Ferrets Please help with Information?

Question

My 14 year old daughter has decided she wants a pet ferret. All I know about them is what they look like and nothing more and it is about the same for her. Can anyone give us some websites that would give information on caring for them or even some advice. All I know is someone said to get a female because it doesn't stink as bad, is this true? Please any help we are going to get it next week.

Answer 1

Please do not get a ferret just yet, do your research.
First off, your daughter is 14, the ferret will live at least 6-8 yrs, maybe longer, if you're lucky. What is going to happen to the ferret when she starts dating? Unless you are willing to take over the care of the little carpet shark, don't get one.
Ferrets are very time consuming. They need to have their litte boxes scooped at least twice daily and the whole cage cleaned weekly. They also require about 4 hours ouf-of-the-cage play time every day which means your daughter is going to have to interact with them and PLAY!! Is she a very busy girl? That could be a problem.
Next, ferrets are expensive, even if you adopt, which I would recommend because a.) it's cheaper and b) there are so many of them looking for forever homes, it would be horrible to go buy one. They need a very large cage, food dishes, water bottles, litter pans and scoops, bedding, litter, high quality food, supplements, treats and toys toys toys. Once you got all that you might want to start a medical fund for the little critter. Ferrets need to go to the vet yearly for check ups and shots(distemper and rabies). And that's while they're young and healthy, unless their curiousity gets them into trouble and you have to see the vet because of an injury or because they've eaten something that blocked their intestines(and that CAN and WILL happen if you're not super careful, trust me). As they age they are prone to several diseases, adrenal disease, insulinoma and cancer just being a few of them. A lot of these diseases are treatable nowadays, but at a price. So, IF you can find a vet that knows his way around our weezil world it will most likely cost you a pretty penny. A lot of the ferret owners I know have put away about $500.00 per ferret for just such medical occurences or others have gotten a credit card that they put away and only use in cage of medical necessity.
Ferrets need baths, nail trimmings, ear and teeth cleanings, are you up for that?
Ferrets are litter trainable. It takes time and patience and even then they won't ever be 100%. Unlike cats they don't bury their poo and they will need an occasional refresher course because they will forget and just use any corner in the house. Where there's ferrets there's poop.
You will have to FERRET PROOF your house of course to keep the rascal from escaping and from getting into something it shouldn't. At least ferret proof the room it is allowed to play in.
As far as the smell, yes, they do have a musky odor and like others already mentioned it can be somewhat controlled by bathing them no more than monthly and by keeping their bedding, litter boxes, hammocks and their ears clean.
All in all a ferret doesn't smell worse than most dogs or cats with their litter boxes.
Read a few good books please, "Ferrets for Dummies" is one of them. Talk to some people that are being owned by ferrets and think long and hard. Please don't get one and send it to the shelter like so many of them.
I hope you get to enjoy your ferret if you do get one though. They are well worth the effort and repay you thousandfold with weezil kisses, dooks and war dances.
I have four(two from shelters) and love every one of them.
That reminds me, should you get one, beware of ferret math.
Ferrets are like potato chips, you can't have just one.

Answer 2

1. Pick up "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling and read it cover to cover.
2. Hold off on getting it in a week. You will need at least a month to really research them enough.
3. You can't just feed them any cat food. Do research and find the best brands availible.
4. Spayed and neutered females and males have them same smell. Bathing does NOT help them, and too frequent of bathing makes it worse. Only bathe once or twice a year if necessary. Smell can be kept down by doing the following things:
1. Not bathing too often.
2. Keeping bedding washed.
3. Feeding high quality food with little to no fish in it. Marshalls ferret food is TERRIBLE.
4. Keeping their ears clean.
5. Keeping the litter box clean.

And as far as websites go, here are some good ones:
http://www.everythingfert.proboards36.com/
http://everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi?board=kristen&action=display&thread=1109195167
http://www.ferretcentral.org/
http://www.ferretfacts.com/k1dusoreimof.html
http://www.ferret.org/index.shtm

Answer 3

Oh dear LORD. LOL!! Please dont get it next week. Do all the researching you can first. I researched them for 2 weeks, and spent a week going back and forth, and finally decided not to get one. They are a VERY needy animal, and vet costly during their life span. All of them.
No matter the sex, they still have (females included) have a musky odor. And they will stink up the house, no matter whatcha do. Basically speaking. You can curb the smell, dot his and that- but in the end you'll still wlak into the house and go mmmmmmmmm i smell ferret!!
There's TONS of great ferret websites to check out.
Just type in ferret care in google and you'll be set. Do check out more than one website. REALLY get your info before getting one of these pets. It is ALOT of work for a 14 yr old, and chances are you'll be doing most of the work. They are not animals meant for cages all the time, so then that leaves them to get into everything. Good Luck

Answer 4

Actually one of my females is more musky than any of my males. Wash the bedding once or twice a week, use dryer sheets so when they wallow in their hammies, they will get that "april fresh" scent on their bodies. Keep the ears clean (very important) and the litter box scooped often. Then the odor will be much less offensive.
As for websites...go to google and type in ferret. You'll get tons and tons of websites. ferretdepot.com is a great place to buy ferrety items. Ferrets for Dummies is an excellent book.

Answer 5

I like them as pets. They do stink a little but if you change their bedding often it helps. Don't bathe them too much it stimulates their oil glands and makes them stinkier. They tend to have adrenal problems when they get older and need surgery. Their life spans tend to be shorter than a cat or dog although I have seen one live past 10. I've had many ferrets and have never heard of any turning mean. When they're little they like to playfully bite but you have to train them not to do that. Sometimes they'll playfully jump and bite at your feet but it's just play.

Answer 6

DO NOT get a ferret without doing more research.

If you bathe the ferret once or twice a week, and change her litterbox/bedding (every day or two), she will not "stink."

Ferrets are highmaintenance animals. They require feeding, bathing, cleaning, and socialization. They will suffer from failure to thrive if ignored, so if you are not prepared to cuddle and play with your ferret daily, do not get a ferret.

They are also sensitive to temperature and sunlight, so don't get a ferret unless you plan to keep it indoors (playing outside is not harmful, but a ferret will not survive constant exposure to the elements).

The average life expectancy of a ferret is anywhere from 6 to 11 years, so be prepared for a commitment.

I got my ferret when she was 8 years. Her previous owners had not been prepared for the commitment of having a ferret - her cage was rusted out, her bed had holes in it, they had sprayed her with lysol rather than bathing her, she was severely malnourished, dehydrated, entirely bald, too weak to walk, missing most of her teeth, and suffering from cancer. All this was simply lack of care. By the time I got her and took her to a vet, it was too late for treatment. Because of her dental problems, I had to hand feed her babyfood 2-3 times a day, besides providing the rest of the care and attention she needed. Her weight quadrupled and she regained her fur, and died a year and half later of cancer and old age, but not abuse.

I'm not saying you shouldn't get a ferret. I was able to provide mine with more than adequate care while working and attending college, so i'm sure your daughter could take care of her. However, you have to be ready for commitment - if your daughter is easily bored or moves through interests quickly, be very cautious.

The most helpful resource I found was the "Ferrets for Dummies" book. It gives information on everything from choosing a ferret to traveling, first aid, nutrition - whatever you need to know. I would recommend getting this book or something similar BEFORE you get a ferret. Be sure a fuzzy will fit your lifestyle.

Answer 7

Ferrets stink. They like to play in the water and take a bath, but they still stink. They are lots of fun if you can get around the smell.

Answer 8

all ferrets smell bad ...there is ferret deodorant

you can feed the ferret regular cat food

if the ferret is gonna run around the house i would highly suggest to get corner litter box's for ever corner

don't let them near small pet rodents in the house they will kill them

if you have any questions you can email me at purpleskunk77@yahoo

Answer 9

All ferrets urinate on themselves to create a scent that other ferrets can identify them by. The more you wash them the more they will pee on themselves. There are powders you can use but they will still stink like Urine and soon your house will too.

Ferrets can also turn mean. Totally randomly and without provocation they can become unhandleable.

Answer 10

oh u can get ur website when u just type on the search engine. let me tell u ferret is sting no matter is male nor female is just the same smell k Ther have no smell because one of their organ have been cut ( u should consult the vet ) k is importand k