How To Know If a Ferret is Right For You

When you watch a funny video of a ferret frolicking around the room or wrestling with the pet cat, you may think “I want one!”. But owning a ferret is a huge commitment that too often is taken on without proper information and forethought. In fact, statistics show that almost half of all ferrets end up abandoned or relinquished by harried owners who just couldn’t meet the needs of the animal.

Does this mean that ferrets do not make good pets? Absolutely not. There are plenty of owners out there who would tell you otherwise, stating several reasons why a ferret makes a wonderful pet. While ferrets are demanding of your time, they are playful and provide endless entertainment to the whole family. Their cute little faces are expressive, and as they get older, you may even be treated to some lap time from your pet.

To answer the question “is a ferret right for me?” you just need to find out the requirements of ferret ownership and weigh that against the benefit the pet has to offer. First, you will need to find out if ferret ownership is even legal in your state. Most states allow ferrets as pets, but there are still those that have a ban in place prohibiting ferrets as pets.

Probably the biggest aspect of ferret ownership is the time commitment. Even if you have more than one ferret, or your pet ferret has the companionship of another family pet such as a cat, he will definitely want and need to play with members of the family as well. This brings up two good points: first, ferrets are carnivores! This means that you do not want to set up a play date between your pet ferret and your pet hamster. Only one will make it out. The second point is that all members of the family will be treated to time with your ferret, as these curios animals are like toddlers who want to get to know everyone in the room.

While ferrets spend 18-20 hours a day sleeping, they will play 4 hours each day. That means that every single day, you need to make sure you have created a good play environment for your pet. A good play environment is more than just an open room. It includes toys that stimulate your pet and a space that has been ferret-proofed as well. This high energy animal will get into just about anything, which puts him at risk for injury or illness. This is another reason why it is recommended that you play with your ferret instead of simply giving him free reign of the home. If your lifestyle is so busy that you run from one activity to the next, you may not have the time to fulfill the needs of a ferret.

Ferrets can be messy. Yes, you can litter train your pet, but understand that this is not a cat you’re bringing home. Ferrets are just not as good about consistently using the litter box as cats are. This means that your favorite rug just might get soiled every now and then. If you are one who lives best in a spotless environment, you may want to reconsider owning a ferret.

Ferrets are fun, that’s for sure. But they are also a large responsibility. Knowing you can commit to years of loving their behaviors and antics is a must before running out and bringing one home. I do recommend obtaining some kind of ferret care manual whether it is from this site or another before you purchase your first ferret. Do your homework because ferrets really can be a handful if you don’t know how to care for them! I have written a free mini e-course that has some helpful tips on raising ferrets and also some interesting facts about ferrets. There’s no risk in joining, and it’s a simple click on the unsubscribe link if you no longer want the course. Feel free to contact me if you have any major issues with your pet ferret. Just send me an email by clicking here . I will help any way I can.

Sincerely,

Scott Reinheart