What should I know about ferrets before buying one?

Question

I'm looking for some facts and personal stories about owning a ferret. My boyfriend wants a small animal and I thought a ferret would be great because their cute, friendly and a lot more affordable than a dog. What are your personal opinions about owning a ferret, the pros and cons more less. Where can I buy one to make sure it is healthy and friendly? Are they already spayed and descented when you buy them? What type of food is required, and how long do they live? I am not sure if it's a good idea or not. I am just looking for feedback from owners and experts. Thanks a lot you guys!

Answer 1

OK...first off, make sure you are not just going to show up at your bf's house with the bundle of joy. I really don't recommend getting people pets as gifts...for a lot of reasons.

Second...do your research. I have owned ferrets for a long time and this website is very thorough.

http://www.ferretuniverse.com

Getting prices for the things you need are important so you know what you are getting into. I like this site and recommend it as well.

http://www.ferretdepot.com

Pros and cons? Ferrets (in my opinion) are awesome pets. They are, of course, fuzzy and cute. Don't let this fool you though. :) They are very messy and you will have to make sure you keep things very clean. They are expensive to buy and upkeep. Do not buy a ferret unless you are financially prepared for ownership. You will eventually need to buy another one. Ferrets really are happier when they have a ferret buddy.

They are already descented and neutered when you buy them.

Food? I recommend a good quality one such as 8in1 brand OR ZuPreem. You should also be supplementing their diet with a "high calorie vitamin" such as 8in1's brand called FerriVite.

Ferrets can live anywhere from 5 to even 11 years. While 11 years is rare...it is possible when they are given exceptional care.

Good luck in your decision! Just make sure you are armed with all the information to own one before you head to the pet shop!

Answer 2

I have owned 3 ferrets..2 have died of cancer and 1 is still alive. I will not buy another one b/c it is too hard to get attached only to have them die so soon over a horrible disease.
They are definitely not cheaper than a dog. They have to have vaccinations. They tear up more in your house than a dog ever thought of doing..so repairs can be costly, as well as buying the stuff that they seem to stash away in odd places and you never find again. LOL
Ferret food can be expensive as well as vet visit. There is no place you can buy one to guarantee that it will be healthy or friendly really. All ferrets are mouthy when they are babies so you will not be able to tell if you have a biter or not until it gets older. Out of the 3 I have had, 2 were bad biters. They do need a large cage to be put in when you are not around or a whole room ferret-proofed b/c they will get into real trouble while you are gone.
On a good note, ferrets are lively and great fun even though they are not cuddlers. They have a sense of humor to them and each one has its own character. They can be litter box trained (as long as one is in every corner) but not every ferret can be.
I recommend you find someone with a ferret and spend some time around one (hours) before you commit to buying one. There are thousands in rescue centers b/c people don't know what they are getting into.

Answer 3

I always wanted a ferret, and now have 4. I have had dogs and cats, and I love my ferrets, but in my opinion they are much more work than any other pet I have had. One misconception that many people have is that a ferret is a cage animal. They do need a cage, but they also have to have time daily outside of the cage. They are very finicky animals also. They bond to their people and must have lots of daily contact with their people. The one thing that might turn lots of people off about ferrets is their smell. All of mine are descented (they came already descented), but ferrets will have an odor even descented and nothing you do is going to get rid of the odor completely. And I must say that it is a misconception that a ferret is less expensive than a dog. Ferret food is very expensive if you feed your ferret a nutritional food. A good cage is expensive (and believe me, when you fight with the cheap cages to clean the litter out, you will run out and buy an expensive one. FerretNation is the absolute best). Litter is expensive, but I now use the daily newspaper, so I have cut out that expense. If your ferret becomes ill, it can be very, very expensive. Thank heavens I have not dealt with a sick ferret yet, and I have had mine for almost two years now. I rescued them, and when I got them, they were in bad shape due to malnutrition, but with some TLC, they have become hearty and healthy. So, to sum up, I adore my ferrets, I am so glad I have them, but when they are
gone, I doubt that I will get more. Of course, I won't know that for sure until they are not around anymore. Do lots of reading and research before you decide. Good luck.
I just read all of the other responses, and the one thing I very much agree with is that if you do decide to get a ferret (or 2 or 3 or...) find a ferret shelter because there are so many of them out there who need homes. And about the biting, I had one really bad biter, and he has learned not to bite, so you can change that behavior with patience and consistency. Again, good luck.

Answer 4

I have had 3 ferrets. I only have one now. First of all, be prepared to clean up poo. They do it a lot. They stink.
They are fun to watch, but sometimes they like to bite. The one I have right now is pretty wild. She is so fun, I just love her do death. I think the albino ones are wilder than the sable ones. Females are crazier than males. They are just hilarious. They get along with dogs really well to. I am not sure how they would do around young children though since they do like to bite sometimes. If you can deal with the stink and the poo and the biting and the craziness, then you should get a ferret. I bought mine a a pet store and it was descented and spayed. I feed mine cat food. Ferret food is better for them, but they poo more and stink worse with ferret food.

Answer 5

Ferrets are very playful animals! They need to be out of the cage for many hours per day and they can also cause a big mess inside the house. They also smell awfully! So, if I were you, I would totally choose another animal like a rabbit or a hamster which are also very friendly and cute
BUT it's up to you! If you love them so much, then BUY ONE!

Elias

Answer 6

At one time i wanted to buy one so i looked around and also someone i knew had two of them so i went to visit them and ask questions. I went to pet stores too and ask questions. I even talked to people in the pet store that was shopping and owned ferrets ! So here's what i found out, Some are more friendly then other ones so watch how it acts, if it bites or not !! Some are good pets and soem like to be handled and some don't. Yes in my state the pet stores do sell them that have already been spayed and maybe what you call desented because i say this is that they still have an unusal smell about them, kind of smell like mildew to me !! If you can stand the smell? For some the smell doesn't bother them but i didn't like it ! After holding one i could still smell the smell on my hands !! They said you have to get use to the smell but i know i couldn't and my husband wouldn't like the smell either ! Si i decide to get a Chinchilla instead ! The reason is because Chin's do not smell ! They don't have a body odor or a funny smell about them ! They do not stick up the house either like most cage animals will do, because of the urine smell some caged pets will really stink , so you have to clean the cage every week for sure !! Sometimes i can go two weeks with my chins cage,because he doesn't stink like that ! I vacum up the poo poo with the vac,because it is small hard pellets and doesn't stink ! Also they don't get fleas either! nd they never need a water bath only a sand bath !! You buy sand bath at the pet shop and put it in a little house they use for a bath house, and boy they love it, they jump around in it, roll around in it and are fun to watch ! They only need it once a week to keep there fur clean and healthy!! They are easier to take care of then any cage animal i have ever had ! I like rabbits but the stink after awhile too ! I've had hamsters too, but i like the chinchilla the best because there cleaner and easier to take care of ! Any way back to the Ferret , they eat ferret food found in the pet store ! I think they live a very long time forgot how long, they can tell you at thepet store or you can look it up online about ferret care ! Well my friends have 2 and their kids are small and they hold them and let them run around in the house sometimes. Only on is more friendly then the other one! They give them baths too. In the bath tub ! They have to have a large two level cage to live in too ! they need room to run around and play ! well good luck if you decide to get one, i meet one lady who fosters ferrets that people didin't want anymore. she said alot of people end up not wanting them anymore after they get one and sometimes can't find them a home. I think it was because of the smell and some of them biteing !

Answer 7

Ferrets are really fun, but they get into things, and it's both cute and entertaining, and annoying.

they smell, even if you do get them descented and neutered. most people that have ferrets say they get used to the musky smell, but people coming over will be able to smell it.

they aren't necessarily that much more affordable than dogs either, especially if you buy from a petstore - they will likely not yet be descented or fixed. You'll have to do all that at a good vet, and it will be costly.

if you do decide to get one, check local shelters and petfinder.com , they are often already neutered/descented if they come from a shelter or rescue. but it's still no guarantee.

Answer 8

ferrets are already neutered or descented b4 you get them, however,
they stink anyway, thier body emits a oil from every pore and they stink

they steal and hide anything ingteresting to them especillay shiny things and shaggy things

they burrow into any slightly open space and can get into any space thier head can fit in

they need shots just like dogs and cats and have the same veterinary requirements, surgeries, cancer is a high risk, and they only live 5-8 years until bad things happen

they bite, and need to be litter trained, and by litter trained, i mean a litter pan in every corner of every room becuase they can only hold thier bowels and urine for a few minutes at a time

they need high protein food, and lots of treats and toys but if they are the only pet in the house they will be a great pets

Answer 9

I bought 2 ferrets about 7yrs., ago. I got a boy, he's name was Papi, he died last year of adrenal gland disorder. I also have a girl, her name is Chuela, who I took to the vet because her stomach was swollen, to find out that she will be dying soon because her spleen is swollen. I'm just letting you know this because ferrets tend to get alot of different diseases. U should look up all the diseases they can get and then decide. I mean I don't regret getting mine , but its hard loosing them when they are apart of the family.

Answer 10

they're each and all the failings you only stated ferrets are super, priceless pets. as long as your ferret is neutered and you reguarly replace bedding and muddle your ferret wont smell very plenty, in case you bathe them they're going to actual smell extra whilst they arrive out than whilst they went in. ferrets do choose alot of time, are you waiting to offer your ferret 3-4hours out of cage time daily, they're very smart infact they're as smart as a small primate and consequently choose alot of stimulating, toys, dig containers, padding swimming pools. i opt to advise the e book 'ferrets for dummies' that's going to inform you each and every thing you would be able to desire to comprehend.