Ferrets. Are they good pets or not?

Question

I'm consdidering taking a "ferret" as a pet. My co-workers tell me that they are a Vet's dream because they require alot of medical attention. I'm sure they require the necessary shots and so forth. Not a problem. They also say that they "stink". I'm totally confused. Is this a good pet or not?

Answer 1

Ferrets can be fantastic companions, but they need a lot of time & attention. They're smart, friendly, inquisitive & very playful. They can be litter-box trained (which I reccommend) but this takes a lot of patience & attention. Even though their primary scent glands are usually removed they do have some odor but a weekly bath keeps it under pretty good control. You can also try one of the spray deodorizers specially made for ferrets in between baths. Ferrets need as large a cage as you have space & money for, & they should be let out of the cage for long stretches every day. Although I've read that some persons let theirs have the run of the house all the time, you would need to 'ferret-proof' every room that the little guy will have access to. Ours stayed in her cage unless we were there to supervise her. She got along well with our cats, especially our tortie-- the 2 of them would actually play tag, chasing each other back & forth across the living-room! She never had any serious health problems until she was 7 yrs old & the vet told us that cancer & other serious diseases are fairly common in ferrets. Until that time, she only had a slight cold once or twice & we only needed to take her to the vet for routine vaccinations.

Answer 2

I have had ferrets for many years.They make wonderful pets:) I just had one that was 12 years old and i had to put her down due to old age.They do require some vet care,yes,of course...I have not had any,nor have i heard of anyone that has a ferret having to take it to the vet often.Keep it's cage clean,and also the little ferret himself.They are able to be bathed.They do have an odor..some stronger than others.There are shampoos that make them smell nice or even sprays you can get especially for the little guys.I must add that you should be very careful when purchasing a ferret.Make sure it has two little tatoo circles on one of it's ears.You will be able to see them well.These are the well bred ferrets.I have run across ferrets that have been inbred and they are very very mean and have no tatoos.Also the best time to get one is when they are very young(6-8 wks).They are easier to handle and train.When picking a ferret it is best if you are able to hold it or some pet places have little rooms you can take the animal too and watch how it acts and see how it will interact with you.I have a lttle ferret that i bought last feb. and she has only been to the vet 2 times.She is very healthy,happy,very tame,friendly,loves to be held,gives lots of kisses and makes an excellent pet.All animals have their own destinctive odor.Just becareful when choosing.... I would for sure get another 1! Good Luck!

Answer 3

They can make excellent pets--but take into consideration a few things. They are generally healthy, but need vaccines yearly (distemper and rabies). They are prone to adrenal disease as they get older, often requiring surgery or medicine. They will try to chew and swallow rubbery things like rubber bands, rubber toys, pencil erasers, etc. If they do, they can get impactions and need surgery. So, ferret proof any room your ferret will be allowed to roam. Do not leave them loose unattended--it is easy for them to get into a lot of trouble and also escape. They do "smell", as they produce scent through their skin glands. You can bathe them once a month, but shouldn't too often as it will only encourage the glands to produce more smell. Keep the cage and litter box very clean, and changing the blankets/bedding frequently will keep the smell down a lot. www.ferretcentral.org is a good website to check out.

Answer 4

Ferrets are wonderful pets. I have 4 and yes without the proper care they can be a vets dream. They take a lot of time and require a lot of special attention. As far as the smell if you didn't know I had mine you wouldn't know by just walking into my house, but I feed them a proper diet and keep their room very clean. Before getting a ferret please do your research and talk with other ferret owners. They are warm bundles of love but they are much like a baby, they require extra care.

Answer 5

They make GREAT pets for people who are responsible and have the time and energy.

Ferrets need to be out of their cages for hours at a time (I've read mostly everywhere that they need to be out at least four hours a day). If you think this is easy... you're wrong. You can't leave them alone for one second because they will get into everything and anything.

They will chew, throw, run away with, jump on EVERYTHING they're not supposed to. They can also get into TINY spaces, spaces you would never think they'd fit in. Which means they can get injured by swallowing foreign objects, chewing things (wires, cables, etc.) and falling

They require YOU to play with them... this includes chasing them and allowing them to chase you, wrestling, and playing hide-and-seek. This WILL wear you out SO fast.

They do smell. Sometimes very, very bad. This is something that is completely inevitable, no matter how many times you bathe them and clean their cage.

Good luck.

Answer 6

I love ferrets as you can see my name is ferret. Do you homework ferst then get one a grate site to go to is www.ferretnook.com. They are grate fun if you can handle them and for the smell you get them nutered or spay them and get the glads out of them. They do and will smell a little bit just a bathe once a week and some baby poder should do the trick for the must that they give off. You can clame to fame that they can go to in a liter box. so good luck and have fun. For you fun i would go to www.exoticcats.com tip that in the yahoo search web it is fun site to go to i know the people that run the site.:)

Answer 7

ferrets can stink, alot! but now-a-days, pet stores can only sell ferrets that are de-scented and spayed/neutered. it is illegal to sell them without being de-scented or spayed/neutered. when they are de-scented, the scent glands are removed. ferrets will still stink even after being de-scented, that is why they make ferret shampoo. ferrets are alot like kittens because they are always playful. so if you also have a kitten or fairly young cat, they would probably get along well. as long as they are not both males, they should be fine. well i got to go, so if you need any more information, please feel free to email me with any questions.
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Answer 8

They are a lot of fun and very lovable. They do smell, they have musk glands which you can have removed but still smell. Plus they go in litter boxes so you have that to contend with. It's a good pet but requires a lot of attention.

Answer 9

A farrett is an awesome pet! My friend has one we give it baths so there tends to be a low odor! I think you will have lots of fun with one!

Answer 10

oh yeh THEY SSSSTTTIIIIINNNNNNKKKKKK. they dont need the vet at all pretty much never. they're great fun because they are actually quite sycho. i have a female ferret that we all totally adore but she bites all the time she's socool