Are ferrets good pets for children 11 - 14 years old?

Answer 1

Yes I gave one to my son and he loves it! dON'T LISTIN TO OTHERS THEY ARE WONDERFUL PETS!

Answer 2

Ferrets are wonderful pets. I own three and love them dearly. However they are not a good pet for a child. These animals live for up to 10 years. What happens to them in 4-7 years from now when your kids go off to university? or get married and move out? You need to think in the long term when thinking of a pet for a child. Also Consider that a ferret needs a min of 4 hours a day or 'out of cage' time to play. If there is only 1 ferret that means one of the kids or you will need to be down on your hands and knees playing with the ferret for a large part of that 4 hours. Also Who will pay for the Vaccinations the ferrets need each year? they need distemper and rabies shots as well as a check up (comparable to owning a cat) So your looking at about $100 for medical for the animal if they are healthy. Ferrets are prone to cancers so you can also expect a $1000 vet bill sometime in the ferrets life for Adrenal surgery or any of the other medical problems they can run into. Oh yes are you ready to "baby proof" your house again? Ferrets find more trouble to get into then a 2 year old can. And they do it faster.

You need to clean the litter pans every day. yes more then one box. I personally have 5 litter pans going. Also the ferrets bedding needs to be washed a couple of times a month. And dont forget the cost of food. A good high quality ferret kibble can cost $15-$30 a bag. and treats. The cage itself needs to be very big. Imagine keeping a cat in a cage. That is similar to what you would be doing with a ferret. My cage houses 3 ferrets and it is 5.5 feet tall, 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Now this is bigger then most people have but I find that almost adaquate for them. And they get out of the cage for a large part of each day.

They are wonderful pets. For an adult who knows what they are getting into. Do research before you get the pet and get it for yourself not the kids. Nothing says the kids can not play with it but it needs a responsible adult to care for it.

Answer 3

Yes. I think they would be great pets for just about any age *mabey not toddlers* Lots of people say they smell awful and they poop alot which makes it even worse. They can and usually are litter box trained. Their smell really isnt that bad. They can be expensive. At the pet shop that I spend a bit of time at they had some for $100. That's just for the animal though. If you arent going to be home much or let it run around the house you should get it a very decent sized cage. That can be over 100 dollars too. They also love little hammocks to sleep in *especially if it is a lazy ferret* They can be expensive but I think one *better yet, two* ferret(s) make wonderful pets and it is all worth it. Much luck.

Answer 4

As a ferret owner for ten plus years I say no. They are, as you know, exotic pets. They are expensive to buy and expensive to maintain. Ferrets run on average 100-150 dollars...proper cage will run you 130-200. Food per bag is 13-20 dollars a bag. This isn't even including, water bottle, food dishes, litter pans, litter, toys, treats, vitamins AS WELL AS all veterinary visits that will include shots.

If you are the parent you will be the one paying for all of these things. Do you think your child will be responsible enough to clean the cage and litter pans daily? I would really think this through before doing it. Good luck! Ferrets really are good pets but they require a lot of work and money to maintain! Maybe together (parent and child) you can own one as a "family pet".

Answer 5

YES!!! i have ferret of all ages and both sexes some are fixed and some are not. i also have a 3 year old son that has picked out one of my ferrrets as his. they are the same age and they play well together and have played together since he was a year old. i would make sue that the ferret you are giving your child comes from a home not a store. at home they get more love and attention than from the stores. if you live near me in ohio i have the perfect ferret for you!! one more thing i just read another answer FOOD is not 13$ a bag. buy kitten food instead of ferret food it is high in protien and fat the 2 major things that a ferret needs in his diet. the vet bills should be the same for a ferret as a cat. and i give my ferrets veggies not meat. i truly believe that if you feed your animals meat it makes them mean. all of my ferts are veggies lovers!! and fruit

Answer 6

yes!!! i was about 11 yrs. old when i got my 2 ferrets. children that age, would have a blast with ferrets, trust me!
remember to learn as much as possible before buying!!
here is a helpful site about them:
http://www.hugawoozel.com/

best wishes!!

Answer 7

(lol. info from a highschool...oh well i hope i help anyways) I think it depends. Honestly i dont think so. It depends on the kids maturity level and if you get a well behaived ferret.

I have a hamster. Hes cute a fuzzy and you dont have to worry about a huge cage and such. You only have to clean their cage once a week unlike ferrets whom you must clean every other day cause it smells

also the cost:
hamsters/gerbils- $50

ferrets- over $120

Answer 8

Yes, I do believe ferrets are good for children at that age. You just have to show them how to properly hold them, play with them, and care for them and they will understand. You must closely monitor them when they are out of the cage also.

Answer 9

ferrets love older children

Answer 10

keep in mind they stink real bad no matter if you take there scent packs out. And sometimes they bite and it hurts there nasty at times.