i'm sort of debating on wheter or not to get a pet ferret. I've heard that they smell really bad tho. is there anyway that u can make it so that they dont smell? would giving them a bath hurt? andd do they make good pets?
2006-12-11 18:12:15 · 8 answers · asked by ilt_21 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
and how much do they cost?
2006-12-11 18:21:17 · update #1
I am a ferret rescue. They are lots of fun...but lots of work. They have scent glands and they are "descented" when they arrive at a pet store. But they still have scent glands. You can't remove them all or they will be incontinent. If you keep them in the house without a cage they will go to the bathroom in a corner. However they can crawl under doors and through small areas and get into trouble. I kept mine in a large cage. I covered the floor with flooring pieces that were easy to wipe clean. I put a dryer vent tube in the cage for them to crawl around in. They love that. Of course I had a hammock...and then on the lower floor there was only room for a litter box. I had to fasten it to the cage because they dig and turn it over. The litter usually becomes a toy because they love to dig. So I ended up just wiping it out each day. Males smell worse than females. They are lots of fun to play with and they don't need a buddy...but if you have two they are fun to watch play together. Giving them regular baths makes the smell worse. I made a small bag just larger than my ferret and I put finely ground oatmeal in the bag. Then once a week or so, I would put the ferret in the bag, all except his head and shuffle all the oatmeal around on him. He loved it and it seemed to absorb some of the smell.
They are not loud like a dog and I have never seen one chew and I have had hundreds of ferrets....but they require a lot of work like a dog. They are not like a hamster. Ferrets that have not been socialized may nip. But that is easy to stop. They are not rodents...they have teeth like a cat...and that can really hurt. Their cage really needs attention each day. If you do that...the smell is kept to a minimum. You can get them at a pet store for about $100, animal control shelters often have them...they usually cost about $20 there....some rescues charge up to $75 ....I have always found homes for mine. Good homes are more valuable to me than the money so I have just accepted donations of food, vet care or cages. Good luck.
2006-12-11 18:23:55 · answer #1 · answered by rcpaden 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before you get one, do lots of research so you will know exactly what to expect from your furry new friend. They are more high maintenance than hamsters, cats or dogs. I know if I had not studied up, a ferret would have never lasted with us because I would have freaked out. One of our 6 ferrets, I adopted from a shelter. The others came from people who got them and couldn't keep them because they didn't know what to do with them and didn't have the time to keep the cage clean...etc. I don't mean to be discouraging. I just want you to be prepared for the differentness of a ferret. Ferrets are awesome creatures. They are fun and playful and really cute. If you keep their ears (very important), their cage and hammocks clean they wont smell too bad. Their body odor is musky. Some people really can't stand that smell. It doesn't bother me much. I disagree with the comment that males are smellier than females. One of my females is the muskiest one we have. To an owner who has time for them and knows what to expect from them, ferret are great pets. "Ferrets for Dummies" is a great book for new and experienced ferret owners. Good luck to you.
2006-12-12 01:42:25 · answer #2 · answered by Psalm91 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love my ferret! You need to have a lot of time to spend with them. Clean the cage everyday to avois stinking. They are crazy and will just play and play, and then sleep.
2006-12-11 18:16:25 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I love them but they do smell and there is not much you can do about it even if you get one that is supposedly descented. They also like to chew on things.
2006-12-11 18:17:03 · answer #4 · answered by jrsygrl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
TOTALLY!!!!!!!!They are cute and EXTREMELY fun to play with.They do stink quite badly but the stink will go away if you just clean its cage cassually.
2006-12-11 18:36:45 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I prefer a Siberian Husky ;)
2006-12-11 18:23:53 · answer #6 · answered by falconj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are sooooooooooo cute.
but they sometime bite objects
2006-12-11 18:18:49 · answer #7 · answered by Emily 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
they are stinky but they are pretty fun
2006-12-11 18:14:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋