Ferret Out the Facts before Buying One as the Family Pet
Ferrets have become the third most popular house pet in the United States. Most pet ferret owners are upper middle class or professional people who work all day. Frequently they are single women or childless couples over 30 years of age. Generally, ferrets are pets of adults, not children.
Ferrets make good pets because they require neither human contact nor ferret company for their security or amusement. Ferrets do not mind being left alone for several hours at a time. They require very little out-of-cage exercise and no out-of-doors exercise. Ferrets like to be caged but prefer to spend most of their time free in the house when the owner is at home. Ferrets are very quiet and make very few sounds or vocalizations.
A single ferret will generally be very happy sharing his life with only human company and will devote himself to the main person in his life. However, most ferrets are compatible with each other and love to play together and sleep together. Ferrets easily share their food as well. When living in groups individual ferrets do not tend to bond as deeply to their human owners as the single living ferrets.
Ferrets make great indoor pets because they can be litter box or paper-trained and prefer to live in a clean, sanitary environment. Caged ferrets love to be let out for at least an hour every day to play and will use litter boxed place in the corners of the room or play area.
There are three main sources to purchase ferrets: 1) pet shops 2) private breeders and 3) ferret shelters and rescue organizations. Professional breeders supply most pet shops with their ferrets. The animals are well cared for but generally the people who purchase the ferrets will have no knowledge of the family history of the animal. The benefit of purchasing ferrets from a pet shop is that most generally they have been spayed or neutered and de-scented.
Private ferret breeders usually raise one or two litters a year and attend ferret shows to sell their animals. The ferrets are usually older than the ones available in the pet shops but rarely have been spayed, neutered or de-scented. Private breeders will also sell their “retired” animals – that is the ferrets that are no longer able to reproduce for them. These ferrets are great for first time owners but can be harder to litter box train because of their age. They may also be more set in their attitude and bad habits but can be more settled possibly because they have matured with the responsibility of raising a family and they are used to being handled. Purchasing from private breeders will also allow you to find out family history of your new pets and maybe even meet the parents or the ferret you are purchasing.
Ferret shelters rescue and offer for adoption ferrets that have been lost, abandoned or for some reason given up by the original owner. Some are brought in from areas where ferrets are illegal and some have behavior problems that the first owners could not tolerate. Still others may have health problems that the first owners did not want to or could not spend money on. Many will be older ferrets with a shorter life expectancy. One of the benefits of adopting a ferret from a shelter is that most are adults with well-defined personalities, already socialized and litter trained. The adoption fee is usually very low and will most generally take back ferrets that do not work out in the new home. There is one very serious disadvantage associated with adopting a ferret from a shelter and that is many shelter ferrets carry a very contagious viral disease called “ECE” that causes severe diarrhea in mature ferrets. Only about 10% of properly treated affected ferrets die, but the energy and expense involved in trying to save their lives can be significant. The most responsible shelters refuse to adopt out ferrets to people who already own ferrets, to avoid any possibility of causing an outbreak of this disease.
A ferret requires very little special care to be comfortable. It must have food and fresh water constantly available. Ferrets prefer to have snug nests to sleep in and a litter box, which should be cleaned at least once daily. Caged ferrets need to be allowed out to play for at least an h our or two every day. Young, healthy ferrets can be left alone for a weekend with a dependable water source and enough food to last, but of course it is safer to have someone check on them daily. They are very playful animals that act silly and express their love of life in a way that many people find very entertaining.
Young ferrets have enormous energy, and are usually not interested in being held. Ferrets will want to “help” you do whatever they see you doing. They are also known to take things like keys and hide them in inaccessible places. They collect things like socks and shoes and cannot pass a trashcan without turning it over. Ferrets like to nap in closed in places such as dresser drawers, baskets of laundry or inside the covers on the bed. As they get older ferrets love to be cuddled, held and to sleep on your lap. Ferrets also are not known to ever bite – even when they are hurt or feel attacked. Generally, ferrets make terrific pets for adults and older children. They are easy to care for and are devoted to their owners.