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Post by eden on Mar 9, 2021 10:51:00 GMT -5
Hi everyone. My name is Eden, and I'm currently a freshman in college. I've been thinking about getting a ferret in the next few years once I have an apartment of my own, however I have some questions and I wanted to get insight from some experienced ferret owners.
My biggest concern is that a ferret might be too much for me to handle. I know a lot of people who get ferrets end up surrendering them because they are such a handful, so high energy, etc., and this is something I'd really like to avoid. If I got a ferret, I would do my best to take great care of it, but would doing so end up taking over my life?
Also, I have to ask about the smell. I don't mind animals smelling like animals, but I really can't deal with living space smelling like poop/pee/etc. Aside from that, how big of a factor are health problems? I know a lot of ferrets get sick later on in life. How big of an expectation/consideration would you say this is in ferret ownership?
Any other comments on what you wish you knew before getting a ferret are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Mar 10, 2021 4:43:45 GMT -5
Yes, and they usually do not live past 6.5 years old. If you feed them kibble, you are looking at them getting insulinoma eventually--that is low blood sugar---and for that, you will have to give them prednisolone, a medication for the rest of their life. I feed mine mostly whole prey and raw which makes it less likely that they will get it but not a guarantee.
Maybe best not to get a ferret (especially while in college).
Pooh and pee not a bad smell for me but mine are on raw. Nothing like a cat's smell. However, they do like poohing and peeing in corners, so you have to have several potties devoted to these spaces and Yesterday's News is not cheap, a paper pellet litter. I use puppy pads. Also, I line my litter pans with paper towels.
If You want a lap animal ---forget it. LOL. Ferrets will not let you hold them very long--they want to get down. How strong is this urge? Like a chicken needing to peck.
I do not believe in locking up your ferrets for hours and hours day in and day out. To me, that is like making a kitty live in a cage. I think it is 4 hours they should be out every day. So basically it is--- what can I do for you little ferret than what can you do for me.
Other's may have a different opinion about owning a ferret.
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Post by Corvidophile on Mar 10, 2021 17:00:53 GMT -5
It’s hard to go to college or work full time and keep a single ferret happy, so it’s best to get two or more to keep each other company, and that doubles the cost of everything but the cage. You can get a cage used to save money, or keep them in a dedicated room and then let them roam the house supervised until you figure out all the things they try and get into and put them away. You may think you have it covered before they hit the floor, but they’ll surprise you!
I work part time and have a single ferret who is bonded to me and cuddles my feet to sleep on his terms, but doesn’t like me to touch him. He isn’t aggressive about it or anything, just actively avoids my hands when I go to touch him. The only exceptions are when he wants me to pick him up and put him on a higher surface, then he’ll stretch up against my leg and paw at me, or when he has an itch on his back he wants me to scratch for him. So I agree that they aren’t lap pets, even if they want to touch you! They’re very entertaining to watch explore, play toss and catch and chase games with, and give puzzles to figure out.
Insulinoma, as Abbey mentioned, is a common disease. Mine has insulinoma, he developed it around five years old despite being raw fed for all but a a few early weeks of his life as a baby at the store. It’s a pain in the butt to make sure I’m always home at 12 hour intervals to give him the meds and limits what I can agree to do for other people. Another common problem is adrenal gland disease, which is easier to treat- they get a hormone suppressing implant injected under the skin every six months for that, but it’s more expensive to treat, at at least $200 per implant. Vet visits for the little guys aren’t cheap. A third frequent problem is that they swallow rubbery things when you aren’t looking and have to have surgery in some cases to remove the intestinal blockage that results, and sometimes they die despite that effort.
All in all, yes, I do plan on getting a second after mine passes, he’s been a lot of fun and the right level of interaction for me, but they cost more money than I thought they would at first, even though I did everything “right” mine still got both insulinoma and adrenal gland disease simultaneously.
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Post by Corvidophile on Mar 10, 2021 17:23:48 GMT -5
Oh I forgot about the smell- the diet makes ALL the difference, when mine ate the Marshall’s kibble that came with him as a baby his poop smelled like human crap. Just out in the open like someone took a dump in the room. On raw it has no smell, and I think the pee actually smells kind of like marijuana. Can’t smell it in the litter (I use clay litter), just when he pees on the floor outside the box when he’s out roaming... which they will do on occasion. Mine stubbornly goes right in front of the front door where I can’t put a box down, even though I have litter boxes in the room for him to use. Maybe 5-10% of the time he goes on the floor.
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 10, 2021 21:15:16 GMT -5
Hey there. abbey and corvid have provided a good idea of what it's like to have ferrets. They all have their own personalities and can be quite entertaining and interactive, but they are generally not "lap" pets and some will just about ignore you. My first ferret was alone in a pen at a pet store, and when she woke up and saw me she literally danced for joy. I reached in and she ran up my arm to my shoulder and nipped my ear. I fell in love and took her home. Well, once we got home Bella pretty much lived in her own world, spending her whole out of cage time looking for small objects to stash in a sofa and in our box spring. Cuddles were limited to a few seconds and she was back to work. Over the years I have become more patient in choosing a ferret spending more time with them and trying to read them.
They like to explore and are very adept at finding escape routes. One or two ferrets are pretty easy to keep, but I highly recommend against having carpeting. Their bathroom habits can be quite unpredictable, and they cannot stand a closed door. They will dig relentlessly for 10 minutes without rest trying to get under a door, and if there is carpet, it will be shredded.They might be active for 30 min-2 hrs at a time, and then they will find a dark place under a dresser or in a drawer or in a piece of clothing lying on the floor to sleep. Then you get to search for them and hope they haven't got out. I've also spent hours searching for fuzzers that had simply climbed into a different dresser drawer to sack out. I've also had a couple that did escape.
They do not smell nearly as bad as some people say. Keep the litter boxes clean and hopefully train them to go in boxes or pads outside the cage (there will always be accidents). Rodents' urine stinks, And tho I like dogs (other people's) wet dog smell is not for me. Rather have a horse.
Health issues are inevitable, but in the wild European polecats are lucky to live 3 years, and we try to push their domestic descendants 8 or more years and are saddened when they don't make it.
I've shared my home with 30 ferrets over the years, and that adds up to a lot of time picking up accidents, ruined carpets and heartache. I have 2 now, and I have loved all of them. I rescued at least 1/3 of them, but I would recommend 1 or 2 if you are going to be busy.
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Post by silentdook on Mar 11, 2021 18:27:03 GMT -5
I highly recommend renter's insurance with a pet liability rider, to cover damages. Some landlords will not allow them. Personally, I won't adopt out to college students, because the future is so uncertain, and their lives are too busy for a ferret. Here's my standard posting:
PSA on FERRETS ! Because so many people who mean well want to take on a found ferret, I'd like to talk straight about them. I've owned, rescued and rehomed them for 20+ years, since the late 80s. For ANYONE considering a ferret for a pet: I will be brutally honest, the cost of a ferret or adoption is only the start. You can figure on minimum $250 for a decent cage, the pet stores sell rodent cages and call them ferret cages, don't be fooled, $50 month per ferret for decent food, $20 bag monthly for litter, $10-50 for accessories (litter box, hammock, blankets, toy or two), a *minimum* $120-200 for initial, then annual vet visits and shots (rabies & distemper are a must, and emergencies can run into $100s quickly), plus $12-15 mo for flea/tick/heartworm protection, and those are the absolute minimum requirements for ferret ownership. So, we suggest being ready to shell out $500+ for everything a ferret will need *above* its adoption fee for the first month. Also, a young ferret, (or even a rescued older one) may need or will require nip training, and patience with litter training (at best they are 90% litter box users, and unlike kittens, may need to be shown over and over to learn). They need at least 4 hours play time out of the cage and interaction to be happy. They are into everything,..curiosity is a ferret..the area they get to roam will need to be 100% ferret-proofed to keep them out of trouble and/or escaping. Unfortunately, they are very prone to expensive illnesses; cancer, insulinoma, adrenal disease, all requiring medications and treatments; they are geriatric in a few years. It's for all these reasons that so many get abandoned and need rescued. They aren't a lap pet, or even very "cuddly" and for those reasons, we don't recommend them as a pet given to a child. Parents soon tire of cleaning up after them... ferrets have fast metabolisms and produce a LOT of poop in a day. High quality food or a properly balanced raw meat diet can alleviate some of this, but they will still have a "ferrety" smell that some folks just don't like. So, please, anyone who wants to know more, we're here to talk. Just be aware of what you're taking on with a ferret, they are considered an exotic pet for good reason. Finding a good vet who knows ferrets well may mean driving a distance.
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Post by unclejoe on Mar 11, 2021 19:17:42 GMT -5
A lot of this might be scary, but we just want you to know that a ferret is not a rodent and requires a lot more than a cage and food. If you find the right one it's totally worth it, but they are definitely not for everyone. Don't expect a kitty.
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Post by Charlie on Mar 12, 2021 0:52:44 GMT -5
I'm a first time ferret owner. Before even getting a ferret I have done extensive reading about them and watching videos (some good and some not so good). I wanted to make sure I wanted a ferret and by listening to others experiences I learned a lot. What to do and what not to do! I wanted to make sure I could care for one to the best of my abilities and provide it the best life for the short time it's on this earth. Learning everything about them will let you know if you will want to take on this adventure. The answer for me was yes.
I work full time and I still have lots of time for my ferret. They are most active at dusk and dawn so I spend time with mine in the morning before work and even more time after work. Mine stays out of his cage while I'm home and stays in his cage while I'm at work. I chose to have only 1 ferret as I spend lots of time with him and even play with him on the floor. Since mine is so well behaved, he stays out all night most nights and sleeps in my room with me. I have considered getting another one but it's still up in the air. I have an amazing bond with my ferret. We chase each other through the house when playing. Mine is excellent at using his litter box in his cage and uses his pee pads when he's out running around in the house the majority of the time. Yes, they do destroy carpets, but then again mine were already ruined from an aging dog who has since passed away. My ferret's urine and feces are less intense then the dog's was. I feed my ferret a raw and whole prey diet so it's not as smelly as if it were on kibble.
They are high energy, but if you can tire them out then they can cuddle with you a bit. LOL Once my ferret is tired from playing, he eats, then he's ready for a nap. That's when I can cuddle with him. lol Be patient with them when they are young because they are like puppies with the nip training and littler training. The more time you can spend with your ferret the better the bond and training. Just like a puppy, you have to be consistent. Ferret's are intelligent animals and can be trained.
Since I have had other pets, I know about vet bills. The bills may not seem as much while they are young, but as they age the vet bills become more and more frequent too, like with any other pet. Be prepared by saving up money to cover those expenses. Since I read about all their health issues, I'm prepared for what could come up.
Keep in mind more ferrets means more poop and more money when it comes to vet bills, food, etc. Ferrets aren't for everyone but if you know EVERYTHING about them you will be much more prepared! Since you have lots of time before you consider getting a ferret you can do lots of research first and make an informed decision.
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