how to care for a ferret?

Question

SAD STORY.. my mom and i were coming home and there was this little critter walking down the side of the road. so we stopped and saw that it was a ferret!!! We were in shock for one thing cuz there was a ferret on the side of the road. for another thing it had just snowed like 6 inches the night before. so we caught him and now hes at my house he or she is so skinny and I HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO TAKE CARE OF HIM/ HER. we put up flyers around town. to see if anyone lost him/her. but we live in a small area and i know every one around where i live and no one owns a ferret. my one friend has 3 of her own so i called her and asked her to come look at him/her. she said he/she is no more then like 5 months old. and it smelled like cat pee. like he was kept with cats. he/she is decented. so i ask anyone out there HELP what do i need to do to take care of him/her.......

Answer 1

I would LOVE to help you. I own ferrets and can provide lots of info.

Good for you for rescuing the poor baby!

First, make sure he's eating a high quality cat/kitten food or acceptable ferret foods. Some are better than others.

He'll need a cage of course, with a litter box. Don't use clumping or clay litter though, this is bad for the ferret. Wood stove pellets or Yesterday's news litter works best. Put water in there as well!

Don't use wood shavings. This again can harm the ferret. They prefer soft blankets and hammocks to nuzzle in.

Please join http://everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi and everyone there (including me) will be glad to further help you.

I can also answer questions by email if you need [e-mail]

Answer 2

First off, yes, you'll need a cage that it can't get out of. Bigger is better. If you can't afford a ferret cage, a good size bird cage would probably be alright. As long as it can't get out of it. A litter box ishould be put in the corner. Although, mine won't use a litterbox, so I put newspaper and he uses that, just a tip incase your's is the same. And when you clean out the box/paper, leave a little bit of poop- otherwise they might not use it. It has something to do with the smell. They like hammoks to sleep in. I put a pillowcase in my ferrets cage and he likes to get in that and sleep. They like snuggling under blankets and things.
Since you have just found it off the street, (if you can afford it) I would take it to the vet for a checkup and maybe to get some shots too. Just to make sure nothing is wrong.
And how you tell the difference between a boy and a girl is- check for a "belly button" because if it has one- that's it's penis. Girls will have their two holes close together (ilke a dogs or something)
I would advise not to feed it cat food though. Lots of people do, but ferret food is better for them. Preferably nothing with fruit in it though. Ferrets can't digest fruit or vegetables. And feeding it a small piece of chicken or fish everyonce in a while is good for protien. Not too much though or you'll give it "the squirts", lol.
If you're planning on keeping it, it's gonna be alot of responsibility. You'll need to take it out for atleast 2-3 hours of "play time" EVERY day. (or longer) It's up to you. I hardley ever keep my ferret in it's cage, but I keep it only in my room. If you let it run around the house I would suggest getting a collar with a bell on it or something. Because they get into everything and will often fall asleep behind a dresser, couch, ect....
And even though it might stink DON'T bath it more than once every month or two. They have iol glands in their fur and the more you bath it, the dryer it's skin will get, and it's oil glands will go into overdrive, making the ferret smell worse.
When you do give it a bath, use special ferret shampoo, or puppy shampoo, (something gentle).
Umm, I think that's about it. Good luck with your ferret, and if there is anything else you need to know, try searching on google or ask.com for tips and ferret websites with other information.

Answer 3

If it is less than a year old you should feed it marshalls ferret food.
Also you will need a water bottle. You can use a bowl but I gurantee there will be a mess really fast.
Also you definetly need a litter pan with yesterdays news as the litter.
The bigger the cage the better with ramps and tunnels if possible.
I have 2 myself and they sleep ALOT so a hammock is highley recommended but until then just get an old t-shirt and they will curl up inside of it.
They love toys as well, find some balls with bells in them or small stuffed toys.
Don't use human shampoo. Buy a ferret shampoo to bathe them with, but do not bathe more than once a month.
Good luck and I hope you either find the owner or make a great foster parent for him/her.

Answer 4

ARE YOU IN OR AROUND REGINA SASKETCHEWAN? There is a person posting on Yahoo!Answers who thinks their ferret may have gotten away and is out in the snow. That would be some coincidence, but worth a shot. Here's the link to her question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ahsn9R9yLlvKDaQZ0ozaTrPzy6IX?qid=20061206154654AADZf58

Are you sure it's not a mink? The color description you gave me makes me wonder. Good luck.
Too bad it wasn't the missing Canada ferret.

Answer 5

A cage that it can't get out of. YOU can let it out and play with it, but I suspect the reason the ferret got away from it's owner to begin with, is that they can squeeze through anything the size of their own head, or larger, and they're quick!

You feed it dry cat food (like friskies) and give it a water bottle like a guinea pig. For bedding, you can use pine chip bedding that you get at the pet store. Good luck!

Answer 6

Please tell me you live in Regina, Sask. Cause that could be my Ferret if you do, She's long, mostly cream with smoky tips, an her face looks kinda like a raccoons, my they like name brand cat food, an peanut butter. I really hope you live in Regina

Answer 7

look up the principles of ferret care on the net, they will help

Answer 8

Call a Pet store and I'm sure you can get some good information.

I think a Cage, newspaper, and Cat food would be a good start.

Answer 9

here is a website I found
good luck
http://www.cypresskeep.com/Ferretfiles/Adopt.htm

Answer 10

First thinkgs first, Ferrets can kill cats!