Do you have a ferret?

Question

I WANT one. At the pet store, I can pick them up, and they are like cats, sleep alot, but when awake, they are playful! I like to think of them as snake-like cats!

Answer 1

i used to have 2 wonderful ferrets! they were the best pets i've ever had the pleasure of owning. i like to think of them as kittens that never grow up! ours had a whole room to thereselves, with a 4-story cage. they were marshall ferrets so they came with a birth certificate and a tattoed ear, which signified that they had been fixed and descented. they still have a mild odor, but nothing too strong. the main smell is the littrbox but if you clean it everyday that shouldn't be a big problem. but please don't impulse buy, make sure you learn as much about the as possible before you buy them. ferrets take a lot of care and can be very expensive.

Answer 2

We DID have a ferret. First off, they have a VERY distinctive odor. They ARE very playful when they're up. They are very curious like cats, they can get into TINY holes, so watch out!!! Also, make sure before you buy one that the scent glands have been removed (yes they still smell!), and make sure they've got papers stating their birthdates, where they came from and they're guaranteed for health. They just gave us the papers without us asking, but ask if you don't! If they don't have them, I would NOT buy one from that place. Also ours had one ear tattooed, but I can't remember why!!! (sorry!) It was for a legitimate reason.

Some people have a whole room devoted for the ferret!!! They need a BIG cage to stay in. Our was a 2 story cage. They need to get out and play ALOT!!!!! Also, if you get a triangle shaped litter box (the pet store should sell them for ferrets), you'll soon see where there 'favorite' corner is to pee/poop in. Put the litter box there!!! It's always in a corner where they go, and 99% of the time it's always that same corner, so you can feel ok about letting him loose in the room. If he has more rooms to play in, you'll have to do this to each room. Good luck!

Answer 3

Much different from cats!! Hate to burst your bubble! :) They are awesome pets. To me they are anyway. They really are not for everyone. As you may have noticed they are expensive to purchase and maintain. Ferrets also require a lot of cleaning AND 'out of cage' time. Some people will tell you 3 hours a day but that is really cruel. It would be like keeping a cat or dog in a cage and only letting it out three hours. Keep in mind that ferrets do better in pairs and can be mischievous whether they are alone OR have a buddy. Regular supervision and 'ferret proofing' are a must!

Please make a very informed decision before bringing a pair of these little guys into your life! Check out this website...full of info. http://www.ferretuniverse.com

Answer 4

I have owned well over 20 ferrets in the past and currently own 14, most of them are special needs, which means they have terminal cancer or have other special issues that makes them undesirable for most people. I also run a ferret rescue, and have many ferrets that are up for adoption at any given time.

Ferrets aren't really like cats. Ferrets sleep about 16-20 hours a day, depending on their age. When ferrets are awake they are very energetic and love to play. Ferrets also need to eat every 3-4 hours and that means they poop every 3-4 hours as well. They do make great pets, but they also can be difficult.

Ferrets are very prone to medical problems, so if you get one, start saving money now for a future surgery. You also need to make sure to ferret-proof whatever room they will get to play in. Ferrets will get into absolutely everything. They will dig in plants, can get squished to death in reclining chairs or couches, get underneath cabinets, can climb curtains, will investigate anything and everything. They also occasionally will dig on carpet, so be prepared for that..

If you do get a ferret, please consider adoption. There are many ferret shelters/rescues out there that have between 4-200 ferrets at any given time. Many shelters have every age, color, attitude imaginable. And best of all, the ferrets are already litter box trained and trained to not nip, so you get to skip those stages.

Also ferrets don't really stink like people say they do. They do have a distinct smell, but no worse than a dog or cat. If you feed them a high quality of food such as Zupreem Ferret, Innova Evo Ferret, Innova Evo Cat & Kitten, or Totally Ferret their poop will smell a lot less, than a lower quality food such as Kaytee or Marshalls. Those foods have a lot of sugar or fish in them, which equals smelly poop. If you clean the litter box once or twice a day, and change bedding once or twice a week, they don't smell at all. Also ferrets only need to be bathed 2-4 times a year. If you bathe them more frequently they tend to smell worse, because their bodies produce lots of smelly oils each time they get bathed. Also avoid Carefresh bedding and pine shavings. Neither of those are good for ferrets, they can cause respiratory problems, and they also absorb a lot of smell, and causes the cages to smell really bad. That's why ferrets in petstores smell so bad.

Answer 5

It's easy to want a ferret. They are fuzzy, cute and adorable and love to play. Remember, though, with having one also comes the responsibility of taking care of them - medical problems can come up (make sure you have a good ferret vet around; some vets don't care for ferrets); living quarters (besides cages), food, and you. You'll have to clean up after them every day (poop and their toys, treats, treasures and other stuff they can hide). Their bowls of food need to be fresh every day, and so do their water bottles. Do you like to eat stale food or drink flat water? Well, they don't either.

Before you get one, please read up on the joys and sadness of owning one. They don't have the longest lives - 7 years is about average, with some even being about 12 years old! Can you afford a $500 vet bill for an illness? What if you have more than 1 ferret? If you have to move, will your new place let you keep them, or be like California and Hawaii, where they are illegal? If you go on vacation, who will care for them? Can you trust someone to look after them?

Yes, playing with them is fun! They are like a 2 to 3 year old child and just want to show you happiness. They'll sleep up to 18 hours a day, and be ready to play when you get home. They like to steal stuff and hide it so be ready to hunt all over for things like remote controls, keys, telephones, pens, pencils, cups, etc.

Remember, ferrets may be animals, but all animals need and want a good home. They are intelligent animals and need constant enrichment (playing, new smells, treats, exploring, etc.) Just read up on them and decide. Good luck!

Answer 6

ok. i personally dont have one but i sure as heck want one which is y i no quite a lot about them. first of all ur going to need a LOT of dedicated time towards them. yes, ferrets do spend a lot of the time sleeping but r NOTHING like cats. ferrets need 3-4 hrs of social playtime with u, out of their cage. secondly, if u do decide to get one PLZ read as much as u can about them so u no exactly what ur gettign into (Ferrets for DUmmies is a GREAT book for this). and DONT get one from a petshop. get one from a breeder or if not at least do some good and get one from a shelter/rescue. ones from breeders tend to live longer and live healthier when theyre older because of reasons that would take too much room in this answerr to explain but feel free to look up on it. for those who say they stink, they can be descented tho most already are when u get them and they might have a musky scent about them but as long as u clean their cage weekly it shouldnt smell near as bad as everyone says it is. (this dosnt mean give them a bath every week-this is bad for them and makes it worse- most ferrets get baths around 2-3 rimes a year and smell MUCH better than those given baths once a month). there is so much more to say but naturally i dont have time to right a book into this answer but make sure to read Ferrets for Dummies if u plan on getting one! i share ur story of love at first sight for these little fuzz butts and wish dearly for the day i get one to come sooner! good luck!

feel free to email me if u have any Qs : )

Answer 7

Yes. I have 2 fuzzies I got from a rescue shelter. They are spoiled rotten and loved by all. Im getting 2 more in a week. They are alot of work but worth it. My little babies!

Answer 8

No, I don't have a ferret but I wish I did.

Answer 9

I would like one but they illegal in California.

Answer 10

yes I have one