Pet Ferret Guide

Dr. Abdul Basit Javed (DVM, RVMP)

Ferrets are intelligent and playful critters that make wonderful companions. The popularity of owning ferrets as pets is growing, and more and more people are joining because these animals require less living space.

In general, ferrets make excellent pets for the right person. They might be tiny and appear to be easy to care for, but they are a big responsibility with a variety of requirements. To stay healthy, they require a proper carnivorous diet, as well as adequate housing and exercise.

This article is for you if you are a new ferret owner or thinking about getting a pet ferret. Our small animal veterinarian has put together all you need to know about ferrets as pets and whether they are a suitable fit for you, so keep reading.

Do Ferrets Make Good Pets?

Ferrets are a wonderful choice of pets for people who are into small-pocket pets and can’t afford the time, space or money for an expensive dog.

A pet ferret will make a fantastic companion, quickly getting connected to their caregivers, and showering them with endless entertainment and occasional affection. They are also quite energetic and enjoy playing. You may teach them tricks because of their superb intelligence.

Because they are small, they require less living space and can live comfortably in a large cage. They are incredibly social animals and should never be kept alone in a cage without daily free-time. However, if you have small children at home, they may not be the best choice because they are very sensitive animals that might get injured if handled incorrectly.

Ferrets typically live for 5-7 years, but they have been known to survive for up to 14 years. Ferrets love to take naps and can sleep for almost 20 hours per day.

Ferrets enjoy playing with toys and crawling through tunnels. They like playing and hiding in cardboard boxes, as well as running through PVC pipes, hoses, paper bags, and even through the legs and sleeves of pants and shirts.

How to Take Care of a Pet Ferret

The following are aspects that you must know before owning a pet ferret:

Ferret Housing

Ideally, an adult ferret should be housed in a cage with dimensions of 18 x 18 x 30 inches or greater, as they require a living area to climb, run, and play. Their cage should at least have two levels or more along with stairs and ramps as they love to explore and climb.

I never recommend keeping a pet ferret in a wooden or cardboard box, or in a glass aquarium because they are poorly ventilated. Wire cages are the ideal choice for ferret housing since they are well-ventilated and let light into the cage.

Use a cage with tight wire gaps and strong doors and locks to prevent the ferret from escaping because they are masters of escape and can squeeze through even the smallest spaces. They will easily escape from a cat or dog crate with large openings so avoid putting them in there.

Since wires can hurt the feet of your ferret a soft and sturdy floor is a must. The floor of a ferret cage should be a washable surface such as linoleum flooring, etc.

Avoid using newspapers as flooring because they can make the feet of your pet ferret black and ferrets might also consume the newspaper. Wood flooring should also be avoided since it is difficult to disinfect and pipe and cedar wood chips are also not ideal as they may cause respiratory issues in ferrets and hold the bad odor.

Because ferrets like a cool, shady spot, their enclosures should not be placed in direct sunlight. If the temperature rises above 27 degrees Celsius, you must supply your ferrets with a fan near their cage. Always remember to keep a steady supply of water for your pet ferret as well.

There must be a dark area in their cage where there is no light at all since they like to take long naps during the day. Consider purchasing or making a hideaway style hammock as ferrets love to snuggle up in them.

Enrichment toys are a vital addition to a ferret habitat. Yes, ferrets love toys. Supply your ferrets with plenty of toys that attract them the most. Balls, cat feather toys, and cloth toys are usually the best since they excite their hunting instincts.

Shelves are also required in the housing because ferrets enjoy perching on them. Rubber or latex toys should be avoided because ferrets like to chew on them and ingesting them could lead to GIT obstruction.

Ferret Nutrition

Ferrets are primarily obligated carnivores and are not suited to digest plant materials. Ferrets’ diet must mainly contain fresh meat with plenty of fat as it is their main source of calories. High-quality protein is also a must as they can’t survive without it.

Ferrets are not able to digest plant-based protein so feeding such things will result in medical problems. A ferret’s digestive system is also not designed to digest fiber so it is not something they need in their diet.

Ideally, you should feed whole prey such as mice, rats, or a chick to your pet ferret. But if you are not comfortable doing it the next best option is high-quality meat and bones. You can also purchase special diets made specifically for ferrets however make sure they contain all the necessary nutrients and are not fish-based.

Ferret Grooming

Ferrets are very good self-groomers and rarely need human assistance. Ferrets are known for their musky odor which never goes away completely, however, it is more intense in unneutered ferrets. Thankfully almost all the ferrets sold in pet stores and by breeders are neutered in the USA.

Ferrets also have scent glands and anal glands which produce very smelly secretions when a ferret gets scared. However, the smell usually goes away after a few minutes.

Bathing a pet ferret regularly will not help reduce their musky odor, in fact, it will make it worse. When you bathe a ferret, natural mildly musky oils get removed from their fur and skin.

This causes their body to overcompensate, producing more and more oils, and intensifying the odor. So bathing should be kept to a minimum once or twice a month. Also, use a pet-friendly shampoo and lukewarm water when bathing a ferret.

Ferret Health

Ferrets, like any other pet, are susceptible to a range of medical conditions and diseases. It is advised that you have your ferret examined by a veterinarian once a year until it is 5 years old, and then once every 6 months after that.

Ferrets require vaccinations as well, particularly against rabies and distemper. They are also vulnerable to fleas and external parasites, thus preventive measures must be administered after consulting a veterinarian.

The optimal time to spay or neuter a ferret is before it reaches sexual maturity, which occurs between the ages of 6 and 12 months. Male ferrets who have not been neutered and female ferrets who have not been spayed are at a greater risk of diseases.

Ferrets’ ears can become waxy, so clean them every 2 weeks to a month and trim their nails once they become long and sharp and begin to get caught on bedding and cage wire to avoid injury.

Ferret Exercise

Ferrets are fun and active creatures who require a lot of exercise and mental stimulation to stay healthy, which is why they cannot be kept in a cage all the time. Allow them to leave the cage to play and burn their energy every once in a while.

When they are out of the cage, always supervise them and make sure the entire room is ferret-proof so they cannot escape or harm themselves. Ferrets are excellent escape artists. Also, make sure that there are no live wires, toxic materials, or breakable items in the area where the ferrets are playing.

Pet Ferret Litter Box Needs

Fortunately, ferrets can be litter box trained, making life easier for their owners. You should give them several litter boxes, one in their cage and several more in their play area.

Because ferrets have a short digestive tract, they must go to the bathroom every few hours. A box, newspaper, and urine pad should be available for them. Always use pelleted litter instead of clumping litter. You can even put shredded paper in their box.

Interesting Facts About Ferrets

The following are some of the most interesting facts about ferrets:

• Ferrets can be domesticated.
• Wild European polecats are the ancestors of modern ferrets.
• Ferrets like to sleep (18-20 hours per day)
• Ferrets are very social creatures and like to communicate using scents.
• Ferrets are highly curious creatures and like exploring through their tiny snouts.
• Ferrets are known to live up to 14 years.
• Ferrets are predators and will hunt down small birds, reptiles, insects, and rodents.
• Ferrets produce a musky odor through their scent glands.
• Ferrets are obligate carnivores.

Ferrets For Adoption

If you think you can care for a pet ferret and are willing to commit and accept responsibility, you can adopt one instead of purchasing one. Many animal shelters and rescues, online pet adoption organizations, and ferret-specific rescues exist to help and save ferrets from abuse.

Usually, they will only charge you a small fee or sometimes no fee at all depending on the location and their status.

Ferret Dreams Rescue and Adoption is a leading ferret rescue organization in the United States, and you can contact them if you want to adopt a ferret. LITTLE PAWS FERRET RESCUE is a similar organization in the United Kingdom that helps ferrets.