MEXICO – Ferrets are cute, cuddly and very intelligent animals, but they’re not care-free.
Erica Olsen said many people buy or adopt ferrets because they think the small animal will need less care than cats or dogs. They think all they have to do is put it in a cage and everything will be just fine. That’s not true, she said.
When some ferret owners learn that it takes time and money to properly care for a pet ferret, they abandon them.
Anyone who is considering adoption of one of these relatives of weasels and skunks should think about the following:
n Although ferrets sold as pets are de-scented, they still retain a musky odor that some people object to.
n Ferrets can be litter-trained, but letting them loose in the house isn’t always the best idea, said Olsen. Because of their small size and agility, they can crawl behind refrigerators, into the backs of closets and into other small spaces, making it difficult to find them.
n Caging them is best, and they need a good-sized cage, at least 3-by-3-by-2-feet, with wood pellet bedding. This bedding must be changed at least weekly, including bleaching and a good scrubbing of the cage. The cage must also be cleaned at least two or three times a day.
n Ferrets are pack animals, said Olsen. As such, they need lots of attention. They can’t just be stuck in a cage and left there. She recommends taking them out of the cage and playing with them one or two hours a day. “If they don’t get the attention, they get depressed and stop eating,” she said.
• As with cats and dogs, ferrets require regular rabies and distemper shots.
• Food must be high quality, preferably ferret food, with at least 38 percent fat content. If they are fed cheaper pet foods, they will lose weight and become sickly, she warned.
• Ferrets are susceptible to certain cancers.
• As with cats, the nails of ferrets must be clipped every two weeks. Without short nails, a ferret is more likely to dig or damage home furnishings.
• Ferrets don’t like a lot of heat.
Cost to adopt a ferret, which includes vaccinations, is $50, or $75 for two.
Copy the Story Link
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.