Ferret first time owner shopping list!?

Question

!!! I need a list of the things I will need when I buy my first ferret from EXPERENCED ferret OWNERS!!! I know myself with lists, and I know that I can't possibly know EVERYTHING without experence, Im relying on ferrents to help me ^_^
Thank you!
*Plur*
~Sarah~

Don't be a jerk about me getting a ferret, okay? If you want to talk **** talk **** on sombody else, not me. Theres no way a person can know everything before hand. Do NOT I repeat, DO NOT assume I will be a BAD owner for wanting to TAKE CARE of this little creature the RIGHT WAY. Excuse me if I'm being a BETTER pet ownner than you by getting the FACTS before hand instad of guessing, and chancing my way through ownership of a pet.

Don't judge me by my word choice jackass!!! Yes you do "Buy" a ferret. You trade your cash, for thier animail. Yes you do "own" a ferret. The animail is your legal possession and you are responcible for it in every way once you buy it. Using such terms doesnt mean you don't love it.

Answer 1

You go girl!!!!
Good for you for reasearching all you can before you get your ferret, I'm impressed. You're right about not knowing everything before you get one, I have 2 ferrets and researched EVERYTHING I could before I got them and I still wasn't prepared. LOL!
People do sound like they're preaching when they answer questions on ferrets but don't be too hard on them, you will know why when you get one....they are soooo adoreable you just want the best for ALL ferrets of the world!!
Most people on here have given you good lists but the one thing I will add is try to get the large square litter pans and not the high back traingular ones, they tend to like the square ones better. Also get yourself a bottle or 2 of Ferretone........fur kids LOVE this stuff and will give their front fangs for a lick of it....we call it Magic Milk for obvious reasons. It's a good treat and training aid as long as you don't give too much.
Get feeding dishes that attatch to the cage or the ones with rubber bottoms so they can't be knocked over........believe me - where ferrets are concerned, where there's a will there's a way! LOL!
My 2 aren't that bothered by toys, the only thing they love is their long tube and a cat teaser (so funny to see them with this) they have lots of other toys but they're not really interested, they like being pulled along on a piece of blanket or towel though.......just shake it at them and they will jump on for a ride!
I'll shut up now.....I could talk forever about ferrets! Good luck to you and your new baby xx

Answer 2

OK, there is no one "right" answer to this. Everyone that loves their ferrets goes about these things in a way that works for them and their ferrets - and no one is right or wrong - it just works for them. However, they all share commonalities - large cage, hammies and blankies, toy, etc. I use newspapers in mine's litterpans; it's cheap and easy to clean out and helps reduce odor. I use an attachable J-feeder; this way they can't dump it, and they will try. Ferrets get bored easily and quickly, LOL. Mine do fine with attachable water bottles. I also use a high-back rectangular litter pan - they hated the corner pan. Most owners I talk to have experienced the same thing. As for toys - interactive, squeaky and jingley seem to be favorites. However, some take exception to squeaky and will attack and bite the person doing the squeaking - the theory is it sounds like a kit in trouble. Dryer venting is a must; they love to run through it, chasing each other and this is where most tail-wagging will occur. The advice on bedding is great, can never have too much - clean it all once a week, litterpans once a day at least, and the whole cage once a month. This really helps keep odor under control. The advice on baths is wonderful - the more you bathe these guys the more they will smell. Odor producing glands go into hyperdrive because of dry skin. DO NOT allow a ferret access to rubber, soft plastic or styrofoam anything. They chew these things and could ingest something big enough to cause an abdominal blockage that can kill them. Surgery for this can set you back about $700. Start a vet fund - you WILL need it. For food, a mix of 3-4 different brands is recommended - if you run out of the brand they are used to, it can be very difficult to get them to switch. They need to eat every 3-4 hours (obligate carnivores, short digestive tract). Mix several brands - then if you run out of one there's no problem. A high quality/high protein ferret food or two - check the ingredients - ferrets do not need grains and veggies - and a high quality kitten - not cat - food or two is recommended. Invest in a copy of Ferrets for Dummies; at the very least, go to your library and borrow a copy - it is a ferret owner's bible. The one thing needed most is LOVE and PATIENCE. They are very social animals and want and need interaction with you. Join a forum or two - you never have too much information and people love to share their stories and experiences - especially to someone just starting out. This way if you ever need an answer or help quickly, there will be somewhere you can go. My first suggestion would be Ferret Village, but they all have great people and information. Good luck and have a great time with the most wonderful creature in the world.

Answer 3

First get the ferrets for dummies book thats a must. I've tried many cages and the best one is Ferret nation. You can get one at ferretstore.com. It comes with a big litter box, 2 hammocs, a huge water bottle and a dish that locks onto the cage. That should be enough furniture wise. Get a bottle of ferretone (it's like crack to them :P) you pfobably will need a carries for when you take him/her to the vet or other places. Lots of baby blankets (for bedding) they are great because they last for a long time and you can just throw them in the washing mashine to clean it. The best litter for ferrets is recycled news paper. Yesturday news is pretty cheap (get it in the cat section)

Answer 4

I suggest before buying your ferret you buy the ferrets for dummies book it will tell you everything. Well there's two ways you can go the cheap way or the buy everything you see uber expensive way. The cheap way is to buy the basic cage though you really need a roomy cage since ferrets like to run around. Cheap water bottle....I've tried everyone they make for ferrets and mine have ruined them in about a week so I'd say get the cheap one cause they will leak if the ferrets you get are rough like mine. As for food you can get the expensive ferret food which is no different then a high quality kitten food like Iams or Purina for less than the expensive ferret food and get some ferretvite and add it to their food each day. Hammocks they may use once in a lifetime or everyday(depends on the ferret). I'd say skip the hammock. You can give them old t-shirts to sleep and burrow in they like them. A high corner litter box and the recycled paper type litter they sell works really well. A pet brush and the dry shampoo stuff. You DON'T want to bathe them or they will stink more. Some toys like dryer tubes, kitty balls,Cat cube(mine luv them) etc.. I spoil mine with all sorts of toys and they luv me for it. I suggest you do to, I mean you can go to the dollar store and buy tons of cheap toys they will luv instead of one expensive toy they ignore like I bought for mine when I first got them.

Answer 5

A carrier, a hammock or two, a blanket to snuggle up with, a feeding dish, a rabbit bottle type of waterer, several litter boxes, good litter (I like Woody Pet the best and I've used many types), a large cage, excellent ferret food (Chicken Soup for the Kitten Lover's Soul is excellent!!), some toys (most sturdy cat toys are fine), and a harness and light leash for walking is nice.

Answer 6

cage with good a secure closing
litter box/ litter (non clumping)
good quality food (i prefer totally ferret)
couple jars of gerber stage one chicken (in case they get sick and won't eat their regular food, you can water this down a bit and they usually will eat it, it's like humans and chicken soup)
A hammock, or something cozy to sleep in/on
you might want a harness/leash for out and abouts
mine liked racquetballs ... but to each his own ... toys
they'll make a toy out of most things.

enjoy your ferret. they are great animals. just do your studying before you take him home.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ALL HOLES SECURED IN YOUR HOME. CHECK THE DRYER VENTS!

Answer 7

do NOT use litter that is pine or cedar, it is known for causing respirtory issues in animals.

if you use a literbox liter, get yesterdays news (cat litter kind is just as good and the same danged thing as the ferret kind, the ferret yesterdays news is just more expensive).

you also need a good VET.....especially since they require yearly shots!

Answer 8

First off you do not BUY a Ferret.

Second you do not OWN your ferret.

Ferrets are very high maintenence and need before getting one you need to make sure you have alot of knowlage on them. Before to research ALOT as well as find out things from the people you plan to get your ferret from. Make sure they really are good at taking care of there ferrets.

Answer 9

reef gave a good list and i won't repeat things but make sure you have a water bottle medium size unless you have more than one ferret.....mine loved a dryer tube which i let them climb in when they were out playing.....that and my boyfriends shoes.....vitamins vitamins vitamins.....tubes and balls for in there cage.....

Answer 10

Book on caring for them Treats for rewarding them for using the tray etc...try Ferretone they LOVE it!