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Post by Merlin on Jul 27, 2015 13:51:30 GMT -5
Well, hi!
So, I'm interested in getting a ferret, but first, research! As of right now, I'm a total noob at ferret owning and care...... however I do know a lot about hamsters, so at least I'm familiar with rodents......
Anyways, it would be REALLY helpful if any of you could give me any tips, and that sort of thing, thanks!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 14:13:59 GMT -5
Hi Merlin and Welcome to the HFF  We're always happy to hear that someone is researching first. Hamsters are darling, but as you know, Ferrets are not rodents. Instead think of having a two year old child or an extremely smart cat/dog. They are part of the mink,weasel,otter,skunk family of Mustela's.(Mustela putorius furo). They need alot of stimulation. The more out of cage time for them, the better for their happiness. They bond to their friends, grieve over their loss and imprint on their food around 6 months to a year old. Ferrets are carnivores. They are not designed to process starches/carbs/fruits and veggies. They will live longer on a Natural Diet and that means meat. We have a Mentoring program that you can sign up for. Some members build their own threads until a Mentor is assigned and quite a few make the transition on their own. People will say that they smell. They don't smell on a Natural diet and often develop a grape Kool aid smell when fed raw. That doesn't mean live prey necessarily. The Frankenprey diet is made up of food from the grocery store. It's designed to mimic eating Whole Prey. Ferrets are funny, curious, smart, and really are little thieves. They love to find treasures and stash them. They can figure out how to move something over to where they want to climb and climb up and over. Favorite games include chasing each other, playing in tunnels, blanket rides and snorkeling in any water left around, like their water bowl. If you bring a ferret or ferrets home, prepare for a committment. This should be their forever home. Ferrets live on average from six years to eight years old. Ferrets rarely die from old age. They are little fragile fellows and fall ill to Insulinoma, Adrenal and Lymphoma. Vet bills can be expensive. They are prone to chewing on things and can develop a blockage which kills, if not caught in time. They also will capture your heart, make you want more. One ferret plus One ferret often equals Five (or more). We call that Ferret Math. The HFF is a great place to learn. Look around, have fun and keep asking questions. (dance) |
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Post by lyles on Jul 27, 2015 14:29:28 GMT -5
Hello and welcome! If you have lots of time on your hands and love a challenge then a ferret might be a pet for you.
We prefer feeding our fuzzies on a raw diet (live or grocery store meat), but there are other options as well. Some like to use freeze dried rations (FDR) that you can buy from some websites. It's a lot more expensive, but it is the choice if you want better food than kibble but don't like handling (and preparing) raw/live meat. There are a few acceptable kibbles out there if you are on a budget, but keep in mind that ferrets are prone to expensive vet bills, so start saving!
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Post by Merlin on Jul 27, 2015 14:47:19 GMT -5
Thank for all the info!
So based on some research I did, the best type cages are the ones like the Ferret Nation..... right?
As for nutrition....... well, looks like Ferret diet will require me hours of research and planning...... just like my hamster's diet did.......
But, I would like to ask you guys a question, before anything:
I have 2 cats (1 adult outdoors, 1 kitty indoors), a dog, and a hamster........ I'm sure my dog won't mind, and my hamster.... well.... whenever I take him out of the cage, I do make sure no other animals are in the room....... but there is one problem..... my cats....... I mean my Nina, the kitty, won't mind she will probably be too scared since she is young..... but my other cat....... that's a different story...... he is an outdoors cat, and yes, he does hunt squirrels, birds, and he has even tried to attack wild rabbits! However, considering ferrets are carnivores, then maybe he won't mind?
Anyways, do any of you have outdoors cats and ferrets? I did read that ferrets are friendly towards other animals, but to make sure, are they?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 14:57:05 GMT -5
The Ferret Nation is the most popular cage here on the forum. It's easy to clean and you can buy add on units. It has nice ramp covers and accessories.
Mine are free roam but I have a large Marshall folding mansion for travel. It would not be a good cage if I had to use it alot.
I don't have any other pets. We do have alot of 'other' pet owners and they will offer some advice.
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 27, 2015 15:17:36 GMT -5
I have 3 ferrets, 2 dogs, and 2 barn cats, and to be honest I wouldn't make any assumptions about how your animals will interact.
My dogs were great when my barn cats were wee kitties (they were abandoned at 4 weeks when I got them) my dogs were great. My Mini Aussie is incredibly maternal, and she loved to lick the kittens. That same dog would kill my ferrets in a heart beat. Whether it's the smell, the way they move, I'm not sure, but the ferrets don't sit well with her. I also have a dachshund, who ignores my ferrets, but he was bred to kill weasels, I wouldn't trust him.
With ferrets & cats its tough, and with the outdoors cat I don't think the risk is worth it. Your outdoors cat clearly has a strong prey drive, and I wouldn't gamble on how the cat percieves the ferrets. Ferrets are tough, ornery little fuzzies, and a showdown between a cat & a ferret would be messy. I have 2 barn cats, they are very sweet and affectionate but I would never let the cats & ferrets anywhere near each other.
I'm kind of rambling, because I'm on my phone, but the way I look at is, if any of my pets was killed or severely injured by one of my other pets I would be devastated, as would the others involved. I don't think any of the animal parties involved lose anything by being kept away from inter-species interactions. But that's just me.
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Post by Klarissa on Jul 27, 2015 15:21:46 GMT -5
That said years ago, I had a ferret-sitter who had a free-roam ferret, a cat, and a bull dog that all co-habitated well. She also got all 3 when they were young, and open to befriending other species.
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Post by Heather on Jul 27, 2015 15:33:55 GMT -5
:wave3: Hi and welcome on board
Please feel free to just prowl around, read threads and ask questions. Get involved in discussions. There are a number right now that might be of particular interest as they're behavioural discussions. Don't be shy about asking questions. The conversations are usually quiet easy going on the forum itself
Thank you for doing your homework before just going out and buying a ferret. They're nothing like rodents and yes, you're going to have to do some serious thought about your kitties and dog. Some get along. The dog takes serious consideration as does the cats. My ferrets and cats live together, they don't get along. The dog is trained to leave the ferrets unconditionally. He's not allowed to be near or to touch them
ciao
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 17:16:59 GMT -5
I have a Doodle. She lays on the porch throws her legs open when I bring a ferret out. I have set them own her back and let her huff them. She is a big baby. However, she pulled baby birds out of a nest in our hedge and has brought a baby bunny up on porch which she killed. So I would not let her be alone with them at all.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 17:28:24 GMT -5
Hi and welcome from myself and my two fuzzy overlords Loki and Liam.  To comment on what the others said, my Loki got out of his cage (he figured out how to pop the door open on his old cage before I got the ferret nation one) and scared my friend's corgi Caleb. They never made real contact and no one was hurt, but Caleb had to be forced to come back into the house after potty breaks. Even then he would run for a coach. They said it went on for weeks and only stopped when they washes everything they thought Loki had come into contact with. At my mom's house, her cats do not like the fuzzbutts and tend to flee. We put up spaces where they can get away. Which always disappoints my ferts since they do so love to chase them. My mom's new Chihuahua on the other hand LOVES to play with the ferrets. He is very gentle with them and is just as hyper as them. Having said that, I always keep an eye on them in case one of them gets overwhelmed and needs a break. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 20:18:42 GMT -5
Hello! I haven't had much of a problem with other animals attacking ferrets (keep in mind every animal is different!) but rather the other way around. They've never drawn blood, but Layla (younger ferret) has definitely hurt Miracle (8/9yo cat) before. Make introductions slowly, between all animals, including same-species!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 27, 2015 21:34:44 GMT -5
Ferrets are kind of crazy fearless--- not too smart. Kind of like a toddler. May be wrong words but that is how I feel about it.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2015 4:33:00 GMT -5
Ferrets are kind of crazy fearless--- not too smart. Kind of like a toddler. May be wrong words but that is how I feel about it. Yeah my sister describes it as looking after a toddler with ADHD and a death wish lol. I think they're very smart but also really clumsy and they don't think before doing things (like sticking their entire heads into deep, dark holes) xx |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2015 6:28:13 GMT -5
Perfect words! especially like--- death wish lol
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Post by Deleted on Jul 28, 2015 13:55:44 GMT -5
As everyone has mention owning a ferret is like owing a child/cat/dog all rolled into one.
Be prepared for your home not to be yours ever again, Percy thinks everything I own is actually his and he has the right to play with it, jump on it, break it and so forth. His latest "tricks" are to climb onto my dinning table and to go in my bedroom (when I leave door open by mistake) and open my bedside drawers and drag every thing out and hide it!
Currently as I am typing this he is on my dinning table thinking he owns the place...
Great fun, best pet I've ever own, going for walks is fun but can be hard work eso when you want to sit down drink your tea or wine and your ferret wants to drink it for you or knock over your unsupervised drink.... I'm sure Percy has got tipsy before now!
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