Ferrets are affectionate, lively, and entertaining animals. They can bring hours of entertainment to the whole family. Just when you think your pet ferret can’t possibly surprise you, he’ll come up with a new antic, and most ferret lovers never tire of seeing the “weasel war dance.
I’ve had pet ferrets for over ten years, and they’ve brought much love and amusement to my household. There’s nothing like coming home from a hard day’s work and having your ferret leap about at your feet, trying to entice you into a bit of play time. The sight of two or three pet ferrets curled together in one big ball of naptime is priceless.
But ferret ownership comes with a lot of responsibility and some unique challenge. For the right household, ferrets can be the perfect pet. But before you add a ferret to your family, there are many things you should consider:
1. Ferrets are Social Creatures
Unlike some small pets, ferrets are not self-entertaining units. They’ll want to interact with you and other members of your household frequently. If you don’t have time for a daily game of chase or sock-tug-of war, then your ferret will find other, possibly destructive ways to burn off excess energy.
Once you’ve engaged in ferret play, you’ll probably find it more of a joy than a chore. A ferret in the midst of a good game of hide-and-seek or hand-wrestling will leap about and make joyful noises that will remind you of a clucking chicken. You can’t help but laugh at a ferret’s simple exuberance. But if you or someone in your household doesn’t have daily time for this kind of interaction, your ferret will suffer for it.
Ferrets also usually love the company of other ferrets. Ferrets love to wrestle and play with one another, and at naptime they’ll usually be found curled up together, wrapped around each other in such a way that it’s sometimes hard to figure out where one ferret ends and the other begins. If you’re considering getting a ferret, you may want to think about getting two.
2. Ferrets Hide in the Strangest Places and Steal the Strangest Things
In addition to being playful, ferrets are curious and mischievous. They don’t mean to be destructive or put themselves at peril. They’re just doing what ferrets do.
There are many things you can do to “ferret-proof” your home. You can create a ferret friendly room free of knick-knacks and houseplants. You can block off areas of the house. But don’t be surprised if your ferret still ends up in the most unlikely of places.
Monitor your ferret when she’s out of her cage, or she may end up behind your stove, under some other appliance, or deep in the heart of your closet. Ferrets contort and flatten themselves to weasel their way into the smallest of openings.
Did you turn your head for a moment and find that your ferret has disappeared? Check your dresser drawers – he may have decided that it’s naptime and curled up among your socks. Whatever you do, don’t sit on the couch or in the recliner until you’ve found your pet. Ferrets have been known to get injured by crawling deep under cushions and getting themselves sat on by unsuspecting owners.
Be prepared for a forgotten knickknack to come tumbling off a shelf because it’s in your exploring ferret’s way, or for the dirt in that potted plant to become an irresistible invitation to go on a dig.
Your ferret may also be a thief. Lose your sunglasses, car keys, credit card or a piece of jewelry? Look in your ferret’s favorite hiding places. He may have just decided your shiny stuff belonged in his stash.
3. Ferrets Chew Just About Anything
A ferret’s endless explorations don’t just involve squeezing into impossible places and redecorating your home. They like to taste their surroundings too.
That electrical cord may not look very appetizing to you, but your ferret might take a nibble anyway. Your mattress may seem like a tasty snack, too. Traditional human fare isn’t safe, either. One of my ferrets once dragged a slice of pizza that was bigger than he was under my couch so he could have a private picnic.
Be especially careful with objects made of foam and fabric. Ferrets have been known to chew on these substances and give themselves potentially life-threatening intestinal blockages.
4. Ferrets Smell … Weasely
There’s no other way to explain it. Ferrets have a unique, musky odor. If you keep their cage clean, this smell isn’t usually overwhelming, but it’s there. You can bathe a ferret, but the weasely smell will return. It’s just part of who they are. Most ferret owners don’t find it offensive, but if you’re sensitive to odors make sure you sniff a ferret or two before you take one home, to make sure you can live with the smell.
5. Your Ferret Will Need Manicures
Have you ever looked at a ferret’s paws? When I do, I think of tiny bear claws. Much like a little bear, ferrets have claws. To keep you, your ferret and your home injury-free, you’ll need to trim those claws regularly.
If you let your ferret’s claws grow too long, she’ll have difficulty walking and find herself caught in your clothes, blankets, or her own bedding. You won’t be able to play with her or hold her without getting scratched up yourself. Generally, you’ll need to give your ferret a trim every 3-4 weeks.
5. Ferret Love Bites
When ferrets play with one another, they often give each other a nibble. Ferrets have tough skin and sometimes like to get a little rough.
That means that even a ferret who isn’t hostile or aggressive might give you a nip now and then in play. If you or your child is snuggling a ferret who decides he wants to get down, and you don’t listen to what he’s telling you with his squirms and wiggles, a nip on the nose or the arm might be the end result.
For some ferrets, ankles are a delicacy. Those stocking or bare feet padding about the room are a treat that just can’t be ignored. Don’t be surprised to find your little friend slinking up behind you. There’s a reason many ferret owners refer to their pets as “ankle biters.”
Ferret owners must be prepared to train a ferret that nibbling on human flesh is a bad habit. Pet stores sell aids such as “Bitter Apple” ointment to assist with the process. Rubbing a bit of this stuff on your hands or ankles makes you taste unappealing to most ferrets. They’ll come to associate your skin with a yucky taste in their mouths and lay off the biting.
In the meantime, though, you might need to be prepared for an occasional love bite with many ferrets.
6. The Scoop on Poop
Like any other pet, ferrets poop. In fact, they poop quite a bit. Ferrets have very active metabolisms.
It is instinctive for a ferret to seek out a corner when he’s got to go. Ferrets like to have their backsides sheltered when doing the deed. After all, no one likes to be snuck up on from behind when they’re in that vulnerable position.
This means that a litter box strategically positioned in the cage or in a corner of your ferret’s play room will keep most poop problems to a minimum. But remember that while ferrets are litter box trainable, they usually aren’t quite as meticulous or flexible as a cat. If the urge strikes a ferret and the litter box is far away, he might make headway for the nearest corner. And if you put the litter box on one side of the cage and your ferret decides he prefers the bathroom to be on the other, it is usually easier to concede the battle and just relocate the box.
7. Ferrets Will Require Expensive Veterinary Care
Like other household pets, ferrets require regular visits to the veterinarian for routine check-ups and vaccinations.
Depending on where you live, though, finding a vet who can provide care to your ferret can be much more difficult than getting medical attention for your dog or cat. Many standard vet offices either don’t see ferrets or will provide basic support and care but do not have the expertise to deal with ferret-specific ailments and surgeries.
As ferrets age, they are prone to a variety of diseases and conditions which may require expensive medications and even surgery. The most common ailments in ferrets are insulinoma and adrenal gland disease, both of which often require expensive surgery.
I’ve been through several surgeries with my ferrets. I’ve also treated them with medication for various ailments, giving syringes of medicine up to three times a day for weeks on end.
Your ferret will depend on you to make the best decisions about his medical care and provide treatment when things go wrong. You’ll need to make sure you have both the financial resources and the willingness to invest the time in treating your pet.
I can’t imagine my life or my household without at least two ferrets running amok. The joy and affection they bring to each day make the ferret-proofing, the occasional broken ornament, the frequent cage-cleaning, the misplaced poops, and the veterinary bills all worthwhile to me. But if you don’t have the time, energy or financial resources to devote to a ferret, you may wish to reconsider adding one to your household.
