Anyone here have pet ferrets?
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wiganlass2010
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I have 6 of the lil monsters and ive owned ferrets for the last 4 years. Ferrets are social animals and need a lot of interaction so I wouldnt advise you to get just the one..2 or 3 would be perfect x
dollface79
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I love ferrets but i could never handle the whole meat eating side of it. I saw someone giving theirs dead chicks and i nearly puked 
mel0013
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please dont make the mistake of keeping them in a rabbit hutch, ferrets do sleep alot but when they are awake they are AWAKE and need exercise.
i used to work in a vets and would strongly advise you to get any ferrets spayed/neutered as the females are alot more likely to get uterine problems/infections if left unspayed and not bred from and the males will not smell as strongly once neutered.
but they do make great pets very clever and playfull
i used to work in a vets and would strongly advise you to get any ferrets spayed/neutered as the females are alot more likely to get uterine problems/infections if left unspayed and not bred from and the males will not smell as strongly once neutered.
but they do make great pets very clever and playfull
Emily0505
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I do really want one but I'm still undecided as I dont want to get one and then realise I can't look after it properly.
So, here are my questions...
Housing: i currently have 2 rats and I would only get the ferret once they have passed
They have a big cage (80cm x 80cm x50cm) but would this be big enough for a ferret? Can/ should they live outside? We have a store room off the hallway which has a vent and no heating so is pretty much the same as outside but is obviously protected from the elements, would it be better in there?
How many/ what sex: I would prefer a single ferret tbh. Do they have to live in pairs or groups or can one be ok? With mine and hubbys work pattern it would only be left for two full days a week so I'm at home a lot to spend time with it. If we have to get a pair is a same sex pair better or opposite sex (we will neuter regardless) Is there a sex which makes a better pet? Does one sex smell stronger than the other? How bad do they really smell- if it lives in the ratties old cage it would be in the living room.
Health/ feeding: commercial ferret food or raw or a mix? Vaccinations- i have read that they should be vaccinated against parvo and distemper is this true/ necessary. I do have two dogs and would like to get a harness and take the ferret outside to explore.
Compatability with other pets: how easy would it be to introduce an adult feret to my dogs. I am not opposed to a rescue ferret but worry it will be hard to introduce as I would like to have them all out together. Would it be easier to intigrate a baby?
Training: I work with dogs so I enjoy training. Could I do a bit of training with the ferret? I've heard they are quite bright so I would like to try some clicker training. Can you litter train them for when they have out of cage time. I know they can be nippy when they are babies. How easy are they to nip train and what method works best for this?
I know that is a lot of questions but getting a pet is not something I enter into lightly. My lil ratties are around a year old and I don't want to get another pet until they've gone so I know I've got enough time to spend with them all, so it will be at least another year I expect until I'm in a position to get one.
If you managed to get through all of that well done
So, here are my questions...
Housing: i currently have 2 rats and I would only get the ferret once they have passed
They have a big cage (80cm x 80cm x50cm) but would this be big enough for a ferret? Can/ should they live outside? We have a store room off the hallway which has a vent and no heating so is pretty much the same as outside but is obviously protected from the elements, would it be better in there?How many/ what sex: I would prefer a single ferret tbh. Do they have to live in pairs or groups or can one be ok? With mine and hubbys work pattern it would only be left for two full days a week so I'm at home a lot to spend time with it. If we have to get a pair is a same sex pair better or opposite sex (we will neuter regardless) Is there a sex which makes a better pet? Does one sex smell stronger than the other? How bad do they really smell- if it lives in the ratties old cage it would be in the living room.
Health/ feeding: commercial ferret food or raw or a mix? Vaccinations- i have read that they should be vaccinated against parvo and distemper is this true/ necessary. I do have two dogs and would like to get a harness and take the ferret outside to explore.
Compatability with other pets: how easy would it be to introduce an adult feret to my dogs. I am not opposed to a rescue ferret but worry it will be hard to introduce as I would like to have them all out together. Would it be easier to intigrate a baby?
Training: I work with dogs so I enjoy training. Could I do a bit of training with the ferret? I've heard they are quite bright so I would like to try some clicker training. Can you litter train them for when they have out of cage time. I know they can be nippy when they are babies. How easy are they to nip train and what method works best for this?
I know that is a lot of questions but getting a pet is not something I enter into lightly. My lil ratties are around a year old and I don't want to get another pet until they've gone so I know I've got enough time to spend with them all, so it will be at least another year I expect until I'm in a position to get one.
If you managed to get through all of that well done
BBaby
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Hi
We had 2 ferrets before we got our dogs, they passed away about 8 years ago and were honestly the best pets we ever had! Much more entertaining than dogs, but to give the home they deserve they are quite high maintenance. It's sad when you see people buying them with no knowledge, pet shops often know little too and they are sold to be kept outdoors and use for rabbiting
Housing: i currently have 2 rats and I would only get the ferret once they have passed They have a big cage (80cm x 80cm x50cm) but would this be big enough for a ferret? Can/ should they live outside? We have a store room off the hallway which has a vent and no heating so is pretty much the same as outside but is obviously protected from the elements, would it be better in there?
Mine lived in doors in a shared cage .we originally brought one but then decided on a companion. Be warned it's not as easy as just introducing them and them being fine. You are best to get two together from the same litter as it took 3 attempts to find one tinkerbell wouldn't attack!!!.. If you google ferret cages you will see the types available. A big rat one is ok for one ferret (as long as it has lots of hammocks, tubes etc) but when we got two we brought one of the massive ones (size of shower cubicle with ramps, tubes, sleeping bags, hammocks etc) ... And don't use sawdust, they prefer newspaper and beds)
The outhouse should be fine as long as they have plenty of warm bedding ... They can live outside after all.
How many/ what sex: I would prefer a single ferret tbh. Do they have to live in pairs or groups or can one be ok? With mine and hubbys work pattern it would only be left for two full days a week so I'm at home a lot to spend time with it. If we have to get a pair is a same sex pair better or opposite sex (we will neuter regardless) Is there a sex which makes a better pet? Does one sex smell stronger than the other? How bad do they really smell- if it lives in the ratties old cage it would be in the living room.
We had a boy and girl. Got the girl first and had her spayed .... Important point to note when a gill first comes into session the bits swell and if they haven't been spayed or don't mate, there's a strong chance it becomes infected and can kill them!!!! Pet shops rarely tell people this which is terrible as it's life threatening!! We then got our male castrated so they got on well. A point to note, it may have changed but when we had ours you couldn't get pet insurance for ferrets, if your like me and they become one of the family vet bills can be expensive. We spent at least 1k of each of them with ops!!!
Health/ feeding: commercial ferret food or raw or a mix? Vaccinations- i have read that they should be vaccinated against parvo and distemper is this true/ necessary. I do have two dogs and would like to get a harness and take the ferret outside to explore.
We fed James well beloved dry kibble .... Much better to feed dry if keeping indoors, less smelly poos and better for teeth.
We didn't have ours vaccinated, but they didn't go outside or mix with dogs, we ferret proofed the garden and used to give them a free rein .... They loved it !!! If you have dogs def get vaccinated!!! Mine had harnesses and while they looked cute they didn't like bring on them.
Compatability with other pets: how easy would it be to introduce an adult feret to my dogs. I am not opposed to a rescue ferret but worry it will be hard to introduce as I would like to have them all out together. Would it be easier to intigrate a baby? I would be very careful just having them running loose with adult dogs. If you introduced from a puppy they would be different, but despite being quite hardly little things they are delicate and one playful bite from a dog could have devastating consequences
Training: I work with dogs so I enjoy training. Could I do a bit of training with the ferret? I've heard they are quite bright so I would like to try some clicker training. Can you litter train them for when they have out of cage time. I know they can be nippy when they are babies. How easy are they to nip train and what method works best for this?
We never clicked trained but they are very intelligent. In their cage they never ever poo'd outside the litter tray. The house was a different story. We had litter trays out and they would head to the corner but sometimes poo next to it. Yes they can be nippers (female one always nipped when playing. Male never nipped once)
I know that is a lot of questions but getting a pet is not something I enter into lightly. My lil ratties are around a year old and I don't want to get another pet until they've gone so I know I've got enough time to spend with them all, so it will be at least another year I expect until I'm in a position to get one.
If you have any other questions feel free to message me! As I say they were the best pets we ever had, but to say we wouldn't have them now. They are more hardwork than dogs if looked after properly. Like to be out exploring a lot and if they are quiet they are up to no good as for the smell, they def have a strong smell, but if kept in clean conditions it's not awful, but it's another story when they let off their anal glands xxx
If you managed to get through all of that well done
We had 2 ferrets before we got our dogs, they passed away about 8 years ago and were honestly the best pets we ever had! Much more entertaining than dogs, but to give the home they deserve they are quite high maintenance. It's sad when you see people buying them with no knowledge, pet shops often know little too and they are sold to be kept outdoors and use for rabbiting
Housing: i currently have 2 rats and I would only get the ferret once they have passed They have a big cage (80cm x 80cm x50cm) but would this be big enough for a ferret? Can/ should they live outside? We have a store room off the hallway which has a vent and no heating so is pretty much the same as outside but is obviously protected from the elements, would it be better in there?
Mine lived in doors in a shared cage .we originally brought one but then decided on a companion. Be warned it's not as easy as just introducing them and them being fine. You are best to get two together from the same litter as it took 3 attempts to find one tinkerbell wouldn't attack!!!.. If you google ferret cages you will see the types available. A big rat one is ok for one ferret (as long as it has lots of hammocks, tubes etc) but when we got two we brought one of the massive ones (size of shower cubicle with ramps, tubes, sleeping bags, hammocks etc) ... And don't use sawdust, they prefer newspaper and beds)
The outhouse should be fine as long as they have plenty of warm bedding ... They can live outside after all.
How many/ what sex: I would prefer a single ferret tbh. Do they have to live in pairs or groups or can one be ok? With mine and hubbys work pattern it would only be left for two full days a week so I'm at home a lot to spend time with it. If we have to get a pair is a same sex pair better or opposite sex (we will neuter regardless) Is there a sex which makes a better pet? Does one sex smell stronger than the other? How bad do they really smell- if it lives in the ratties old cage it would be in the living room.
We had a boy and girl. Got the girl first and had her spayed .... Important point to note when a gill first comes into session the bits swell and if they haven't been spayed or don't mate, there's a strong chance it becomes infected and can kill them!!!! Pet shops rarely tell people this which is terrible as it's life threatening!! We then got our male castrated so they got on well. A point to note, it may have changed but when we had ours you couldn't get pet insurance for ferrets, if your like me and they become one of the family vet bills can be expensive. We spent at least 1k of each of them with ops!!!
Health/ feeding: commercial ferret food or raw or a mix? Vaccinations- i have read that they should be vaccinated against parvo and distemper is this true/ necessary. I do have two dogs and would like to get a harness and take the ferret outside to explore.
We fed James well beloved dry kibble .... Much better to feed dry if keeping indoors, less smelly poos and better for teeth.
We didn't have ours vaccinated, but they didn't go outside or mix with dogs, we ferret proofed the garden and used to give them a free rein .... They loved it !!! If you have dogs def get vaccinated!!! Mine had harnesses and while they looked cute they didn't like bring on them.
Compatability with other pets: how easy would it be to introduce an adult feret to my dogs. I am not opposed to a rescue ferret but worry it will be hard to introduce as I would like to have them all out together. Would it be easier to intigrate a baby? I would be very careful just having them running loose with adult dogs. If you introduced from a puppy they would be different, but despite being quite hardly little things they are delicate and one playful bite from a dog could have devastating consequences
Training: I work with dogs so I enjoy training. Could I do a bit of training with the ferret? I've heard they are quite bright so I would like to try some clicker training. Can you litter train them for when they have out of cage time. I know they can be nippy when they are babies. How easy are they to nip train and what method works best for this?
We never clicked trained but they are very intelligent. In their cage they never ever poo'd outside the litter tray. The house was a different story. We had litter trays out and they would head to the corner but sometimes poo next to it. Yes they can be nippers (female one always nipped when playing. Male never nipped once)
I know that is a lot of questions but getting a pet is not something I enter into lightly. My lil ratties are around a year old and I don't want to get another pet until they've gone so I know I've got enough time to spend with them all, so it will be at least another year I expect until I'm in a position to get one.
If you have any other questions feel free to message me! As I say they were the best pets we ever had, but to say we wouldn't have them now. They are more hardwork than dogs if looked after properly. Like to be out exploring a lot and if they are quiet they are up to no good
as for the smell, they def have a strong smell, but if kept in clean conditions it's not awful, but it's another story when they let off their anal glands xxxIf you managed to get through all of that well done
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