If you're thinking of getting a ferret, you probably have a lot of questions on your mind. Ferret care questions about behavior, diet, toys, health, cages, odor, accommodation etc. are the most common ones and indeed important. Fortunately, I'm here to answer them, so let's get to it!
Are ferrets rodents?
No! Ferrets may look like rodents, but they actually belong to the family Mustelidae, so are related to polecats, sea otters, badgers, minks, wolverines and others.
How long do ferrets live?
The average ferret life span is 6-8 years, with some reaching even 10 years of age or more. A ferret is considered middle aged at around 3 years.
Do ferrets smell bad?
Coming from the mustelidae family, ferrets, especially adults, have a somewhat strong odor. Fortunately, you can alleviate this problem by descenting them.
What are their healthcare needs?
You need to bring your ferret to a veterinarian for regular checkups as well as for vaccinations. Doing these checkups once or twice a year will greatly improve the chances of catching a disease early and could save your fuzzy's life.
What do they eat?
A ferret's diet needs to be balanced. Special ferret food is recommended, but cat food of high quality is a very good alternative. Both types should be available in your local pet shop. The food needs to have 35 percent protein and 20 percent fat at minimum. It's important to remember that fuzzies need more fat than cats, and the best are the so-called balanced fats (e.g. poultry fat) due to being rich in fatty acids.
Do ferrets drink water?
Yes. A ferret needs a permanently available source of fresh. They drink less water from bottles than from bowls, but if you can't change the water in the water bowl once or twice a day, then you can use a water bottle.
What's the right accommodation for a ferret?
Nowadays you have plenty of options when it comes to cages and houses for ferrets. The two important aspects you need to consider when looking for a cage are that it must be roomy and it must be safe. In addition, also think about making your job easier and find a cage that's easy to clean.
Make sure your fuzzy can't stick his head through any part of the cage and thus endanger himself. Furthermore, check that the cage you buy doesn't have areas where your ferret's feet can get stuck.
Fuzzies are crazy little bugger and they love to play and run around, so having a good cage where they can do this is paramount to their well-being (and your peace of mind).
What about sleeping and bedding?
Ferrets are one of the biggest sleepers you'll ever see; they can sleep up to 20 hours a day. When it comes to bedding, they prefer dark padded areas. Place a sheet in one corner of the cage; this will provide them with a comfy and private corner for sleep and play.
Sleeping accessories such as hammocks and sleeping sacks make for great places to play and sleep and should be available in your local pet shop.
What can threaten my ferret's life?
Diseases and other animals (e.g. dogs) pose a great threat to your ferret's life. That's why regular vet checks and supervision when playing with other animals (especially when they're bigger than the ferret) is crucial to keeping them safe.
However, perhaps the biggest, day-to-day risk to your fuzzy's life comes from much more mundane things, especially improvised toys your pet can find around the house. Since they love to chew things, pretty much anything within their reach can become a health hazard. Make a habit of checking the cage for anything they can chew and any toys that become damaged. Remove dangerous objects and replace damaged toys.
Ingesting a small toy or a piece of it will cause obstruction in the intestines, and your fuzzy will need a surgical intervention.
If you leave your ferret out of their cage (and you should do this at least once or twice a day), do so in a ferret proof room and never leave them unattended. They can easily hurt themselves!
Are ferrets social creatures?
Ferrets can be social. They can get along well with others of their kind, humans and some animals such as cats. It's best to introduce them to humans when they're 30 days old. The more you handle them, the faster they'll become accommodated with you and the easier it will be for you to train them. Interact with your pet as often as you can and watch them respond to you and your actions. This will help create a strong bond between the two of you. They just love cuddling and it is a great feeling when they do it with you.
Do ferrets use litter boxes?
Yes, like cats, fuzzies can be trained to use litter boxes. It's better to introduce them to the litter box as soon as possible, in order to increase your chances of training them in a short time. Still, some will get the hang of it sooner, some later, but eventually you will get them to use their litter box.
Are ferrets really that fun?
They sure are! Ferrets are fun and loving pets, and the more you interact and care for them the happier they'll be.
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