Is Buying a Ferret Illegal?

Even though you will often find them listed as "exotic pets", ferrets have been around as domesticated animals for thousands of years. Today they are somewhat of a trendy pet even though there are bans against owning them or permit restrictions in some areas of the United States and in some other countries. Whether or not these bans are reasonable or not is a subject of debate, but before taking on ownership of a ferret, you should check your local laws for requirements and restrictions.

Is a Ferret the Right Pet for YOU?

Assuming that you are allowed to own ferrets where you live, you should also consider carefully whether owning a ferret is right for you. These little guys can be fun to own, but they present challenges unique to their species and they should not be expected to act like the cats or dogs you may be become accustomed to owning. This is certainly not to put people off of owning ferrets as pets, but there are already too many abandoned ferrets in ferret shelters and ferret rescue facilities as a result of people thinking that ferret adoption would be "fun" without taking into account the work that would be involved.

Why Read a Site About Ferrets?

As this site grows, it will be our goal to find and present everything ferret related that we can think of to help you to learn about ferrets as pets. We recommend that before you buy a ferret, you do some research. Reading websites like this one and others related to owning a ferret is a good start. It would also be wise to get yourself a quality ferret book that serves as a guide to ferret ownership so that you can grab it at any time and look up particular issues quickly, should any arise.

Some topics you should consider as you learn about ferret care are:

• What ferret supplies will you need to purchase?
• The cost and size of ferret cages and the best location for one in your home. (You can find cheap ferret cages if you will consider a used model, but don't buy poor quality cages).
• Ferret food - what will you feed your new pet?  Ferrets need a healthy diet to meet their nutritional needs.  Properly balanced ferret food is available online.  Depending on where you live, you might have a difficult time finding it locally.
• Ferret odor - although often exaggerated, this can be an issue for some people who are particularly sensitive to odors and who own ferrets that have not been fixed or de-scented.  Most people prefer to have their pet de-scented.  Find out if the pet has had these procedures done before buying it.
• How much ferret training are you willing to do?  How much time you put in will determine what kind of results you get.  It's common sense.
• Is there somewhere near you that you can buy a ferret?  Buy from someone reputable.  If there has been too much inbreeding, genetic problems become more likely to appear.
• Where will you get your ferret supplies and how much will they cost?  Ferrets supplies are not nearly as easy to find as those for dogs and cats.  My favorite place for price and selection is Amazon.  Everything you need will be delivered right to your door.  Here is a link to see ferret supplies on Amazon.com.  Checking now, there were almost 2,500 items listed.  Good luck finding that many ferret accessories at your local pet shop!

This is only a partial list, but it should get you thinking as you prepare for owning a pet ferret. Owning a ferret can be a great experience. They are a pleasure to own most of the time, but you should go into the experience knowing what to expect and with your eyes wide open to all of the challenges that pet ownership brings with it.

Ferret Tips and Ferret Facts

Here are some helpful tips and ideas to help you become the best ferret owner that you can be:

• Ferrets are not low maintenance pets.  It's recommended that they get several hours of playtime and exercise every day.  A good portion of that time should involve you playing with your pet.  If you want a well adjusted ferret, you'll have to put some time into it.
• Remember that there will be veterinarian care needed for your new pet.  Check to see if there is a local vet around who will treat ferrets.  If there isn't, find out where the closest one is located and decide whether you are willing to drive your pet that far when it is needed (for shots and/or regular care)
  

  This ferret cage is not very expensive and is presently eligible for free shipping from Amazon. Click on the image for the current updated details and to read reviews.

• Buy your ferret from a reputable breeder who can speak intelligently about the ferret you will be buying.
• The fact that ferrets have little natural fear can sometimes lead them into precarious situations.  Be diligent in your ferret proofing of the house.
• Talk to your vet about medications your ferret might need.  This would include heart worm preventatives.
• Get your ferret some toys to keep it entertained.  They do sleep quite a bit, but they are very active when awake.  Without some type of activity to keep it amused, a ferret may find a source of entertainment that you do not approve of.  Make sure that these toys can handle the chewing your fuzzy little friend will be giving it.  Small, chewed off pieces can be a choking hazard for your pet.
• When you take your ferret out in the car, use a carrier and strap the carrier down securely.  Don't let your ferret run loose while your driving.
• Learn to pay attention to the sounds your ferret makes.  Know what a contented sound is, as well as a sound that signals distress.
• Never leave your ferret unsupervised if it is out of its cage.  They almost certainly will end up in trouble.  Their curious nature leads them into all kinds of hazards.
• A common ferret problem is intestinal blockages caused by eating things that were not meant to be eaten.  Get down on the floor, at ferret eye level, and look around for potentially dangerous items or things that your pet might decide to eat.
• Please, do NOT cheap out on the cage for your ferret.  Ferret cages are meant to provide a safe place for your pet to spend a large portion of its life.  Give it room to move and get something that will close securely so that you don't ever have to go on ferret hunts in your own home.  Don't even think about trying to use a cardboard box.  Your ferret will make short work of getting out.
• There are already tons of homeless ferrets.  Consider getting your pet spayed or neutered.
• Because ferrets do have a tendency to explore, you might want to get a microchip implanted in it, just like they do for dogs.
• When choosing ferret bedding, remember that these guys do like to snuggle in and burrow.  They also can spend a lot of time sleeping.  Don't worry.  They are just storing up energy for their play time!  Some ferrets like hammocks, while others do not.  Some of them like tents...other don't.  You'll have to see what your pet's preferences are and go with that.
• Some people like to buy ferret clothes and dress their pets up.  Ferret hoodies seem to be pretty popular nowadays.  If you are going to do this because of the cuteness factor, only keep them dressed up while you're showing them off.  Some clothes could end up being a hazard to your pet.
• There are many ferret accessories available for purchase now that ferrets have caught on as semi-popular domestic pets.  What you buy is up to you, but you probably don't need to buy every single thing when you are just starting out.  I can't stress enough that looking into quality ferret cages should be a top priority so that you never have to deal with an escape or a lost ferret.
• Please remember that ferrets have a life span that could range anywhere from 5 to 11 years.  Don't get one unless you are willing to care for it for that long.

Ferrets can be great pets for the right person. They have playful personalities in general, and they're fun to be around and to watch. Thank you for visiting and please take a look around. This site will continue to grow, so please stop back whenever you need ferret information.  In the sidebar, you will find some suggestions for a pet ferret starter kit. You might not need everything you see there, but take a look to make sure you are all set before you bring your new friend home.  If you click on the images, they'll take you to a listing for the product on Amazon.com that will give you a full description, along with any customer reviews.  The ferret supplies shown on our site are sourced through Amazon because they are extremely reliable, they include loads of reviews, they often offer discounted shipping, and their prices are usually the best around. Thanks for reading!  CLICK HERE to check out the savings now.

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!