Ferret Care
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If you've read the Ferret Pet Supplies About page, you already know that I mostly just wanted to write about ferrets and ferret care. Although people have kept ferrets as pets for a very long time, supplies for domestic ferrets can still be a challenge to find depending on where you live. The supplies I've listed in the sidebar are there because I had a hard time finding them myself at first (or they were quite expensive) and I figured some other ferret owners were probably having the same problem. Ferret pet supplies are also part of basic ferret care so if you can't find them, you will have some problems taking care of your ferret. Basically, I found that eBay had the biggest selection I could find. I organized the listings a bit to suit my search and I've included them on the right side of this page. I think if you check them out, you'll find there are some pretty good deals on ferret pet supplies and ferret care products. There is new and used ferret care merchandise available. Many of these items are essential to the proper care of ferrets. If you want major savings, check out the lightly used ferret supplies.
Basic Ferret Info
If you are just now considering getting yourself a ferret as a pet, you should make sure that you are prepared to take on the commitment of an animal that requires your attention on a daily basis. In order to properly care for ferrets, you must be willing to devote some of your time and possibly adjust your lifestyle a bit. If you think you are just drawn to the novelty of having a ferret, you might want to think things through a bit. Taking on a pet ferret as a new member of the family can have great rewards and provide hours of entertainment, but if your new ferret is sentenced to being stuck in a ferret cage 24/7 without any interaction beyond being fed, it will not be happy. Actually this applies to any pet you may take into your home (although you probably shouldn't take fish out to play).
Ferrets enjoy contact with their human owners and long to interact and play. The last thing I want to do is discourage someone from owning one of these fun little furballs IF they are prepared for it. There are too many abandoned and discarded ferrets around though. Fortunately, there are kind hearted souls who look for ferrets for adoption, but they can't take in all of the unwanted pets. In the interest of happy owners and happy ferrets, lets get some unpleasant details out of the way from the get go so that future ferret rescue situations can be avoided. Here are a few ferret care points to consider before getting yourself a new ferret pet:
* Are you are a workaholic or do you just have such a busy lifestyle that you can't spare time each day to spend with your ferret? Ferrets require time. Various books I've read recommend up to two hours per day. That is more than some people spend with their children. A possible work-around for this is getting your ferret a playmate, but then that actually could increase your responsibilities. Consider this carefully.
Small children shouldn't be left in charge of a pet ferret. They can help with ferret care, but should not be left totally in charge. Besides, sharing the work of ferret care is a great chance to bond with kids and teach them about responsibility. If you are buying a ferret for your little one, be sure that you realize that YOU should be the primary caretaker even if the child has good intentions. This is also a safety consideration for both your child and the ferret.
* Ferrets can produce some unpleasant odors. Descented ferrets will not be all that bad, and the smell goes away (it isn't like a skunk), but if you are extremely sensitive, take this into consideration. Many ferrets are "fixed" and descented which can help out a lot. Personally, I've had dogs that could clear a room if they ate something that didn't agree with them and I'd never get rid of them for it. I just thought it should be mentioned.
* Ferrets can be high maintenance and rather expensive to take to the veterinarian. As with any pet, you will have to have regularly scheduled visits to the vet. Ferrets also have their own issues that come with being a ferret. These visits can get expensive. Also, not all veterinarians will treat ferrets or other small animals. In my area, there is only one vet clinic within thirty miles or so that treats small or "exotic" pets. Take a few minutes to find a vet in your area who deals with these lovable little guys. Call them and ask them to tell you what THEY think is important when considering owning a ferret. They know the common problems and expenses better than anyone. Also make sure that they will take on new patients if you should decide to go through with your ferret purchase. You will become attached to your ferret and want to provide proper ferret care. Be sure that it is available to you and your new pet before it becomes an issue.
If you are researching ferret ownership, one topic you will see mentioned over and over is the legality of it. Depending on what part of the United States (no pet ferrets allowed in California, sorry) or the world you live in, there may be laws forbidding you from owning a ferret as a pet or restrictions on owning a ferret with which you must comply to keep things legal. Check your local laws and ordinances before you ever bring your new ferret home.
Ferret Proofing Your Home
If you have ever had a small child in your home or owned a puppy, you understand that sometimes you have to protect these new additions to the family from themselves. Ferrets like to sleep a lot, but when they are active, they can be very active. Part of basic ferret care is ferret proofing your home before the critter ever enters it. As challenging as "proofing" can be for puppies and children, you must be even more diligent when dealing with a ferret. They can fit just about anywhere they can squeeze their narrow heads into and they are naturally curious and playful. Fun traits when it's playtime, but downright dangerous if there is an unauthorized ferret escape. This is a very important part of ferret care that must be addressed to avoid ferret injuries.
Many of the same common "proofing" procedures apply to ferret care as they do with children or puppies, but there are also some other dangers you might not have considered. Of course you should make sure that your ferret cannot reach any electrical cords. I once had a lab puppy that I was convinced had a guardian angel. I still don't know how she reached them, but she got to two electrical cords. One behind a stove and the other behind the refrigerator. She was none the worse for wear, but I almost got a good zap as I tried to unplug what remained from the wall! Ferrets are kind of like that, but smaller and able to fit themselves into even more dangerous situations.
Proper ferret proofing and ferret care also means looking around for any potential escape routes. These might include passageways like heating vents or any windows or doors that are left open. I've heard horror stories of cats taking a nap in a dryer only to get tumbled to death. It may be only an urban legend, but I would consider this a definite danger for ferrets as well. There are many other ferret proofing steps to consider, but I believe I'll make that another post. This post is just an introduction to important ferret info. More ferret care tips will follow.
As I look back over this post, it occurs to me that it sounds like I'm trying to scare off potential ferret owners. That isn't the case at all. Since the 1980's, ferrets have become an incredibly popular pet for good reason. Research seems to indicate that ferrets have been domesticated by man for thousands of year. It is just extremely important that new ferret owners realize the commitment they are making when they adopt their new ferret pet. I believe the average lifespan for ferrets is around seven to nine years (ask the vet when you call). That means that ownership of a ferret should not be taken lightly. Your ferret care "contract" could run for several years.
I'm about typed out on ferret care for now. If you have read this far, congrats to you! I hope this intro to ferret care has been helpful to you. In my future posts I'd like to share some ferret info related to ferret products (ferret cages and finding cheap ferret cages), more ferret care, ferret supplies, ferret diet and a bunch of other ferret info. We'll see what pops in to my mind as I start the next post. Thank you for reading my introduction to ferret care.
