Ferrets have been growing in popularity since 2005, and are the third most popular pet to own in the United states today. These critters are fun to play with, have an endless amount of energy, and well, they are just so darn cute! So how do you know if owning a ferret is right for you? Here are a few points to consider before you commit to ownership of a ferret:
Cost
Most pet stores sell ferrets for around $120.00, so ferrets themselves can be quite pricey. Ferrets have very specific needs so the initial shopping list for a new ferret owner would look something like this:
Food made especially for ferrets
Nail clippers
Toys made for ferrets (1 or 2 to start out with)
Litter pan
Ferret litter
Ferret brush
Ferret shampoo
Water bottle or heavy bottom dish for water
Medium to large cage
At least one ferret hammock for each ferret you commit to
Young Children
If you have young children under the age of five, you might want to consider putting off a ferret purchase until your young child can gently handle small animals. Young children under the age of five may drop, squeeze or otherwise hurt the ferret by accident, or your young child may be bitten by the ferret who may have become frightened by mishandling. Never leave a child under five unsupervised with a ferret under any circumstances.
Time
Do you have the time for the ferret. Ferrets are curious by nature and need to be out of their cages at least 3 hours a day to run, play and explore. If you require monthly out of town trips for your job, or are out of the house sixteen out the twenty-four hours in a day, a ferret would not be right for you. Illness occurs in ferrets who are under exercised. For this very special point, you need to at least invest 3 hours a day for their supervised, outside the cage play.
Other pets
If you have other pets living in your home, you may want to consider what type of environment you would be bringing your new ferret into. Most breeds of domesticated cats get along well fine with a ferret, especially if they grew up together. dogs are more complicated on the other hand. If you decide to buy a ferret with a dog in the house, use extreme care and supervision when the initial introduction takes place. Dogs that have hunting instincts such as terriers are known to turn at the drop of a hat. Never leave your ferrets alone with another pet, PERIOD.
The legal aspect of ferrets
As unbelievable as this may sound, ferrets are illegal to own in some states, and even if they are not illegal in a certain state, some counties have their own laws against ferrets. This is due to the lack of knowledge. and some very vivid imaginations of some people. For example, some say that ferrets are known to bite. A person is more likely to be bitten by a dog or cat than a ferret. Also, legislation in some states fear that they are a rabies carrier. This is preposterous. There has never been a transmission of rabies to a human from a ferret. And just as an example, the state of Connecticut has only had one case of rabies in a ferret reported in a decade. Those numbers boggle the mind as to why these sweet creatures get the bad rap. Make sure your state allows ferret ownership by calling your local animal control to find out what the specific laws are in your area before you purchase a ferret.
As you can see, owning a ferret can be a lot of work, but the rewards completely outweigh the work involved.
If you feel you have what it takes to give a ferret the time and attention it needs, you will embark on a journey that you will treasure for years to come!
