Do you think the Ferret will be a burdon, and how much do you think it will cost?
2007-02-23 13:50:17 · 8 answers · asked by Jenny 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
Ferrets make great pets!
As for cost, that depends...If you buy one from petco, right now they are on sale for $109. However, w/ the cage and supplies you will be paying at least $300 for everything.
There is another way to go though...find one for adoption online. There are 2 websites I would recommend. 1) www.Petclassifieds.us and 2) www.petfinder.com
At petfinder, don't use the search tool on the left of the screen, instead, look at the top and hit the button for the "classified ads", then hit the button on the bottom of the scrren to go to "adoptable pets". Sometimes you can find ferrets for free. Plus, they come with the cage and accessories! I found 2 in IL for $1, they come with a cage and accessories too!
Please, be patient and you will find some(they ussually come in pairs, which is best, it keeps them out of trouble). Believe me, it's worth the wait!
When buying food, look for a food w/o corn or fish. Corn is hard for ferrets to digest and has hardly any nutritional value, therefore they have to eat more food and end up pooping more! Also, the fish makes their poop stink!
One food I would recommend is Zupreem. It's not expensive and it has no fish or corn. Do NOT buy Marshall food. You would think they would know what they are doing since they breed ferrets, but they don't! Their food has all kinds of bad stuff in it and makes their poop stinky!
By the way, a lot of people say their poo and stuff stink, but it doesn't! If you have ever cleaned a cat's litter box, THAT STINKS! Ferret boxes have hardly any odor compared to that!
Also, ferrets DO have a slight musty odor. It's not icky, stinly smelling though, it's just musty. Kinda like dogs. You know how they have that distinct "doggy" smell, well, ferrets are like that. I personally, don't mind the smell, but others may think differently.
If you do get a ferret, try and get one that is under 2-3 years old because then you shouldn't have to worry as much about illnesses and cancer so it will be cheaper to maintain and you will have time to save up in case of emergency.
That's all I can think of right now, but I wish you the best of luck in finding a fert!
P.S.-if you ever need good ferret advice, go to: http://www.everythingfert.proboards36.com/index.cgi
2007-02-25 05:50:56 · answer #1 · answered by guerita135 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ferret will cost 80-100 bucks whether you adopt a rescued one or buy one from a pet store. Cage and equipment? Another 100-200 bucks.
I'm with the other posters. A ferret is a HUGE commitment. It's one tiny step down from having a monkey as a pet. Ferrets NEED time outside of the cage every day to run and play and they will get into everything--food, furniture, plants, electrical outlets, etc. If you let it outside it will get fleas--a life-threatening condition for ferrets. Despite the fact that most ferrets are sold 'descented' they still stink A LOT. Ferrets can live 8-10 years and require specific vaccinations. As they age they tend to develop tumors and health issues. Ferrets are capable of catching and transmitting human diseases. Ferrets have been known to become agressive and bite their owners, especially if they are neglected for long periods of time.
2007-02-23 14:18:11 · answer #2 · answered by crow_326 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My ferret cost $138. If you won't have that much time to spend with it you'll want to get it a playmate and thats extra money. Ferrets like their space so don't plan on getting a cheap small cage. You will need a multiple story cage or an extra wide one(personally I made my own) they can be expensive. As far as toys they can get expensive to ferrets don't really care much for playing with you most of the time they will run away or act insane....they like to play with each other. The best toys would be dryer tubes, balls with bells, Cat chasers, etc and the toys will probably be about $50-$100(though the dollar store is a good alterative for buying toys you can get many cheap toys they will play with untill they get bored). You will have to buy a litter high corner litter pan or cat litter box(depends on how big your cage is), litter, water bottle, food, food dish, ferretvite(good thing to add to food), and many other small things that any pet store will tell you that you need. All together I'd say it will cost you at least $400. If you don't have the time for a ferret I'd say skip it. They are great animals and I would highly reccomend them, but they can be costly at first, but eventually all you will have to buy is food and litter.
2007-02-23 19:50:05 · answer #3 · answered by Elizabeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The costs for material things have been laid out and are pretty close to fact. This is not a cheap venture. You will also need high quality ferret and kitten food, minimum 36-38% protein content - avoind fish as an ingredient, makes them smell bad. Mix several different foods so when one is not available they will still eat it. You will need a vet fund; they eventually will have to be seen for something - Marshall's has ruined the gene pool and ferrets are prone to all kinds of problems as the grow older. They do NOT catch and transmit human diseases except for flu, which they get from us and can be deadly to them. The main things they get are not communicable. Get yourself a copy of Ferrets for Dummies - an owner's bible. Join a forum or two and learn from the experience of others. As much as they end up costing, I love my four dearly and don't know how I ever lived without them. It really needs to be a lifetime commitment for them, so be sure before you proceed, please. As stated, they are social animals and need a lot of interaction. The investment is not just monetary - there is also your time and interaction. When a ferret runs from you or hops around and acts crazy - you are being invited to play. They want your time and attention, they need it. They will bond with you and can actually grieve themselves to death if given away or abandoned; so be sure.
2007-02-24 01:00:46 · answer #4 · answered by Susan R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
godd size cage,$100. food, water bottle litter, hammock or sleeping bag, toys, shampoo, nail clippers, ferretone, treats, at least another $100. the ferret, about $100. ferret food isn't cheap. anywhere from $2.50 -$5.00 a lb.
they need a ferret proof place to run around occasionally. need lots of socialization. daily litter cleaning. a bath every now and then. and a good book that can tell you all about their diet, health, etc. and they live about 10 yrs. so, it's not like a hamster, or gebil. they need lots of attention, and a long term committment
2007-02-23 14:06:31 · answer #5 · answered by dog whisperer 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Get a new place to live,... you can visit your Ferrets whenever you like,.. just leave them lots of food in between visits.
In other words,.. Make sure you're ready for a Ferret! The novelty wears off quickly.
2007-02-23 13:54:43 · answer #6 · answered by RockHanger 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
cage $150
bedding $6
toys(chew toys) $5
water bottles $10
food bowls$10
2007-02-23 14:26:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bad idea they burrow holes in furniture.They also bit and draw blood they have scent glands they stink. They get fleas.DON'T.
2007-02-23 14:00:33 · answer #8 · answered by thresher 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋