Ferrets are social and fun animals, often described as perennial puppies. But to be a responsible boss you will first have to decide if they are really for you.
Steps
Step 1. Find out if they are legal in your country
Just because they're sold at the pet store doesn't mean they're considered legal in the area where you live. For example, in Hawaii, California and New York state they are illegal.
Step 2. Learn what the ferret's personality is like
The word "ferret" comes from the Latin and means "little thief": this is what you will have to keep in mind for the future. Ferrets like to pick out items from the house, not necessarily belonging to them, and hide them in quirky places. It can be slippers, keys, mouse, wallet or rolled up socks. Giving them the appropriate ferret toys can help, but will likely not eliminate this behavior. They are very playful and curious rodents and need to be supervised to prevent them from eating things that could harm them.
Step 3. Think about whether you can keep him free for at least three hours a day
Ferrets sleep up to twenty hours a day but must stay outside the cage to move regularly. They are not like hamsters or mice, but more like puppies or cats and get depressed if they don't spend some time out of the cage.
Step 4. Evaluate the expense
Between cage, accessories, food, games, litter box etc. the ferret can cost you a lot. Make a list of everything you will need to buy and add it to the cost of the pet. If you limit yourself to just buying a cage, litter box and food, you will soon realize how much a ferret needs to be healthy and happy. The initial cost can reach 250 euros. As with cats and dogs, ferrets also need regular flea treatments, grooming and vaccinations, as well as a few toys.
Step 5. Find out if you have a suitable home for a ferret
Ferrets can get in where you least expect it. They have an insatiable curiosity and are always looking for new places to sneak into. Get on all fours looking for holes in walls, closets, refrigerators, under furniture, and wherever they might crawl and hide. The two most common places are inside the chest under the bed and inside the furniture, passing from underneath. To solve the problem of the bed, just fix a sheet with staples to the frame, or remove its feet and let it rest on the ground. If you have a recliner, the best thing to do is get rid of it. It is impossible to make it ferret-proof, which could get trapped and crushed when someone uses it without knowing it is inside. When you bring your ferret home, observe it carefully. It will show you all the seats you forgot to fix.
Step 6. Decide if the pets you already have and the children are compatible with the ferret
Most cats and dogs get along well with it. It's like bringing home their fellow man. If your dog has a predatory instinct (i.e. chasing cats and squirrels), ferrets may not be a good choice. It won't get along well with hamsters, gerbils, mice, bunnies and other small rodents either. The ferret will probably think you are so kind when he sees them, since you got him a succulent dinner … Birds and ferrets are an equally unhappy pairing. Children under the age of 12 should always be supervised to make sure they are handling the ferret correctly.
Step 7. Ferrets are not fully tameable as far as litter is concerned
They will usually only use one corner of the cage, which is where you will put the litter box, but they have a strong instinct to spread their scent to mark their territory, so some "accidents" could happen in the house. Also, if a ferret is busy playing somewhere and needs to "go", they will likely tend to give a damn and do it in the first available corner instead of going back to the litter box and interrupting what they were doing. Many ferrets have multiple litter boxes scattered around the house. You can buy small containers suitable for the purpose and place them where you want, but remember that before you start teaching your ferret how to use it, you must ALWAYS CHECK it.
Step 8. Decide if you have the patience for a ferret
Between stealing socks, linens and keys, eating hamsters and needing a litter box in every room, as well as endless energy, it's understandable that a ferret owner has to arm himself with patience. If you found your ferret in the bathroom tearing up toilet paper you should say, "Oh, that's cute! You destroyed my bathroom" instead of "I'll kill you, furball!" Ferrets are delicate and only live 6-10 years. If you buy it, you have to keep in mind the commitment they require; if you don't feel ready, it's certainly not his fault.
Step 9. Take a tour of the animal shelters
You can adopt your ferret instead of buying it in the store. Most will be loving, healthy and already educated in the use of the litter box.
Step 10. Go to a pet shop
If you live in the United States, most stores buy ferrets from a New York breeder named Marshall. If your shop does not source from him, find out where he buys his ferrets. Marshall's have a two-dot tattoo on their right ear meaning the ferret is purebred and spayed. If there is no tattoo, ask if the ferret meets these two characteristics. Unless you want to breed them, NEVER get an unsterilized ferret. Females die if they don't mate carefully. Males are EXTREMELY aggressive and STINK. It is not a dog or a cat, it MUST be sterilized. If the ferret isn't spayed and you can't "afford" to have it operated on, then you probably don't have to buy it.
Step 11. Enjoy your friend
The average lifespan of a ferret is 6-10 years (about the same as a cat). Always make sure to set aside around 350 euros for his veterinary emergencies. Ferrets can develop tumors with age, which need to be treated immediately. They can also have glandular problems, leading to hair loss and death.
Advice
- Find some free time to spend with your ferret.
- Visit a friend who has a ferret or a shelter that hosts one to observe and inform you.
