Is A Ferret For You?

Have you ever looked at a ferret in a pet store and wondered what it would be like to own one? Or perhaps you have a friend who owns a ferret, and you’ve become curious about what kind of pet a ferret would be. The following is some basic ferret information – from the history of the ferret, to feeding requirements, to playtimes – to give you an idea of what ferret ownership will be like. It’s a common misconception that ferrets are rodents. In fact, ferrets are in the Mustelid family along with otters, mink, weasels, and polecats. They have been domesticated for over 2,000 years, and their duties have included hunting rabbits, vermin control, running cable and wire through small spaces (there is even a rumour that ferrets ran video cabling for the wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles), and, of course, companionship.

Ferrets are very intelligent and highly curious, which can lead to some frustrating moments for unprepared ferret owners! They require training and lots of interaction with humans for proper socialization. Ferrets are social animals that bond with their owners and their fellow ferret cage mates.

Many ferret owners in England and Europe keep their ferrets outdoors, but that practice is rare in the United States. This is because heartworm disease, canine distemper, and rabies are common diseases in the U.S., and ferrets can develop all of these. Another reason why ferrets do better inside is because they are extremely prone to heatstroke, and any temperature above 75°F can be dangerous. Ferrets are safest and most comfortable at 65-68°F.It is very important that a ferret has a safe and secure cage. For a single ferret, the smallest cage you put him in should be no less than 3 ft. long by 2 ft. high. Obviously, a bigger cage is better. If you have multiple ferrets, you will need a multi-level cage.

The following ferret supplies are necessities: Water bottle or water bowl , Food bowl, Bedding – hammocks, blankets, and sleep sacks Litter box, ferret safe litter, and a litter scoop Toys – tunnels, balls, and other enrichment toys I recommend that you use bowls and litter boxes that attach to the cage whenever possible. Ferrets like to rearrange their cages, which can make quite a mess! Cage clips allow you to attach any litter pan to your ferret’s cage if it does not include attachment hardware.

Ferrets are fairly easy when it comes to grooming, but this definitely isn’t something you want to slack on. Regular grooming you will need to do includes: Clipping nails – failure to do this can result in the ferret tearing a nail or breaking a toe. Cleaning ears – not cleaning your ferret’s ears regularly makes them more at risk to get ear infections. Brushing teeth – poor dental hygiene can lead to your ferret developing any number of bacterial infections or diseases. Flea prevention and treatment – if your ferret does develop fleas, treat them as soon as possible. Flea anaemia is a very real threat. While bathing can be a part of grooming, it is not a vital part like those listed above. Over-bathing strips essential oils from your ferret’s coat, causing him to overproduce oils in an attempt to correct the imbalance. The overproduction of oils leaves your ferret smellier and itchier. How often you bathe your ferret is up to you, but I don’t recommend bathing more than once a month.

Ferrets are obligate carnivores – this means that they must get their nutrients from animal protein and fat. They cannot digest and have no need for vegetable protein. Choose foods and treats that are meat based, and avoid fruits and vegetables. Also avoid any food or treat that has high sugar content. Food should have no less than 35% protein and around 20% fat. Treats should always be fed in moderation, no matter what the ingredients.

Find a knowledgeable ferret veterinarian who has experience with both basic ferret care and health issues. Your ferret will need vaccines for canine distemper. Accepted ferret vaccines for CD are Purevax and Galaxy-D, and the vaccine for rabies is Imrab-3.It is very likely that your ferret will have some medical emergencies, so in addition to finding a qualified ferret veterinarian, you will also need to have contact information for at least one 24 hour emergency veterinary hospital as well. You will probably want to locate at least two, since they may not always have a ferret veterinarian on call.

During playtime, your ferret will probably start to bounce around excitedly, dancing towards you and away from you, jumping up and down with stiff legs, and running into things. This is affectionately known by ferret owners as the “happy weasel war dance,” and it’s completely normal behaviour! It’s just your ferret’s way of trying to entice you to play with him.

Ferrets are incredibly playful creatures, and not just with toys – your ferret’s favourite toy will inevitably be you! Your ferret will need at least four hours out of his cage each day, at least two hours of which should be spent interacting with you. Avoid toys that have parts, or are made of materials your ferret could chew off and swallow.

Because they’re so curious, ferrets can easily get themselves into situations that are dangerous for them. Before letting your ferret out to play, always make sure that the area in which he will be playing is “ferret proofed.” Use Cord Protectors on all electrical cords. One thing you need to remember – ferret proofing is an on-going process, so do it each and every time you let your ferret out of his cage!

If all of these aspects of ferret ownership sound like things you can manage, then a ferret may be a good pet for you. However, it’s important to understand that owning a ferret is a major responsibility. They have an average life span of 7 to 10 years, and can be high-maintenance pets. Even if everything mentioned in this article sounds like it would be easy to handle, remember that you aren’t ready for a ferret if you aren’t ready for the time and monetary commitments.

Teaching Your Ferret Tricks

Ferret may seem flighty but they are actually rather smart and you can teach your ferret tricks. Just look at the ferrets that have starred in movies and you can see that they can be trained. The trick to training ferrets is that you need to remember that they are very active and won’t sit still for a long training session.

To teach your ferret tricks, you should plan on small training sessions that are full of activities that your ferret will enjoy. If you incorporate activities that stimulate your ferrets natural tendencies into the training, that will make your job much easier.

Anyone who has a ferret will tell you that they are curious creatures with a short attention span so you might be wondering how on earth you are going to get their attention in order to train them. The best way is to hold the training sessions in an area that they have already fully explored. This way you won’t be batteling them as they try to climb off your shoulder to check out something new. In fact, teaching your ferret to stay on your shoulders, is the first trick! To teach them to do this you want to use the method of encouragement. Coerce them onto your shoulder with a treat and some kind words. If they start to climb off, say “NO” loudly and sharply. Eventually they will get the message that it is more pleasant to stay on your shoulder.

When teaching your ferret to do tricks, you must remember that he is only going to obey if there is something in it for him. Most animals are trained in this manner, whether it be a treat or affection of the owner you need to give him a reason to do the trick. Find out what your ferrets favorite treat is and get him to perform the desired trick and then reward him with the treat. Eventually he will associate the action (or trick) with getting a treat and perform on command.

Ferrets can learn a variety of tricks including sit, stay on your shoulder and roll over. To start training you must find a way to get your ferret to do the action – for example you might notice that if you hold his favorite treat in the air over his nose he will sit up. Do this while saying “SIT” and when he sits up give him the treat. Keep repeating the command, try to get the word out before he “sits” and then reward. This will take patience and repetition but eventually he will start “sitting up” when you say sit.

Training your ferret to do tricks is a great way to spend time with your pet. Remember to always use the reward system and never hit or punish your pet. With some time and persistence (and a lot of treats) you’ll soon have the best trained ferret on the block!

Ferret.