that you buy already have their glands removed but still have that smell to them, even though that helps tremendously. if their cage is cleaned regularly and their glands are removed they should not smell that much at all. a common misconception it that if you bath them the smell will be lessened but actually bathing them strips their coat of their oil and their oil glands go into overdrive to try and make more so they will actually smell more after a bath.

Answer 4

I agree with the 2 longer postings. I have 2 ferrets, and they dont stink at all. You just have to bathe them, (not too often), and keep their litterboxes and bedding clean. Way cool pets!

=)

Answer 5

ferrets have this smell to tell other ferrets that this is its territory

Answer 6

ferrets have musk glands that emit that smell, you can get them removed.

Answer 7

Don't we all, me thinks its called flatulence!!!!!!!