Ferret responsibility?

Question

Would it be easy for a 14 year old to take care of a ferret? Before I go out and buy one I would like to know so any answers will be greatly appreciated!

-Kate

Answer 1

It would be possible for a 14 year old to care for a ferret, but it really depends on the teen. We've had ferrets since I was young and I did the majority of the work involved with caring for a ferret from the time I was 10 or 11 (of course, my parents were there to help when needed and show me how to do things). You need to clean the cage regularly (I would wipe down the shelves and bars of the cage with hot water and soap about once or twice a week), wash all bedding (hammocks, blankets, etc.) at least once a week (if I can, I do it twice a week), scoop litterboxes about twice a day, make sure they always have plenty of fresh food and water, and let them out of their cage to run and play for at least 4 hours a day. Does that sound like stuff you can handle? I wouldn't consider that hard to do, but do you have time for all of that? Also, you need to keep in mind that ferrets are very expensive to care for. Do you have the money needed to pay for their food, cage, bedding, litter, and vet bills (they should go once or twice a year for a check up and they're prone to some very expensive illnesses)? If not, do you have a parent/guardian that is willing to help you with the financial responsibilities? Also, will they be willing to provide transportation for you to take your ferret to the vet when needed? The two biggest problems I see a 14 year old running into are: not enough time for the ferret and not enough money. If you have the time for a ferret and parents that are willing to help with the financial part of caring for one, then I think you should do ok. Please don't get one if you plan on leaving it in it's cage all the time and/or if you aren't going to be able to afford one. And make sure you do your research on them! Pick up the book "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schilling - I LOVE that book and it has been so helpful for me. Ferrets can be a lot of work, but they make wonderful pets if you're up for the challenge.

Answer 2

There's a book out called Ferrets for Dummies which is really good.

1. Ferrets will smell, even if descented
2. ferrets do need time out of the cage for exercise, they will get into everything, repot the plants, tip over and empty all the garbage bins, etc.
3. they can only be 80% housetrained
4. they need everything around them 'ferret proofed' including the backs of the refrigerator, stove, dish washer, washing machine, dryer, any air vents, any holes under the cupboard overhangs, etc.
5. they nip & some bite hard, it's hard to break them of the habit if they aren't handled regularly and socialized.
6. you need a vet trained in ferrets - they're considered exotic animals.
7. they are prone to two expensive diseases--Aleutians disease and Adrenal disease, it costs about $1,000 to fix either one.
8. they HAVE to be neutered or spayed, any whole animal that isn't bred will develop cancer. Ferrets are prone to cancer.
9. Ferrets live about 6-8 years, with old ones up around 10 years of age--and they mostly seem to die of cancers.
10. They're high maintenance and they need a 35% protein level food or higher.

The very best description I can give of a ferret is that they are 'hyperactive two year olds on speed'.

Answer 3

Ferrets are NOT a good pet for a child - especially one that very soon will be getting into dating, learning to drive and spending lots of time away from your home. What happens to the ferret then? It ends up going days and days without being let out to run around (ferrets need several hours EVERY DAY out of their cage). The litter ends up unscooped and filthy. Food bowls end up empty and no water in the cage. In extreme cases an illness can go unnoticed and the ferret DIES. Why do I know this? Because for years now I have volunteered with two ferret shelters and have seen and heard this over and over again by parents surrendering their ferret(s). And sadly, ferrets are often brought to us on the brink of death by owners with a child in charge of the pet who "just noticed" something is wrong.

Ferrets are a LOT of work and with ferret vets few and far between vet bills can be VERY costly. Especially since as ferrets age they are prone to several diseases including adrenal disease, insulinoma, cardiomyopathy and lymphoma.

If YOU are the one that really wants a ferret - and the one who will be the primary person to care for it - then consider getting one but only AFTER you've fully researched them. "Ferrets for Dummies" by Kim Schylling is an excellent book loaded with information about ferret ownership.

Please do not buy one on a whim or simply because your child begs for one. We really don't need any more at the shelters.

PS: Teej - AWESOME advice! I've heard rats are much easier to care for and wonderful pets for teens!

Answer 4

Yes, definitely. IF the child wants the ferret in the first place. Ferrets need food, water, warmth, exercise, companionship, clean cage, and a nice place to sleep. They do best with at least 2 hours out of the cage and playing, daily. There is a lot of energy in that little body, and it should be given the chance to play and work it off.

Cage cleaning is easy, if you keep some grocery bags and a little whisk broom/dustpan near the cage. Just scoop the dirty litter, usually in the corners, and put it into the bag. Tie up, take outside, and you're done! The feeding can be simply a well-formulated dry food, such as Marshall's Ferret Diet, which is excellent.

Water is best given from a water bottle which hangs from the cage, just like a hamster or rat water bottle.

Bedding is often a hammock. Ferrets like cages they can see out of and that they can have good air flow. Aquariums are NOT good for ferrets. Some ferret cages are fancy, with tubes and things for the ferret to climb through. There are also lots of toys and things available for ferrets to play with.

Ferrets should NOT be left unattended, when out of the cage. They are skinny little creatures that can get inside couch cushions, behind walls, behind appliances, and into all sorts of places they can get hurt, lost, or sat on. If they get out of the house, they are usually gone. They tend to not come home if they leave.

You can put a harness on a ferret and take it for a walk. They can actually be trained fairly easily to walk along with you, but of course they have to sniff and explore everything along the way. You have to watch them with other animals to be sure the ferret is safe. Often cats play nicely with ferrets. We put our ferret in the bathroom with the cats to play sometimes. (We shut the toilet, pick up the trash can and anything else she could get tangled up with, and there are no cords, etc., on the floor for her to get hurt if she chewed on). The cupboard doors also have to be securely shut, because ferrets are quite clever at opening things and getting into them.

A ferret can make a wonderful pet, and I'd recommend one for a young teenager.

Answer 5

I got my first ferret at 12 years old

Answer 6

Though ferrets are great pets, they are not easy to care for. (Think perpetual two year old child!!)
Your fourteen year old would probably be better suited with pet rats who are easily maintained and exceptionally friendly critters. (and as trainable as dogs!)

More on pet rats-
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofrats/a/ratsaspets.htm
My website-
http://tjratties.netfirms.com

Do some research on owning rats as pets- you'd be surprised at just how wonderful they are as teen pets.
Be prepared to be the primary caregiver to any pets you buy for your teen. Far too many animals wind up in shelters and rescues because parents with good intentions brought home an animal for a child that quickly grew tired of the responsibility and no longer wished to care for it.

Good luck

Teej

Answer 7

It would be easy to take care of but ferrets need lots of play time. You cant just leave them in the cage.

Answer 8

Some 14-year olds are certainly capable of taking care of a ferret, but you have to know your child, and you must be prepared to take over for it. Teenagers are notorious for changes in behavior, and if they suddenly stop caring for the ferret, you need to step in or find another family for the ferret.

Ferrets require a great commitment of time. They need a minimum of 1 hour (preferably 4 or more hours) of playtime outside of the cage in a ferret-proofed (think miniature toddler) environment every day. The litter box should be emptied daily. Food and water should be replaced daily. The cage should be given a basic cleaning daily.

Some teenagers are ready for this sort of responsibility, and some aren't. Ferrets become impossible pets when they are improperly cared for, and any shelter you drop it off at will have difficulty rehabilitating it. You're the only one who knows if your child is ready for this.

As the adult, you also need to be prepared to pay for the ferret. Your yearly vet bills will probably be no more expensive than for a cat or a dog, but almost every ferret requires some sort of surgery during its lifetime. Be prepared to spend a $500 chunk at least once.

That said, they are amazing companions. They're like kittens that never grow up with their playfulness and curiosity!

I strongly recommend adopting an older ferret from a shelter if it is your first one. Shelter operators will consult with you about future costs, the amount of time and prep required to care for a ferret, and they will also help you figure out if your child is ready for the responsibility. Also, a ferret of 1 or 2 years is already litter trained, and trained to not bite!

Answer 9

uhhhh ferrets are like $300... do you want to dish out 300 bucks for a stinky weasel?