I AM WORKING ON UPDATING THIS WHOLE PAGE. IT IS NOT REALLY THE BEST AT THE MOMENT SINCE I HAVENT ADDED THE NEW INFORMATION. I AM WORKING ON IT BUT IT DOES TAKE A WHILLE SO PLEASE BARE WITH ME. I SHOULD HAVE IT DONE WITHIN A FEW MONTHS..THANK YOU!
So you want A ferret?
Ferrets are simple little creatures that only need some love and attention.
They are very easy pets and worth it in the end, For the feeling of there love for you is better then anything in the world.
So with a little bit of caring and love you will be able to enjoy the love and happiness that come from those little animals.
What Are Ferrets Exactly?
The word Ferret Meaning: A weasellike, usually albino mammal (Mustela putorius furo) related to the polecat and often trained to hunt rats or rabbits.
That a dictionary definition.
The Ferret or another word for a Ferret Mustela putorius furo has been domesticated for over 2000 years.
Although the beginning of the Ferret is not known do to lack of written records.
Historically Ferrets were used for eradicating rabbit and rodent infestations because of their excellent burrowing abilities. The Ferrets sleek and flexible body structure allowed them to maneuver themselves into areas not accessible by other animals.
The word Ferret, from the word latin word furonem, means thief and the word putorius, form the latin word putor, means stench. Basically meaning furonemputorius. But the name was shortened down to Mustela being the Family the Ferrets are in basically the rodent family. Putorius meaing again stench and Furo meaning you could say excitment or uproar. All those words describing the characteristics of a Ferret.
Finding the Right Ferret
Oh what can i say about finding the right Ferret..............
Well i guess it just sorta happens you follow your instincts on which one you like and buy the cuite little thing !! LOL
Its not hard to find the right Ferret because the Ferret will Love you. But it is an apsolute priority that you make sure that you get your Ferret from a trusted name so you and your new pet will have a long and happy life together.
Basically picking a ferret all you need is common sence. If when you go to eathier a breeder or a pet store and its dirty and the Animals are all sick its not a very good thing to buy a ferret from that place. Mostly its common sence and a respected and responsible Breeder/Pet store.
I bought my Ferret from "Petco" a pet store with many locations around the U.S.A. They were clean and friendly and so far i have had a good life with my ferret. The Ferret i bought was A Marshall Famrs Ferret.
I want to make this clear i have heard alot about Marshall Farms. That they are bad and that the company is not a good one. I got my ferret and she was healthy. But i wont buy anything else from Marshall Farms becuase i have seen reports and ect. So thats just my oppinon i do love my Marshall farms ferret and she was a blessing but thats my oppion and whatever you want to do is great.
Anyway on to what i was talking about.
Here are 3 easy steps to follow when buying your Ferret,
1.) Check out the place you are buying your Ferret from. Pet Stores are easy to check out but breeders can be tricky but you still might find something. Try looking On the Better Bussiness Buro. The link to there web site is located on my Links page. They will tell you if they are reliable, clean, and they have reports from other people. You can also check breeders on that site too.
2.) Go to the place before you buy your Ferret. Look at the Ferrets. Make sure after you have seen them that you really want one. Ask about return policy if there sick and how much they cost and whats included. Also ask if they have been Spaid or nutered and what shots they have had. Make sure the place is clean and a place you want to buy your ferret from. Remember Use common sence.
3.) Buy your Ferret. Make sure you have everything you need and that you have everything setup for your new arival. We will get to what your ferret needs in the next section.
What Your Ferret needs?
Ferrets do seem small but they do need some very important things or they might not be to healthy.
Ferrets dont come with instruction mauals so here is a list of things your Ferret NEEDS to have to have a good life,
1.) A Cage: Ferrets should have a sutable cage for Them to live in. It should be metal with eathier 2 or 1 story cage but i do recomend a 2 story. There a little bit more money wise but they are worth it.
2.)A food and water bowl: Basically explanes it self. They have plastic food and water bowls but i like ceramic food bowls there just heavyer so your ferret cant tip them over. You could also buy a water bottle but water bowls they get more water easier then bottles. I have both a bottle and bowl in my ferrets cage. Its also just a good backup if there is no water in the bowl they always have a bottle to drink from if you dont notice.
3.) Litter Box: Again basically explanes its self. You can buy litter boxes for Ferrets but they sometimes have low sides and i got 1 with low sides and it ended up she missed the litter box and went out of her cage. They have new ones with high sides but i just bought a dish pan and cut a little door in it and it works great.
4.) Litter for Litter Box: ALOT OF PEOPLE USE CAT LITTER DONT USE CAT LITTER! IT HAS THINGS IN IT THAT IS NOT GOOD FOR FERETS! IT CAN CAUSE FERRETS BREATHING PROBLOMS!! I REPEATE DONT USE CAT LITTER! They have spechally made litters for Ferrets and small animals that work great. I use CarFreash and it works so well i recomend it to everyone!
5.) Hammock: Funny I know! But Ferrets love sleeping in them. You can buy them at a Pet store.
6.) Another Bed: I have a hammock. I also have for her I took a shoebox and again cut a hole for a door and then put some old shirts in there and she loves it. Sometimes when its cold in the house she can go and curl up in there. Its really in-expensive and it works Great!
7.) Food: HERES ANOTHER THING DO NOT USE CAT FOOD !! NO CAT FOOD!! THEY HAVE SPECHAL FERRET FOOD NO CAT FOOD ITS FOR CATS NOT FERRETS!! PLEASE PLEASe dont use cat food its for cats not Ferrets they have speachally made Ferret foods Use that. I recommend Marshall Farms Premium Ferret diet.
8.) Brushes: When your ferret sheds (usually in spring and fall) They will need you to brush the sheding fur off. Its really easy. You can find a brush at the pet store. Its not the most important thing to have but it is a good thing to have handy. You can use a spechial ferret brush or a cat brush there all the same. Dog brushes might be a little tough so i would stick with ferret or cat brushes.
9.) Toys: Ferrets love to play with the simpilest things. But its good to have toys for them to keep entertained. Standard ferret toys are great cat toys are also great. Balls with bells in them are a ferret favorite. They love them.Make sure you look at toys often to check for holes or broken pieces that could be swallowed or choked on. Beanie babys are another Ferret favoirite :)
BUT REMEMBER BUY THESE THINGS BEFORE YOU BUY YOUR FERRET!! :)
Bringing Your Ferret Home,
The day you bring your ferret home is a very exciting and scary day for both you and your Ferret.
Its very important that you make your new arrival feel very secure and loved in your home.
You have to keep in mind that your Ferret doesnt know were it is or who you really are. So it might take awhille for your Ferret to get used to its new home. WHEN YOU BRING YOUR FERRET HOME YOU MUST MUST HAVE ALL THE THINGS IT NEEDS LISTED ABOVE AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE ALL SETUP IN ITS CAGE. Here are a few couple things to do and keep in mind when you bring your Ferret home,
1.) Its ok for your Ferret to be scared, Its natural its in a new home so remember so try to keep your Ferret as comfertable as you can.
2.) When you bring her home but her in her cage and let her explore for a little bit. I know you will probably want to play with her but youll have a lot of time for that later. Let her explore her cage and get used to everything in there. She might be hungry or might have to use the litter box.
Most definitly your ferret will want to come out and play but it is best to just leave her in her cage for a couple hours. The next day you can bring your Ferret out and play. You should Have a Ferret Safe room for her to play in before she will go on exploring the whole house. (If you want to know how To Ferret safe your House its in the next section.)
Let your Ferret play with her new toys and get used to you and her room before you go take her all around the house.
Ferret Proofing Your House,
Ferret proffing your house is mostly common sence.
Ferrets are small and have slinky little bodies, So if they can fit there head through a hole they can fit there whole bodie through.
If you have 2 floors then it does take alot longer then 1 floor but its easy.
Start in one room of your home and look for small cracks and openings your ferret might fit into.
Like if there are cabnits in your kitchen look under the cabnits and look for unfinshed corners that might have a small whole. You can easily cover the wholes under the cabits with cardboard and duct tape.
Another spot to look is by your revridgerator. You dont want your ferret to go under or around your refriderator so if there is a large opening just cover it with cardboard and duct tape. If there are alot of holes in one room, Dont stress yourself out just go to the store and buy a cheap babby gate and put it on the door so your ferret can not get in. Another thing, IF YOU HAVE A LAUNDRY ROOM DO NOT LET YOUR FERRET GO IN THERE!! BABBY GATE IT OFF IF YOU DONT HAVE A DOOR OR CLOSE THE DOOR YOUR FERRET COULD GET SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THERE!! Dont let your ferret in the laundry room or any room you wouldnt let a babby in. Ferrets are like little babbys, whatever you wouldnt let a babby get into dont let your ferret get into!!
Use common sence about it and youll be alright!
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After That Spechial Day,
There is not much i could say to sum up how much joy you will have for the years that your ferret will be with you. They are such wonderful creatures and wonderful pets. Just use common sence and having a ferret is easy. Ferrets are like little babbys. There very curiouse and sleep alot!
If you have anymore questions try some of the other pages on the site or you can drop me a line at:
[email protected] with the subject Ferrets.
