Question for Ferret owners, complete Ferret care cost?

Question

Before you say anything I'm not deadset on getting a ferret I still have a lot of researching to do and questions to ask. I was wondering about how much the total cost for a ferret or two is?Including the 2 ferrets, cage, food, litter, vet checkup, and other stuff. Not the lifetime vet cost but the first checkup(s) fee?

Answer 1

Well I have lots of experience dealing with ferrets, I have many of my own, owned them for years, and run a ferret rescue. Ferrets are pricey things, both in start up costs and then in future medical costs.

Ferrets run between $99-150 depending where you buy them from. If you adopt from a shelter, they usually cost $50-100 depending on the ferret age, etc.

Cages run about $100-200 for a good cage. Super Pet cages are the cheapest to buy, but also are the most difficult to clean and you get what you pay for.

You'll want to feed the highest quality food on the market. Better food equals fewer medical problems in the future. Zupreem, Totally Ferret, Innova Evo Ferret, Innova Evo Cat & Kitten, or Pretty Pets Gold Ferret are the best foods on the market. They run between $2-4 a pound. So food is expensive, but the higher the quality the less the ferret eats as well. So food isn't that expensive in the long run. I solely feed Innova Evo to my ferrets, and a 15 pound bag costs me $36. It lasts me 3 weeks and I feed 13 ferrets on it. So with 1 or 2 ferrets it would last a really long time.

For litter you'll want to use newspaper pellet litter or wood pellets. Clay cat litters can cause serious respiratory problems for ferrets. Some newspaper pellet litter brands are Yesterday's News, Good Mews, Pets Preference. They run between $5-15 a bag and can be purchased at petstores or sometimes even at grocery stores. You can also use non-treated woodstove pellets as well. They are much cheaper, but when they get wet they disintegrate and that gets sawdust everywhere. High back square pans work the best for litter boxes, they cost about $6-10 but are well worth it. For outside the cage you can just use cheap cat pans, that cost $1-2.

Vet checkup depends on where you live. Usually it will run between $30-70 for one to to ferrets. In my area it costs about $30 for a yearly checkup, distemper vaccine, and rabies shots. But in a lot of areas it is more expensive.

You'll also want to buy some ferretone and laxative. Those run about $5-8 each. But they last quite a while. You only need to give the ferrets laxative during shedding season. And you really only need to give ferretone when clipping nails. You don't need to buy any fancy nail clippers, human nail clippers work just fine. If you want to walk your ferret, a good harness/leash will cost between $5-15 each. Bedding varies in prices as well, but you'll want to have at least 2 hammocks and a couple sleep sacks. You can also use baby fleece blankets as well. If you know how to sew or have friends that do, you can buy some fleece material and sew up your own bedding. That really reduces the cost.

You might also want to plan ahead for future vet bills. Most ferrets will need a $300-500 surgery down the road, so thinking ahead for that is also good.

So I'm not sure what that totals, but its not cheap. If you want to save money, you should contact a local ferret shelter/rescue. Many times they have used cages, harnesses, litter pans, supplements, treats, and just about anything else you can think of. Most shelters sell stuff for half retail price or lower. So you can get a great deal that way.

I recommend adopting a ferret. I've purchased some of my own ferrets from petstores and also adopted some from other shelters, and the ones I've adopted from shelters have formed a much closer bond with me. Also they are already litter box trained and all that good stuff, so you don't have to deal with that.

If you are located near a ferret shelter/rescue see if they will let you come volunteer or just come by and check out the ferrets. You can interact with the ferrets and you can find out if a ferret is the right pet for you. Also if you get to interact with all the different ferrets, you might find the one that is just perfect for you.

Good luck!

Answer 2

A guinea pig. While I think ferrets are the better pet of the two (way more responsive and intelligent), $500 will just BARELY get you a ferret, a cage, and vaccinations, let alone the rest of the supplies, food every few months, and the vet bills in it's life time. Ferrets are crazy expensive- I know a guinea pig owner that pays $57 for 50lbs of guinea pig food, while I just paid $52 for 15lbs of ferret food.... there's a HUGE difference in price! Edit, LMAO no ferrets are not that cheap, I wish they were. I spent about $100 on QUALITY supplies, not the crap that comes in the kits, $60 for food, $130 on my first cage (which was replaced with a $200 quickly as it was a piece of crap), $130 for my ferret, another $120 on her vaccinations. When she died that was $50, then I got my other ferret for $200 with a $100 vaccination fee. $120 for an add on for my cage, $100 for my 3rd ferret and $100 for his vaccinations. Add in about $100 on litter, replacement of supplies, and about $200 on more food. THAT is how much I have spent in about a year and a half of ferret ownership roughly, and that's not counting the $500+ I have spent on blankets and bedding, and when the ferret gets sick and has a $2,500 vet bill, you'll need to pay with credit cards, ruin your credit, and be in debt.

Answer 3

Depends on size of cage--the bigger the better, maybe $100.00. Ferrets are around $75.00 each. Food about $15.00 a bag. Plain clay cat litter, which is cheap. Vet check up depends--about $35.00 and vaccines should include 2 distemper ($20.00 each) and a rabies vaccine (around $20.00). Go to a vet that is very knowledgeable about ferrets and they'll tell you what you need to know. I like www.ferretcentral.org for ferret info.

Answer 4

I'll tell you what you'll need to start off then you can look up the prices on your own. =) It would take too long for me to tell you what everything costs.

Ferrets require *a lot* of money after the initial purchase.

Cage:
--You will need a multi-level cage. I recommend this cage -> http://www.ferretdepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=485&Category_Code=3PrevueHomes&Product_Count=0 by Prevue Hendryx. It is on the inexpensive side as far as ferret cages go. Also, it is recommended to have a back-up cage in case one of the fuzzies gets sick and they need to be separated. I recommend something simple like this: http://www.ferretdepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=60311&Category_Code=3SuperPetHomes&Product_Count=12
--You will also need hammocks, bedding (old t-shirts, towels and sweaters work - never use wood shavings), food bowls, water bottles, litter boxes (you will need about 5 for the cage and their free-roam area - either get the biggest corner style, or plain rectangular cat boxes), litter (Yesterday's News works best however, you can also use NON-clumping, dust-free kitty litter), etc...

Food, treats, supplements:
--You should feed your ferts at 3 kinds of quality ferret kibble. Some foods I recommend are: ZuPreem, Totally Ferret, Innova Evo, Iams Kitten, Eukenuba Kitten, 8-in-1 Ultimate, or Wellness Core Cat. Ferret food is not cheap - it ranges anywhere between $10 - $20. I feed my ferrets Marshall's Bandits treats (that's the only thing by Marshall's I feed my ferrets - their food is low-quality and makes for much stinkier ferret poop.) I've also heard great things about Fuzzy Foamy Fries but I'm never able to find them anywhere IN STOCK. =)
--Supplements include Ferretone (which is essential for cutting nails - put it on their bellies and while they're licking it off they don't care what you're doing to their nails), Ferrevite, and Duck Soup. Generally, Duck Soup is homemade (there are thousands of different recipies online) and is only given when ferrets are sick and not eating or as a super special treat.

Vet care:
--When you get your ferret, unless it is from an individual with health records or a shelter, you'll need to get a battery of vaccinations. Typically this includes 2 distemper shots and a rabies vaccine. It is extremely rare for ferrets to get rabies (and, as of yet, unheard of for them to transmit it to humans) but the shot is still necessary because it will legally protect you and your fert should he/she ever bite someone. However, distemper is not so rare and is 100% fatal in ferrets. It is also very contagious and you can unknowingly bring it in on your shoes. The distemper shots cost about $25 a piece and the rabies shot is probably about $20. Also, you will need an initial checkup to make sure everything is in order and that varies from vet to vet. Mine charges me about $50 for a checkup.
--I cannot stress enough how important it is for you to find a ferret-knowledgeable veterinarian. Most vets are not familiar with ferrets, so finding one who is can be tricky. Ask at the pet store or any local ferret shelters if they know of one.
--Ferrets will need yearly checkups (another $50) and yearly vaccinations for distemper and rabies as well ($25 + $20) - it is not a one-time thing.
--Ferrets are prone to illness as they get older. After age 2 or 3 is when they typically start getting sick. These illnesses are not cheap to treat either (we're talking thousands of dollars). It is highly recommended that you start a "Ferret Fund" when you get your fuzzies to pay any unexpected vet bills.

You will need plenty of toys to keep your ferret stimulated.

Grooming:
--You'll need a ferret/cat laxative (Laxatone or even petroleum jelly) a few times a week because ferrets get hairballs but unlike cats they don't throw them up - they pass them. Sometimes the hairballs get stuck and cause a blockage which costs around $1000 to remove surgically.
--You'll also need a ferret shampoo for the rare bath. Bathe your ferrets as little as possible. An overwashed ferret results in a stinkier ferret because their skin works overtime to produce the musky skin and fur oils that you're washing away.
--A soft bristle brush to help at shedding season.
--Ear wash (built up ear wax is stinky and a playground for ear mites)
--Ferret or cat dental gel (to keep their pearly whites in tip top shape - dirty teeth can lead to absesses and jaw cancer) and a cat toothbrush or finger brush.
--Nail clippers. Since ferrets don't dig as much as they do in the wild, nails get long and sharp and A) hurt you and B) hurt the ferret when they get caught. Also, if you don't regularly clip nails, the quick grows longer and longer making it impossible to clip the nails short. I use people clippers - just make sure they're sharp enough. Also, I recommend you buy some styptic powder in case you accidentally cut too short.

Accessories:
--You will need a leash, harness and collar. I recommend this leash/collar/harness by Premier: http://www.ferretdepot.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=FF5&Category_Code=2CollarsHarnessesLeads&Product_Count=15 and I leave the collar on all the time so I can find them by the little bell.
--You'll also need a cat carrier for visits to the vet.
--I recommend you buy Kim Schilling's "Ferrets for Dummies" also. She is very knowledgeable and answers pretty much any question you might have.

THE FERRET:
--Generally they cost anywhere from $120-$200. I personally have never seen any for less than $130. Ferrets in pet stores are usually either Marshall or Path Valley Farms or, if you're at PetSmart, "Rainbow" ferrets.
--Getting a ferret from a private breeder can run you up to $300-$350.
--Ferret shelters will charge you an adoption fee usually not exceeding $100 and they *should* be healthy and up-to-date on their vaccinations.

For a pet store ferret, go to your local PetSmart, PetCo, or other pet store. Those are the best ways to find out a price.

I recommend adopting a fuzz-butt though. For a list of local shelters, go to Petfinder.com and do a search.

Also, it is advised that you get 2 ferrets so they will have company because they are very social creatures and can play with each other in ways you cannot.

Please do all the proper research on ferrets before you get one - price, however important, shouldn't be the first thing you think of. Can you provide the proper care for a ferret?