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coldblue1955
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I'm thinking of buyin' one but don't know too much about them.
Anyone owns a ferret?
- Thread starter coldblue1955
- Start date
hamstershaver
New member
they chit more than soklueles, besides that they are pretty cool
coldblue1955
New member
what do they eat?hamstershaver said:
hamstershaver
New member
coldblue1955 said:
ferret food, its like rabbit food, pellets, but they will eat about anything, and they will steal EVERYTHING
hamstershaver
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SoKlueles said:
stalker
supersizeme
New member
Raina McJenkins is the resident ferret master. send her a pm
I have 4 of them. I've had 3 of them for 4 years. So I'd consider myself to know more than most about ferrets.
They are smart wonderful VERY high-maintanence creatures. If you're pondering getting one PLEASE ponder getting 2 instead. They are social animals and unless you're going to be there all the time with him/her, give him/her someone to amuse them the rest of the time. Otherwise they can get unusually agressive and/or destructive out of boredom. 2 of mine bite from time to time but they were both abused ferrets from rescue shelters.
I love my critters. They live in a custom-build 3 level oak hutch with french doors and ramps between levels. Most of the ferrets in pet stores are babies so keep in mind that they get bigger. A male can get up to 7 pounds-- a female upwards of 5. Most of mine are 4 pounds right now (they gain 1/3 of their body weight in the winter and lose it in the summer....they also shed in the summer).
My ferrets can open sliding doors, move random laundry etc around to build "ladder" sorts of things to get up higher, and they open cabinets and drawers. They plot. I always say I wouldn't be surprised to come home to find them building nuclear weapons. Mine can open human-baby cabinet and drawer latches so I have to have heavy boxes all over my kitchen (or they get in the cupboards, climb up the back into the drawers, open the drawers from the inside, and get on the counters). One of my ferrets is also a panty/bra thief. Another is a shoe destroyer. Another prefers to hide socks. Yet another likes to steal and hide keys.
No ferret will ever be 100% litter box trained though. They just don't give a damn about pleasing you...unless you have something they want. They only go to the bathroom in corners (if they go elsewhere it's a sign of fright or illness). You don't get to choose the ideal "poop corners" either. They do. Then you accomodate them with a litter box. Depending on the ferret they will use the box about 50-90% of the time. One of mine won't go in a dirty litter box. One of mine digs all the litter out if the litter is too clean. When you have a ferret you sort of realize that you're the "bitch" of the relationship. They rule my life.
I always think I sound negative when advising people about ferrets but it's only because they are a hell of a lot more work than I thought they'd be. If you aren't planning to clean well every day, your house will smell like hell. If you end up getting a couple (and I beg that if you want ferrets that you get more than one) PM me with any questions.
Oh, and they need regular shots. They can get many diseases cats and dogs can get. They are also one of the only pets that carry the same sicknesses we do. So you can give your ferret a cold or flu and they can give them to you. Ferrets are also prone to a lot of expensive and/or terminal medical problems. A lot of that is because Marshall Farms (the biggest distributer of ferrets in the US) pays/neuters then WAY too young. It stunts their growth and increases chances of medical issues. They're also sensitive to plastic water containers and having the lights on at night. One of mine had adrenal disease a few years ago (unusually young to get that) and had to have a $700 surgery. She lost all of her hair. She'd have died without it.
They are smart wonderful VERY high-maintanence creatures. If you're pondering getting one PLEASE ponder getting 2 instead. They are social animals and unless you're going to be there all the time with him/her, give him/her someone to amuse them the rest of the time. Otherwise they can get unusually agressive and/or destructive out of boredom. 2 of mine bite from time to time but they were both abused ferrets from rescue shelters.
I love my critters. They live in a custom-build 3 level oak hutch with french doors and ramps between levels. Most of the ferrets in pet stores are babies so keep in mind that they get bigger. A male can get up to 7 pounds-- a female upwards of 5. Most of mine are 4 pounds right now (they gain 1/3 of their body weight in the winter and lose it in the summer....they also shed in the summer).
My ferrets can open sliding doors, move random laundry etc around to build "ladder" sorts of things to get up higher, and they open cabinets and drawers. They plot. I always say I wouldn't be surprised to come home to find them building nuclear weapons. Mine can open human-baby cabinet and drawer latches so I have to have heavy boxes all over my kitchen (or they get in the cupboards, climb up the back into the drawers, open the drawers from the inside, and get on the counters). One of my ferrets is also a panty/bra thief. Another is a shoe destroyer. Another prefers to hide socks. Yet another likes to steal and hide keys.
No ferret will ever be 100% litter box trained though. They just don't give a damn about pleasing you...unless you have something they want. They only go to the bathroom in corners (if they go elsewhere it's a sign of fright or illness). You don't get to choose the ideal "poop corners" either. They do. Then you accomodate them with a litter box. Depending on the ferret they will use the box about 50-90% of the time. One of mine won't go in a dirty litter box. One of mine digs all the litter out if the litter is too clean. When you have a ferret you sort of realize that you're the "bitch" of the relationship. They rule my life.
I always think I sound negative when advising people about ferrets but it's only because they are a hell of a lot more work than I thought they'd be. If you aren't planning to clean well every day, your house will smell like hell. If you end up getting a couple (and I beg that if you want ferrets that you get more than one) PM me with any questions.
Oh, and they need regular shots. They can get many diseases cats and dogs can get. They are also one of the only pets that carry the same sicknesses we do. So you can give your ferret a cold or flu and they can give them to you. Ferrets are also prone to a lot of expensive and/or terminal medical problems. A lot of that is because Marshall Farms (the biggest distributer of ferrets in the US) pays/neuters then WAY too young. It stunts their growth and increases chances of medical issues. They're also sensitive to plastic water containers and having the lights on at night. One of mine had adrenal disease a few years ago (unusually young to get that) and had to have a $700 surgery. She lost all of her hair. She'd have died without it.
As for feeding them soap-- they LOVE to eat soap. It's fine for them to have a lick or two but watch it or they'll eat a whole bar if you're not paying attention. I think Jerkbox is referring to the time that Sigma ate a bar of face soap when I wasn't home and shit bubbles for a few days.
In general the ferrets aren't allowed in the bathroom. There's too much to get into...and Hali always manages to run off with my razor. Sometime I'll run 1/4-1/2 inch of water in the tub and let them play. Sigma has figured out 3 different drain plugs now. He always drains the tub. As for washing ferrets, if you wash them more than about twice a year you strip their coats of oil and they overproduce....making them smell skunky.
Gee, I wish I'd write more. lol
In general the ferrets aren't allowed in the bathroom. There's too much to get into...and Hali always manages to run off with my razor. Sometime I'll run 1/4-1/2 inch of water in the tub and let them play. Sigma has figured out 3 different drain plugs now. He always drains the tub. As for washing ferrets, if you wash them more than about twice a year you strip their coats of oil and they overproduce....making them smell skunky.
Gee, I wish I'd write more. lol
hamstershaver
New member
good posts raina, very true, i had one that chit behind the fridge
i've had a ferret for about 7 years now. definately get 2. mines done allright by himself, however he plays with my cat and my german shepherd. the latter only with supervision and only because she is extremely gentle and intelligent. mine eats catfood and frootloops. absolutely loves frootloops. another thing to mention is that ferrets come with two speeds. they either run around like the tasmanian devil, or are asleep. i've yet to see anything in between. they will steal anything. and just hide it for shits and giggles. everytime we move the couch we find anything and everything imaginable. they are very interesting and peculiar little creatures, i can't think of anything to compare it to. they can figure many things out that they shouldn't, and are persistent to no end. it's definately a decision to think over very well. they are definately high maintenance.
coldblue1955
New member
they cost like 100 dollars a peice don't they?
$100- apiece is normal. Cat food is NOT a proper thing to feed a ferret. Not at all. You will have a much less messy litter box if you feed them good ferret food. Cat food has a lot more fiber. Sugary treats should be given very sparingly. They go to the bathroom often. They aren't built to absorb a lot of sugar. So think basic osmosis....water follows solute. It leads to liquid shit. One time mine got into red licorice and it was sticky red puddles all over the place. 
milo hobgoblin
New member
They do sound like a lot of work.. and I though a two yeart old human was hard to care for LOL..
sounds liek you have fun with them though.
sounds liek you have fun with them though.
