Ferrets As Pets

Ferrets are becoming a more popular pet. Cute and playful, friendly and curious, they make great pets for the right person. Not as popular as dogs, cats, or even hamsters, ferrets are none the less a mainstream pet.

When considering getting a ferret, the following are points to consider.

• Unlike with dogs and cats, if you are not breeding your ferrets, you must get them fixed. The females can get very sick and even die if they are not mated. Fortunately, fixing a ferret is a straightforward process. Usually, at the same time, the vet will remove the scent glands. This doesn’t hurt the ferret.
• Ferrets are very curious and can get into very tight spaces. If they can poke their head into a space, their body will follow. Then, they will hang out until they want to come out. This works great if they have crawled into a cubby in their cage. This doesn’t work well at all if they have crawled into a cubby under the kitchen counter. Even though you should watch your ferret closely when you have him out to play, it’s always a good idea to block up any holes. They can move fast and you wouldn’t want them to get into a tight space before you could catch them.
• Ferrets love to “steal” or “collect” things. They will gather up small objects: keys, coins, anything they can carry in their mouth, has a potential of being carried off by your ferret.

• Ferrets are social animals and love to be around their humans. While they will spend a good deal of their time in a cage, they still need several hours out to move around and interact with their people. Since ferrets are social creatures, you can safely have more than one in the same cage. In fact, like cats, this is often a good idea as they will keep each other company.
• Your ferret will need regular vet care just as a cat or dog would. So, before you decide to get a ferret, be sure that you have a vet who handles ferrets. Although they are a common pet, many vets will only treat dogs and cats, so you may need to look around for a vet.
• Ferrets must have meat to survive – they are not vegetarians. While they don’t need to eat fresh meat, any kibble or dry food that you get for them will need to have a meat component. Also, they can’t digest fiber very well, and won’t do well on a high fiber diet. Fortunately, many retailers are stocking ferret food, so it isn’t hard to find good food for your pet.
• The lifespan of ferrets is several years, with estimates as low as 6 or as high as 12. So, this is a pet that you will have to care for and love for many years.

If you are interested in having a ferret as a pet, then there are many excellent resources to help you. You may find the following especially helpful:

1. Ferret Information Rescue Shelter & Trust Society (FIRST)
2. About.com
3. Things to Consider Before Buying a Ferret: Is a Ferret the Right Pet for You?