Information on ferrets?

Question

My grandson wants a ferrett, he is almost 10 yrs old. I thought a puppy would be a better pet and was thinking a Chihuahua. He is very good with animals and his mom agreed to the gift, what would be better for him at his age? It has to be small, chihuahua or ferrett? And can any of you tell me anything about the care of ferrets and how to control the odor? Even when they are descented they have a strong odor.

Answer 1

Ferrets are a lot of work and 10 year olds are not the best primary care givers. As long as you or the parents are willing to take on the responcibility of being the primary care taker of the ferret then sure. Make sure to get the book ferrets for dummies. It explains a lot of what goes into taking care of the ferret.

Answer 2

I am a ferret owner and mother of 11, 8, & 6 year old boys. We have had many different pets and the ferret is the best. She is very lovable and has so much personality! We got her as a baby 5 months ago, she is well behaved, litter box trained, and doesn't chew on things and never bites. We feed her twice a day, put fresh water in once a day and scrub down her cage once a week. The only place she isn't allowed to go in the house is the bathroom cause she likes to dump the trash. As for the odor, I found a very simple and inexpensive way to eliminate it, baby powder! I sprinkle it on her and rub it in and the odor is gone. Also you don't want to bathe a ferret very often because after a bath is when they smell the most. When you first get a ferret you want to handle it often so that they get use to it. Our ferret also tried to bite at first so we just snapped her nose when she did it and it only took a couple times to break that habit. Good luck.

Answer 3

Ferrets are a great pet, but they are high maintenance and may are too much for a 10 year old. Most ferrets bought in the USA are Marshall Ferrets (look for the two blue dots on the ears). Those two dots mean they were spayed/neutered and descented. They will still have an odor, but it is not unpleasant. Female ferrets do not have as strong of an odor. If you want a ferret, and are worried about the odor, I suggest a female ferret. I have both a dog and a ferret.

Answer 4

i would say to go to the local humane shelter and see if they have any ferrets...if not, do you have a local ferrets rescue place...or try the classifieds...wherever you go, let you grandson handle the ferrets available to see which ones are the calmest and dont bite. when i went to the shelter, i walked up to the cage and there were 3 in there...the first one out was a large cream male, and he was incredibly loving. i read his info sheet and learned he had been raised with cats, dogs and kids. he had already been descented and fixed. i got him. he loves to play with me and romp with my cats. he loves paper sacks. they need a high protein food between 34-36. read the label, not all ferret food has the right amount. i feed mine purina kitten chow, which he likes fine. i know that a chiuahua can be mean. but if you get the right ferret, it can make a great companion. so do guinea pigs...i have 2 of them, females, and they are little darlings, the love to be held and dont have near the energy a ferret has or the odor (to cut down on the odor of a ferret, use pet wipes, or dry shampoo for dogs and cats, or a ferret cologne, just dont bathe them all the time as it dries out the skin, which in turn produces more oil and so more odor). also my guinea pigs talk all the time, they also purr a lot. here are some links that might help you decide.

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/ferrets/a/ferrets101.htm
http://www.helpinganimals.com/Factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp?ID=16
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/guineapigs/a/gp101.htm
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2349&C=0&S=1&SourceID=47

Answer 5

I have 2 Ferrets, they are great! I would get two though. I bought 1 last Christmas and he is the sweetest thing ever, but he was so lonely! So 6 months ago I bought another one! She is soooooo hyper! He is much happier with a friend! They are VERY playful and curious creatures! They MUST be aloud play time at least 2 hours a day, and should only have bathes once a month. It is best to use cat shampoo, and like products.They are alot of work, they WILL run off with things. My boy LOVES my purse and will take anything he can get his hands on. The girl LOVES Ramon Noodles...she will track down a bag and put it in her cubby! Good Luck!

Answer 6

ferrets will always have a certain musk smell but bathing them and keeping their litter box and cage clean helps lots!!! there i slots of info on them just get a ferret book or look them up, there are also lots of clubs and organizations with owners and their tips!! ferrets are very smart and cute but like all animals need love, training and work( bathing, litter box) good luck

Answer 7

Ferrets are a big responsibility. Even when they have their stink glands removed they Stink! So this means you have to bath them at least once or twice a week. Then theirs a litter box to clean out, they need to eat Iams cat food and that can be costly. Once more thing is they do bite, their nosy and will take off with things and hide them! LOL! I would suggest getting a dog!

Answer 8

ferrets are better. chihuahuas do bite bcuz they get nervous easy, but ferrets don't bite if you get them young. Marshall Farms Ferrets have good temperment ferrets. ferrets don't bite, and if you have them fixed, they don't smell. they can use litter boxes, so that's easy clean-up :)
in my opinion ferrets are great pets, especially for his age. i was 11 when i got my 2 ferrets.
here's more info. on them:
http://www.hugawoozel.com/

best of luck, and i hope i helped!

Answer 9

i think 10 year old hands are quite tender,ferrets tend to bite at times and they do take a lot of looking after.go for the dog it is a more sensible pet in terms of companionship

Answer 10

I HAVE A FERRET AND YES THEY STILL STINK THEY MAKE STUFF YOU PUT IN THEIR WATER THAT HELPS BUT REGULAR WASHING HELPS IF YOU ASK ME. THEY LIKE TO SWIM SO BATH TIME IS FUN I USE DOG SHAMPOO ON MINE ALSO USING CEDAR NOT PINE IN THE CAGE HELPS I ALSO USE A PINE LITTER IN HIS LITTER BOX NOT REGULAR KITTY LITTER IT HELPS IT SMELL BETTER I MUCH PREFER A FERRET TO A DOG I TAKE MY FERRET OUTSIDE AND LET HIM WALK AROUND I TRIED A LARGE BALL LIKE YOU PUT A HAMSTER IN BUT HE DIDNT LIKE IT GOOD LUCK IN WHAT EVER YOU DECIDE