Should I get a ferret?

Question

Should I get a ferret? I live in a brand new townhouse; I am renting. I have no loud noisy kids, want an affectionate and sweet and playful companion. Do they smell? What is the price? Are they right for me? What is an alternative pet if not a ferret? A bird? What do you think? Please help me ASAP! =)

Answer 1

If you're renting and don't want your carpet ruined, ferrets might be a bad idea. they like to dig and don't have the best potty habits in the world. They are VERY expensive if cared for the right way. A good food costs between $15-20 for a 3 lb bag, then you have to pay for annual vaccinations, a large cage costing around $200, bedding, hammocks, litter pans, pelleted litter(Feline Pine and Yesterday's News are good), water bottles, food bowls, toys(NO RUBBER!), puppy pads, hairball remedy, ear cleaner, nail trimmers, not to mention ferrets are prone to many cancers. But if you are looking for an affectionate, sweet, and playful companion, ferrets are PERFECT. They are the best pets I've had! They're crazy, silly, and there's never a dull moment when you have ferrets in the house. They need to be out of the cage at least 4 hours a day to play, need their nails trimmed and ears cleaned once a week, bathed AT MOST once a month. They're a big responsibility. They do have a musky odor to them, some can tolerate it and some cannot. If you keep their bedding and litter clean, this cuts down on the smell.
Birds are messy critters too, but can make sweet companions. I had a parakeet and he could say I love you. He also liked to perch on top of my head. lol. But the larger birds can be VERY noisy.

Answer 2

I own (god help me) 4 ferrets! I love the little buggers. lol But they are not for everyone. I recommend doing your research before buying. Here is my favorite website...it is very thorough and will tell you everything you need to know:

http://www.ferretuniverse.com

After doing your research the best thing to do would be go to the pet store and check prices. Don't buy anything on your first trip! lol It would be a mistake. In my area a ferret would run about 100-130 dollars, food: 15-20 dollars a bag, cage: a decent one would run about 200 dollars...you would want one with at least 4 levels in it. This is almost 400 dollars right there and I didn't even include toys, treats, dishes, water bottle, bedding, litter pans....the list goes on.

The best thing to do, like I said, is go to the pet store to first price items. If you are still interested then make a complete list so that you don't forget anything. Take all the stuff home and set it all up and THEN you can go and pick out a ferret.

Is a ferret right for you? The only one who can answer that is you. Check out the website...go window shop for prices and then you will know if it is still the right pet for you.

Good luck!

Answer 3

As a current ferret owner, I have found that owning 2 of these wonderful babies very rewarding. They not only give continous unconditional love, but they are incredibly smart.

I have also found that the truth about ferrets smell can be quite misconstrued. People say that they have a bad odor about them, but as long as you clean their cage once a day , no one will even notice that you have a pet in your home.

Since I have 2, I clean their cage in the AM and PM.

They are a little expensive from the pet store, but I do know that there are tons of Ferret Adoption Centers. Then you can find a ferret that is in need of a good home. Keep in mind they need to be taken to the vet for shots annually.

~*Good Luck*~

Answer 4

They aren't that expensive and they are very loving if you get the right one, but yes, they DO smell. They smell horrible too. They can also be mean and they bite hard. As far as a pet goes though, it would be like having a kid. They like to collect shiny things and hide under stuff and are generally alot of fun. If you aren't willing to put in that amount of work then a bird is excellent. If you get one that you can train then they are so much fun, but can be loud. They also like to bite hard if you get a nice one. I'd say if you get a bird get it from a private shop where they have been hand trained from babies. Otherwise it takes too much to get them to warm up to you and you would be likely to give up. I take it that you aren't considering a dog or cat since they are obvious choices, but then again, if you are looking for sweet and playful they are the best.

If you are looking for something exhotic or original, this may sound strange, but a skunk that has had it's smell removed make some of the BEST pets that you can get. They don't tend to stink like a ferret, and are sweet.

Edit: I'm not saying that I think you should get a skunk.... I'm just saying that you COULD look into it.

Answer 5

I love all animals and i think Ferrets are the cutest thing out there but they do have a certain smell that im not sure you're gonna want in your new townhouse... Have you thought about a cat? I'm assuming you want a small pet so a cat or a small dog will be the perfect companion

Answer 6

I owned a ferret when I was a teenager. I really enjoyed having it and I kept it until it died when I was in my twenties. They are alot of fun but have to be bathed regularly (like at least once a week) even though they hate it. Don't think that because they are "descented" that they will not smell. A well trained ferret that has a good personality is great fun and not too difficult or expensive to care for. I say go for it.

Answer 7

go for it, i had 2 one of them recently passed away from adrenal which is common in males. they are loving and soo sweet and they only smell if you dont take care of them right. try to get a marshall ferret those are the most trustworthy breeders. females are more hyperactive and males are more laid back and dont tend to bite as much. as for the price it really depends on where u live i paid for one of my ferrets and rescued the other one. in NJ its about 150-200 for a ferret as a baby. also check your state laws cuz you may need a permit for them but that is easy. they also like to steal stuff like socks and they make piles of stuff they find around the house. so always keep an eye on them cuz they are sneeky. you also have to ferret proof your house. i love my ferret and dearly miss my other one, they really become like your children so make sure you are ready for them.

read up on some of the links i gave you they should help you with yor decision. good luck.

Answer 8

In most states a ferret is not allowed and cannot be purchased. In addition, they do not make good pets because they do not adapt to captivity. For example, my daughter had a cute ferret who loved to swim in the bathtub and scamper around the house. Andy slept in a cage at night, but after a year, he became ill, lost his hair, and died. The vet warned my daughter about keeping a ferret, and yes, Andy started to smell bad! Try a bird, not a cockateil

Answer 9

Yeah, they do stink...but they ARE cute! I would suggest maybe a hamster. (But if you like ferrets, then that might be the best pet for you! Especially if you don't mind the smell too much.) You could go to www.americangirl.com, and click on "fun for girls", then click on "pets on the net", then click on "which pet to get". It's sort of like a quiz to help you decide which pet is best for you! GOOD LUCK!

Answer 10

Ok first off your best bet would be to do a little research on the pets you want and what it takes to take care of them. As for the Ferret question i wouldnt get one they stink unless you take care of them right and even then they can stink. Birds are noisy depending on what bird you get. Um Im not sure what pet is right for you so your just goin to have to do a little research online