A: They find us!
Once the word gets out that you have a shelter, people come out of the woodwork. People find me through the Internet, vet offices, Animal Friends and other Humane agencies, the Three Rivers Ferret Council, other ferret owners, etc.
A: You’re describing baby ferrets! Baby ferrets are nuts normally, but when you add in treats, well, the carnivore comes out! This is the ideal time to get them used to eating good treats, like pieces of cooked chicken or a raw chicken wing, but watch your fingers! Their instincts tell them to fiercely protect their food and that’s what they’re doing. They don’t know the difference between your fingers and food, either. They grow out of it quickly, as long as they have plenty to eat, but in the meantime you need to remember that fingers taste just like chicken.
Sometimes ferrets don’t completely grow out of fiercely protecting a favorite treat. I have had some who growled and barked at other ferrets over N-Bones. Other treats were no big deal, but N-Bones were apparently something worth fighting over.
A: There are many reasons. Here are some of the most common…
- Moving: This is one of the most common reasons for any animal to end up in a shelter. Finding a place that allows pets — that you can afford — can be very difficult. Ideally, if you own your own home, then you won’t have to worry about a landlord changing his mind or selling the property to someone else with completely different rules.
- Babies, school, jobs: Some people feel they can’t cope with a baby and a ferret. Some people feel they can’t cope with a ferret and a job. Still other people don’t consider what will happen when they leave for college. Please take your future plans into account before you adopt a ferret!
- Interest: Sometimes people (especially young adults) lose interest or become bored with taking care of the ferret. This happens with other pets, too, like cats and dogs.
- Allergies: Some people think ferrets are a “non-allergenic pet.” This is not true. It is true that sometimes people who are allergic to cats and dogs may not be allergic to ferrets, but this is not always the case.
- Money: Ferrets are more expensive than cats or dogs, and owners find they simply can’t afford them.
- Pregnancy: Sometimes doctors frighten a mother-to-be by telling her she can catch terrible things from her ferret. If the ferret is healthy (a vet can see to that), there isn’t anything for you to catch! If you want to be super-careful, have your husband clean the litter pans.
A: Below is a general list…
Basic setup:
- cage
- two dishes that attach to cage (one for food and one for water)
- water bottle (I recommend having both a bottle and a dish)
- litter box for inside cage (triangular pans don’t work as well as 4-sided pans)
- litter (We recommend compressed wood pellets like Feline Pine or what’s used for wood-burning stoves; no clay, clumping, crystals, wood shavings or shredded paper like Celusorb.)
- bedding to cover floor of cage (old t-shirts, towels, blankets)
- hammock, blankets, sleep sacks (must wash once a week, so it’s nice to have extra)
- litter scoop
- litter pans for outside the cage (rectangular)
- mild cleaner (we use GreenWorks)
- food
- nail clipper (you can use a cat claw scissors or a small human nail clipper)
- ear cleaner
- q-tips (to clean ears)
- toys (balls, dryer tube, etc.)
- treats
Good to have:
- flea comb
- Frontline (kitten dose, or 2-3 drops from larger container)
- shampoo (don’t bathe more than once a month)
- tooth gel for animals (I use a children’s tooth brush and OxyFresh Tooth Gel sold by shelter)
- harness/leash set (do not leave a collar on your ferret all the time; it will wear off fur and they might strangle)
Ongoing expenses:
- good food (we use Innova EVO)
- litter
- vet checkups (yearly and when sick)
A: People with small children should never leave them alone with ANY animal, ever.
You just never know when a small child will reach out and grab a handful of fur. Anything with teeth will instinctively protect itself.
With supervision, children and ferrets can get along quite well. The parent needs to know, though, that they are ultimately responsible for the care of the ferret as well as the safety of both the animal and their child. They need to protect the ferret from the child, as well as intervene if the ferret gets overly excited. Many a child plays dress up with the family pet — and sometimes the pet not only tolerates it, they might even enjoy it. If the pet doesn’t enjoy it, though, it’s up to the parents to show their child appropriate ways of interacting with the pet.
It’s also up to the parent to demonstrate how to take proper care of the pet. It’s the parent’s responsibility to schedule annual vet visits for checkups and vaccinations, sick visits, etc. as well as to show the child how to clip nails, clean ears, clean teeth, bathe and brush the ferret. If the child forgets, doesn’t have time or is sick, it is the parent’s responsibility to see to it that the ferret is cared for, including fulfilling daily exercise needs.
The rumors of “baby-killing” ferrets have been greatly exaggerated in the media. There are so many more injuries from cats and dogs that ferret-related injuries barely register. Anything with teeth can bite (including other children — that’s an interesting statistic if you’re into such things). Ferrets are known for being “nippy” sometimes. Most often that’s the result of poor training when they were young (and ferrets are never too old to learn).
A: We have an article that answers this question.
A: The shelter director is best suited to help you figure out which ferret would be good for you.
Some people might like a wild thing who runs everywhere at top speed, steals anything not nailed down and is a general maniac. These people might be tolerant of a ferret who sometimes nips in play. Other people would like a sweet, gentle ferret who is playful but would never dream of laying a tooth on you. Some would like a lap ferret (very, very rare) and others want a playmate who looks to them for entertainment. Other people might prefer a ferret who amuses themselves, but enjoys a good cuddle now and then. It all depends on what you think is fun.
Other Factors to Consider:
- Do You Have a Lot of Time?
Consider a young ferret, they generally have more energy and play more.
- Are You Very Busy?
Consider an older ferret. They play quite actively, but then want to go take a nap.
- Do You Have Children?
If you have young (well-controlled) children, consider a ferret who is unlikely to nip.