So, You're Getting a Ferret!

There are some essential items you will need if you are considering owning a pet ferret.  Possibly the most important of these is the place your new pet will call home.   You will need a ferret cage.  Don't even dream of buying your pet until you have a proper ferret cage.  This is a big deal, and you just cannot skip it.   Without a good cage, the issue of where to safely keep your new friend can turn into a major issue in a hurry.  You should already understand that you will need to spend a little bit of money if you are keeping ferrets as pets.  A ferret cage is something you will need to keep your ferret safe and healthy.  You may or may not want to buy your pet a bunch of toys, clothes, and other accessories, but don't skimp on the cage.  Really.  Now with that said, you shouldn't panic.  Sometimes local pet shops drastically mark up ferret cages and supplies.  I'm sure it wouldn't be hard to spend $300 or more on a "starter kit", but you don't have to spend that much.  Click Here to see less expensive alternatives, or, read on...

Some Ferret Basics

As far as pets go, it is important to remember that your ferret is not the same as a cat or a dog.  I've heard some ferret owners try to give descriptions of ferrets relative to both of these common pets, but ferrets are definitely their own distinct animal.  They have been domesticated for over a thousand years, but they should not be taken on with the expectation of them acting like either a dog or a cat. For example, you should never allow your ferret to get outside on its own.  Most people avoid doing this with dogs and cats as well, but they usually end up returning safely when they do get out.  An escaped ferret however, is in a much more precarious situation.  She is simply not equipped to handle the wilds of your neighborhood, and could end up in a very bad way if she escapes.  This is why ferret proofing your house and providing a safe, secure living area (such as a ferret cage) is so important for your ferret's safety.

The ferret cage you choose should be big enough to let your pet stretch its legs a bit!

One of the most important items when it comes to basic ferret pet supplies is the ferret cage.  As you would probably expect, you can find a wide range of styles available for your ferret to call home.  You will find that you can spend quite a bit of money on a cage if you really want to do that.  That probably is not necessary for most people, but you probably should not base your search on finding cheap ferret cages.  As with so many things, you usually get exactly what you pay for, and focusing on getting the cheapest of anything usually just buys you a large lot of regret.  You can find a quality cage at a fair price without too much trouble online.  Locally, I can't make any promises. I personally have had a tough time finding them for sale anywhere near my home.  The one I did find at a local store was available for a lot less when I checked online.

How Big of a Cage Do I Need?

Ferrets can sleep a lot.  When they are awake however, they crave exercise and stimulation.  Think of how you feel when you have been cooped up all day inside of your house (or work cubicle) for one reason or another.  Your ferret needs something to keep its mind sharp and some room to move.  Ideally you will be letting your ferret out to play with you at least once a day, but you can't walk around holding it during every waking moment.  Your ferret's cage should be at least 12 cubic feet for one ferret.  That works out to about 3'x2'x2' for non math fans.  Bigger is actually better, but your budget and the amount of space available in your home could be limiting factors.  Ferrets usually enjoy having playmates, so a lot of people end up buying more than one of them.  If you do, please remember that you will have to get a bigger cage.  Even animals need their own space, and cramming two ferrets into a small cage is not going to make for happy pets.  Here are some good starter cages.

Watch Out for Escape Artists!

When you decide on a cage for your ferret or ferrets be sure that it is secure, so that your pet does not escape and get itself into trouble, or worse.  Check to be sure that your ferret cage has openings that are small enough to prevent escape.  Get something that is built to handle any potential escape artists.  You should be able to securely fasten the door shut.  Also be sure that there are no openings that could trap or injure your pet ferret.  If you end up buying a used ferret cage, you should also give it a very thorough cleaning.  You will never know with absolute certainty what was kept in there before you and your ferret came along.  Better safe than sorry in this case.  Although I'm personally a big fan of saving money by buying used items, I draw the line at pet supplies.  I figure that the money I'd pay the vet to deal with a sick ferret would easily wipe out any savings from buying a used cage.  That's just me though.

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that several pages could probably be devoted just to buying ferret cages.  There are many styles that include variations of a very basic ferret cage up through large, multi level outfits built to house multiple ferrets.  You will have to decide what is appropriate for your specific situation.  Before I leave the topic of ferret cages though, I want to mention that you should provide some kind of safe haven in your ferret's cage where he can go to just chill out or sleep.  They like to have some type of cover where they can escape from being in the wide open spaces.  This might be bedding or an actual ferret safe structure that gets put in the ferret cage.  You should also make sure that there is some kind of bottom to your cage other than plain wire.  It is a comfort thing.  Would you want to walk around and sleep on that wire grating every day?  I wouldn't.  One more thing to remember is that your ferret will use what you put in its cage as bedding, so it will eventually get stinky and/or dirty.  This bedding will need to come out for cleaning from time to time.  Get a cage that can be cleaned easily.  You will be glad that you did.  If you are going to take a ferret as a pet, you owe it to her to provide decent living conditions.  A quality cage is a good place to start.  There are many cages to choose from out there.  I've compiled a short list of some of the most popular models.  Click Here to see them.

Getting a pet ferret is sort of a trendy thing to do nowadays.  When you see those cute little guys wrestling with each other or snuggling on their owner, they can look so adorable that you just want to get one for yourself.  There is no doubt that ferrets can make great pets, but they require some getting used to if you have only owned more common pets like cats and dogs.  Before you decide to get yourself or your family a pet ferret, you owe it to yourself and the animal to do a little bit of research and make sure that a ferret is the right pet for you.

Some sources say that people have kept pet ferrets for thousands of years.  Domesticated pet ferrets are actually quite common, but they have gotten a bit of a bad reputation.  They are not cats and they are not dogs.  It is not fair really to compare them to either of these animals.  Although they look like rodents to some people, they are not.  They are actually carnivores and are related to animals like weasels, minks, and polecats.  Even writing this makes it sound as though they are wild animals and that just isn't true.  They have been domesticated for many years, and do well as pets for the right owner.

Pet ferrets do not really get a very big.  Females are typically smaller than males and neutered males will usually top out at 4 pounds.  There can be individual differences in the animals, and you may see them bulk up during the colder winter months and begin to thin out once spring arrives.

Some people worry because they have heard that ferrets smell bad.  The family of animals that they belong to all have scent glands in their anus.  This family of animals includes skunks, so you can see where the bad reputation comes from.  Most pet ferrets are de-scented so this really is not an issue.  But even ferrets that still have their scent glands will not smell anywhere near as bad as a skunk.

If you do decide to get a pet ferret, you will learn a couple of things quickly.  Ferrets like to sleep a lot.  Sometimes a pet ferret will sleep 18 to 20 hours each day.  When they are awake however, they can be extraordinarily playful.  A pet ferret will adjust its schedule according to that of its human owner.  You should definitely only consider getting yourself a pet ferret if you have the time and energy to put in to playing with it on a daily basis.  Of course, you may also want to consider getting your pet ferret a friend to keep him company.  Ferrets love to play with each other.  If you want your ferret to be happy, you must be sure that it will have enough exercise and attention to meet its needs.  They will not be happy living a solitary life in a cage without any attention.  They really should have at least a couple hours of play time each day.

Another consideration if you are thinking about getting a pet ferret, is the cost.  Most likely, you are not set up with fdrret pet supplies.  You'll need to get your pet some accessories to meet its basic needs.  Before you ever get your pet ferret, you should make sure that you have purchased all necessary supplies.  You cannot simply put your ferret in a box and walk away.  He will be out before you make it out of the room.  A proper ferret cage should be purchased if you intend to keep a ferret as a pet.  You also should ferret proof your home thoroughly.

If you have ever owned a small puppy, you have gotten a little taste of what an animal can get into if it is curious.  Well, ferrets are very curious.  Ferrets can get into just about anything.  Before you bring your new pet ferret home, you should make sure that he will not be able to get to things like electrical cords or heating ducts.  You may actually want to get down on the ground at ferret level and take a look at things from that point of view.  If it catches your eye, it will catch the ferret's eye too.  It is your responsibility as a ferret owner to ensure your pets safety.  Ferret proofing your house is essential.

I will be writing more about ferret ownership in upcoming posts.  If you're thinking about taking on a pet ferret, just be fair to yourself and the animal.  Realize that owning a ferret can be an adventure.  It is not the same as owning a cat, dog, bird or any other domestic animal that you may have taken as a pet previously.  I'm not saying that it is better or worse, just different.  Do your ferret research, and be sure that a ferret is the right pet for you.  I certainly do not want to discourage anyone from owning a pet ferret.  I just think people should go into it with a full understanding of the commitment they are making, so that we don't end up with even more abandoned

Personally, I've never bought ferret clothes.  I figure they come with their own fur coat.  That's just me though.  There are a lot of people who do enjoy dressing their pet ferrets up for the cuteness factor.  I was given some neat little sweatshirts one time, but the ferrets didn't take to them too well.  It was amusing to watch for a few minutes, but the shirts didn't go back on after we took some photos because I thought they might become ferret toys before too long.

If you do want to buy ferret clothes, you can't exactly to pick them up at most retail stores.  I guess dressing ferrets isn't a big enough market yet for Walmart to consider (at least not where I live).  There are specialty stores willing to fill just about any need though, and ferret clothing is right in the mix.  As I mentioned before, I recommend checking eBay for just about any ferret pet supplies you might be looking for because there is a large variety and the prices are usually pretty good.  Nothing I point you toward has been personally listed by me, so I can't really answer any questions about what is available for sale.  You can ask sellers as many questions as you like though.  My experience has been that eBay sellers are usually very good about responding quickly to questions.

Just checking now, I see that there are quite a lot of ferret clothes for sale including  t-shirts, sweatshirts, harnesses, dresses, vests, sweaters, sweater/hat combos...You get the idea.  Just about everything but shoes, and I might have just missed those since I only was looking at the top of the first page.  Cute stuff if you and your ferret are into that sort of thing.

I want to say that if you are going to buy your ferret clothing, you should consider the comfort of your pet first.  I have never asked a ferret personally about this, but I don't think most ferrets would enjoy wearing a hat for a long period of time.  My personal feeling is that these would be for photo ops and possibly for wearing to special social events and then removing.  If your ferret seems happy in his or her new duds though, go nuts I guess.  Just make sure that you aren't subjecting your ferret to something it doesn't enjoy for extended periods of time  just for the sake of cuteness.  If the ferret is unhappy, it will probably make its feelings known in short order when it starts trying to weasel its way out of the clothing. (pun intended )

If you do like to dress up your ferret, please don't be offended.  I don't dress up my dog either beyond the occasional bandana and tons of people go to the trouble of tying on little dog booties every day.  It's a personal decision for you and your ferret.  If you are looking, I highly recommend seeing what is available on eBay.  They have one of the best selections of ferret clothes that I've run across.  Another reason to check eBay is that you will sometimes find handmade items that you won't find anywhere else.  These items can be pretty interesting and they are definitely unique since they are made by hand by crafty individuals without a retail outlet.
Ferret Clothes for Sale
Below, you will find a few example of ferret clothes and ferret costumes. Click on any of them for more details. At the bottom of the description page, you will find MANY more outfits and clothes (too many to show here).

Marshall Ferret Sweatshirt, Colors Vary	Marshall Ferret Sweater, Colors May Vary
Marshall Ferret Cap, Black Beret	Marshall Ferret Bee Costume
Marshall Ferret Bow Tie Patriotic Tie	Ferret Velour Hoodie

Some people like to dress their pets up.  There are ferret clothes available for a variety of occasions.  I don't know that they actually need the clothing, but they do look cute when they've got on hoodies!  I think that most people put on the ferret clothing for times when their pet might be making public appearances or getting its picture taken.  For obvious reasons, pants aren't usually worn by ferrets.  If you don't understand why, try it once.

There are ferret shirts, sweaters, t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and all sorts of outfits available depending on when you check.  Here you will find some listings of currently available ferret-wear.  If you do decide to dress your ferret up, be sure that it isn't left alone wearing anything that could harm or trap it.  Also, if your ferret seems uncomfortable in the clothing, take the picture and then take the clothes off.

Thanks for stopping by today.  Good luck finding your ferret clothes!